One Step at a Time
Words 100
Top floor! She panicked. Never in a thousand years would she manage to reach her goal.
She spied a signage and sighed in relief. Ah the lift!
She hurried to join the tail end of a long winding queue.
The queue behind grew longer and yet she didn’t move an inch.
Restless and impatient, she chaffed at the wait.
“Want to jump queue?” A voice whispered temptingly.
“How? I am new with no resources.”
“Fresh and resource full.” He leered lasciviously.
No time and miles to go.
Decision made she stepped out of the queue and headed for the stairs.
***
Written for the Friday Fictioneers – a story in 100 words or less. Thanks to Rochelle for hosting the challenge and Marie Gall Stratford for the photo prompt. To read the other stories or participate click here.
I liked that. A real-world dilemma and a believable protagonist
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Thanks Neil for a great comment
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Leering lasciviously? Run, girl!
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Indeed! Thanks Linda for reading😊
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Some great word-smithy.
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Thanks YS 🙂
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Like her decision. And as long as the number of floors are reasonable, that is a great way to get (or stay) in shape.
But for me, I’ll wait.
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😁 Love your comment! Thanks for visiting
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Smart Girl! Run and don’t look back! Cute story!
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Thanks Nan for visiting😊
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Yes, run! That’s the better choice.
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😀
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The reward will be all the sweeter for doing it the hard way and not taking the easy option, or giving in to lavcious leering.
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Thanks Iain
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Nice way to jump the queue !!
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Exactly – who knows the queue for the lift may be less or even absent after a few flights of stairs. Thanks Megs 🙂
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I watched it play out before my eyes! Cleverly written Dahlia.
Click to read my FriFic!
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Thanks Keith.
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Good choice.
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I really wasn’t leering lasciviously. A lot of people mistake my smart-alec smirk for leering. However, I swear my intentions are honorable. 🙂
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I do believe you! 😀
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Hmm!! I would have just gone down to the basement, to the Coffee Shop for the for a latte and a brownie making sure that old lecher was not following. (I love Bloomingdales, my favourite store in New York)
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Ah would love a latte and a brownie (my fav!) I saw the building not as Bloomingdale but as one goal or dream, something to be aspired and the possible ways to achieve it. How we are often overwhelmed and discouraged by the enormity of the task. The trick is to keep your eye on the goal but focus on one step at a time. That’s what I was trying to convey -rather unsuccessfully 😦
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Good morning Dahlia. Sorry I did not mean to trivialise what you were trying to portray. A woman has to overcome a lot of obstacles and many times achieves her goal a hard way.
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Not all! You didnt trivialize, it’s just that I probably wasnt clear enough. Win some lose some but so long as I learn some 😉
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Help by a lascivious person? Hope she doesn’t regret her decision!
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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Ah no – she opted for the stairs. Thanks for visiting 🙂
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Loved the scene, ambitious ,motivating, heartening to see hope and determination can win all, thank you for a better perspective.
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Thank you for ‘getting’ it 🙂
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Dear Dahlia,
There are better ways to make it to the top. Run! Nicely done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks Rochelle
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Quite a price to pay just to get there quicker.
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Thanks Liz for visiting 🙂
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Yes, she did well to get out of the queue… he did not make me feel comfortable at all!
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Thanks Dale 🙂
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Nicely told, Dahlia. A commonplace situation that you made interesting by skilful writing.
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Thanks Penny. I was trying for a allegorical story (perhaps inspired by yours!) but I don’t think I succeeded very well.
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Dear Dahlia
Gosh, so you have. And you told us in the story. I overlooked that – I’m really sorry.
You’ve written a good, consistent allegory. The only suggestion I would offer is to try to find a stronger way to signpost what you’ve done. Possibly the title?
You set yourself a difficult challenge and largely succeeded. Kudos!
With best wishes
Penny
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Thanks so much Penny for the encouraging words and suggestion – means a lot!
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So true, often we choose to reach the destination in a relaxed environment.
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I think she definitely made the right decision – as long as he didn’t follow her to the stairs.
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Thank you Irene for visiting 🙂
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Stairs or creepy guy. Good decision!
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Simple and engaging. Very nice ❣️
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Thanks so much 🙂
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excellent way to do it… and such a great exercise.
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Thanks Bjorn 🙂
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It seems people are taking the story literally.
I presume you wrote this in light of all the sexual harassment cases popping up nowadays showing how women across various sectors have to provide sexual favours to advance their careers and climb to the top!
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Not exactly – but I like your take on it as well 🙂 My take was for the way to approach an ‘insurmountable’ task or goal. How we often get overwhelmed with the obstacles and shortcuts and forget that all it needs is one step at a time. One of the enjoyable aspects of story writing is the different reactions it evokes. It is disappointing when it doesnt leave any impact but then that is also a learning experience. Thanks Anna for sharing your perspective 🙂
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I think that might be encouragement enough for me too.
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Thanks Sandra
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