This is Not a Test

[alcala0001]

Everything is not OK. You can feel it when you are alone, in the quiet part of the day when you reflect your thoughts inward. You feel the currents stirring; some unforseen tragedy is about to unfold. Either it's a disaster on a large scale who's implication is so vast, that you can feel it coming through the ripples of time-space, or it's something that will happen soon, like a shadow passing in front of the eyelid of your closed third-eye. Whatever it is, it's going to be HUGE. And we will all remember the moment for the rest of our lives when it arrives. Events have been put in motion for a long time; plans have been revised, improvised and realized in order to keep to the schedule. We have been marching toward this unseen impetus for a long time now - longer than any of us has realized. What you feel coming will change all of us. Some for the better, many for the worse. There is no room for apologies, so none will be offered. Just find solace in the fact that we are masters of our own destiny, and when the dice are cast, you have choices to make, and God help you. Right now, the best that you can do is listen to that vibration, that gut-feeling. That intuition. It may just save you - save us all. And the last thing, and probably the most import....

"Mr. President, we're ready." "Thank you Janice. I'll be there in a moment." With sweat on his brow, he stands up, steeling himself. Putting his Game Face on. He takes comfort in knowing that he's not the only one delivering this speech right now. This speech is being read all over the world today. At least the news is not his to deliver alone. He tugs his tie, adjusting it and runs a hand along his hair as he steps out into the auditorium. Flashes greet him as he walks up to the podium, and the room grows quiet. Quiet. He can feel the it now. The tension. Soon. He clears his throat and the microphone booms. His voice sounds dry and woody in the large auditorium speakers. "Ladies and Gentlemen... "

[hillwalker]

The tension builds up nicely - particularly in the second part. But it left me wondering - is this JUST an exercise in creating tension? Because plotwise nothing much has happened.

Also, there are a number of tired cliches 'rearing their ugly heads' (there goes another) towards the end of the first half.


What you feel coming will change all of us. Some for the better, many for the worse. There is no room for apologies, so none will be offered. Just find solace in the fact that we are masters of our own destiny, and when the dice are cast, you have choices to make, and God help you. Right now, the best that you can do is listen to that vibration, that gut-feeling.

So there's something coming that is going to alter our way of life. But all this repetitive build-up tends to diminish the threat. It's as if the world is going to be annihilated by..... cliches?

The idea behind the piece shows promise, but somewhere along the line the plot became discarded.

H

[alcala0001]

exactly. it was written to signify my return from hiatus. the writing bug hath bitten me, and i need to seek solace in the anti-venom of frustratingly short pieces that will confound and puzzle my fellow readers.