George and his wife escaped from their burning apartment. Local politicians, some of whom he voted for, and reporters, labeled the rioting a peaceful protest, but he couldn’t see anything peaceful about the looting of his small store while the police were told to stand down. It would take years for them to recover from this toxic self-righteousness.
Standing apart from the rioters in an alley George tried to identify the mistakes they made that led to their decision to settle in this city three decades ago. He couldn’t think of anything fundamentally wrong with their decisions. He might still be wondering how they could have done things differently were it not for a large kettle containing fluids that exploded, scalding him and his wife, bringing them to their knees and then laying them on the ground.
Linked to Six Sentence Stories where Denise offers the word “kettle” to use in a story having six sentences.


I’m sure the stuff in that kettle was “mostly safe,” though, right? 😉
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If it weren’t for the requirement to use the word “kettle” I would have probably come up with some other ending. “Mostly safe” sounds like a good description of whatever it was. Thank you!
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dude!
relentless narrative momentum much?*
*compliment on a compelling Six
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Thank you!
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Frank this is a story of our times, sadly. Very well written.💜
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Thank you, Willow! Although fictional, it is about our times.
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Yes indeed it is 💜
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Well penned, Frank–hard and painful topic.
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Thank you!
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You’re welcome.
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A powerfully written (and tragic) Six reflective of current times!
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Thank you!
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Great story Frank.
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Thank you, Peter!
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Tough thoughts on a Thursday morn.
Good job on the sss.
Glad you are a part of this…you add much.
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Thank you!
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A tough and tragic six for our times which are much the same.
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I couldn’t keep my mind off of current events. Thank you!
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A very timely story with our minds still reeling from recent riots and the loss of many small family businesses. The ending was brutally realistic, but somehow I want to know they will be ok.
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I don’t plan to write a sequel. They could be OK. And that may be what one should assume to imagine what happens next.
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What a sad state of affairs, and too realistic. Well-written Six.
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Thank you, Kristi!
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… a compelling six …
I agree. Nicely done Frank.
Pat
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Thank you, Pat! I am glad you liked it.
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You might have made it up, but it’s true, nonetheless.
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It is fictional, but based on what I’ve heard.
I’ve tried to comment on your story, but I don’t see a place to enter a comment on a post. I just see an entire blogroll of posts. Best wishes and thank you!
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A powerful indictment of where we find ourselves in today’s society. Compelling reading, Frank.
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Thank you!
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This wrenched my gutt. Well told and necessary.
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Thank you, Lisa!
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It is a very sad story when protests deteriorate into looting and vandalism. I kept hoping the mc was going to recall some good times and neighbors in that place where they settled. How terrible that things got so out of hand.
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Things can easily get out of hand and I wonder how that ever happens. It is a mystery to me.
Thank you!
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Well, there’s an ending I wasn’t expecting! Interesting six!
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Thank you! I am glad it wasn’t expected. I wasn’t sure how to end it with a “kettle” theme.
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Sadly Humans
Didn’t Get A Memo
Any Longer that More
than 150 to 200
of them
in a Village
Lends a Bit of Trouble…
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Thank you, Fred!
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Well that picture doesn’t “go” well with that story. A beautiful picture it is.
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Sometimes I can’t find appropriate photos, Perhaps for this story it is a good thing I couldn’t. Thank you, Terre!
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HA! True!
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