Sunday 11 November 2012

Character 5 sentence fiction


Tommy tightened his dirty, cold fingers around his gun with bayonet ready; ready for the onslaught of the efficient German guns, not that his bayonet was a match for those guns. He was sixteen and was eager to fight for King and country when he lied about his age and signed up, filled with pride, patriotism and duty to kill the Hun and all he had was this gun.
Now, he stood trembling in the chilly early morning air as the mist lifted off the quagmire of barbed wire, debris and the fallen; everything still, not even the rats were scurrying in the trenches this morn.
The line was ready and the silent ticking of the clock was as loud as his thumping heart which was as loud as the bombs that had rained down on them the day before, so loud he worried the Hun would hear him, but it was a comfort also for it meant he was alive.
And then the lonely sound of the whistle came and Tommy, along with his comrades who were now his family took to the rickety wooden ladders and climbed up into no man’s land as the German guns started their battery of fire; character building they said when he signed up as the mud and shrapnel flew up around him  . . . .


This may appear somewhere in my NaNoWriMo but at the moment it is a piece for remembrance on this day 11/11. Lest we forget. xxx


What it’s all about: Five Sentence Fiction is about packing a powerful punch in a tiny fist. Each week Lillie will post a one word inspiration, then anyone wishing to participate will write a five sentence story based on the prompt word. The word does not have to appear in your five sentences, just use it for direction.

7 comments:

  1. Oh wow Lizzie, you do this so well...your last war /soldier piece was stunning too. You kept me completely engrossed and really moved me!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Beautiful and poignant for today.
    My oldest son was at the tennis tournament this morning and eveyone stopped and stood at 11, even the players were told they should pause in their games it was really quite moving to collectively remember.

    ReplyDelete
  3. War really is hell.

    Well done.

    JzB

    ReplyDelete
  4. And we're still sending children to fight our wars. Very moving. A brave, young lad.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love it Mrs. Koch!!! I would not want my own son doing what Tommy is doing. I hate to think of them so young in the war. I love how brave you portray him even though he is only 16. A perfect dedication to all our awesome soldiers!!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh Lizzie, you have written this beautifully. You've captured the feeling of the battlefield and of Tommy's determination in facing the war. The feeling it evokes is a knot in the stomach and a tug on the heart. Very, very well done.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thanks, Lizzie, great post for Remembrance Day. So sad ... x.

    ReplyDelete