Photograph by Barbara Beacham ©
The Forever Reminder
The people waved at him from the bridge below. Over the years he had never forgotten. Hardwired to his memory – that particular moment in time. As a hydrologist it was his job to locate groundwater determining depth, quality and most important – the actual amount of water, usually from a place much closer to the ground than he had found himself that day. That eventful day.
Anticipating the groundwater to be shallow, he had not expected there to be – none. And so it came to pass around the globe. No more fresh, clean ground water. As glaciers melted and more fresh water mixed with the ocean, eventually all water was sea water.
Many huge factories and plants were constructed to remove salt from the water for drinking purposes, but it was never the same. Most life died or changed it’s biological nature. Some humans survived. He and his family were among the lucky ones.
When his daughter asked what fresh drinking water was, the image of people waving from a bridge, where fresh water flowed beneath, appeared in his mind. It had became a “forever reminder” of what had been and would never be again!
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Be sure and give Barb’s new flash fiction weekly challenge -” Monday’s Finish The Story a try! The rules are easy to follow: Just write a short, very short, story (roughly 100-150 words) using the photo as a prompt and begin your story with the line that Barb shares with us. This week the line is: “The people waved at him from the bridge below.”
A good writing exercise and fun too (if you enjoy writing). For more details or to view other entries just click here!
Hope everyone has a great week ahead,
~ Penny
The Why About This 
a lovely post…thank you.
Thank you, kindly! Have a relaxing and fulfilling holiday tomorrow.
You hear so much about companies and factories dumping toxic chemicals in rivers, streams and lakes. The authorities seem reluctant to do anything. You get repeat offenders who, when they are caught, are given a slap on the wrist and told to be good boys in the future. Fine not just the people responsible, but the owners/managers and company directors. If it happens a third time, deregister the company and confiscate the buildings.
I hear you Lyn, and can totally relate to all that you have said! Sadly money does rule the roost in this country! 😦
Excellent take and very thought provoking Penny. Enjoyed this take on the prompt.
Thank you Michael. I do have rather strong feelings on this subject, but will stay hopeful, my friend.
A very likely scenario, that may not be even hundred years in future. Great take. 🙂
Yes, it is more than a little uncomfortable thinking about this now. I don’t honestly believe even the “experts” know when things could “flip” on us. One recent small statistic among the many many …… ones out there is that the Japanese drink one million bottles of water per day! That’s just one country! Doesn’t take a genius to figure out somethings gotta give! And thanks, too 🙂
Pleas visit this at your convenience ……
http://yarnspinnerr.wordpress.com/2014/07/14/the-sunday-yarn-water-too-clean-to-drink/
Hi Penny!… What a powerful message here… The metaphor of the river (Heraclitus’ river maybe) being it related to Life passing by, like sweet water under a bridge… We can’t swim twice in the same river… As we change but, as you said here: woefully, also the river does!.
Sending love ❤ Aquileana 😛
Hi Aquileana. Thank you. Yes a good metaphor of the river and also as you say woefully true. Alll my love, keep taking care of you! 🙂 xx
Almost sounds so real!
xo 🙂 🙂 xo
Edging closer to being real with each passing day, RoSy! But I stay hopeful and know you do also! 🙂 xo
Great story Penny! A good take on what might come to pass! 🙂
Thank you Barb. It was a pleasure and fun to take part in this writing challenge! 🙂
AnElephantCant live without water
But that is true of each and every one
Penny’s tale is so clever
Of the bridge over the river
And it is a warning of what is to come
Magical tale with a moral.
AnElephant is once again in awe of The Writer.
Thank you! I love your poem and you’re correct the subject is exceedingly serious and I did try to make that clear! 🙂 xo
Fresh water is also what I love.
It is addictive and seductive and we (humans) do so need it, Yoshiko!
Indeed, Penny 🙂