Thursday, April 24, 2014

U is for . . . UPWARD MOBILITY

Welcome to The Blogging from A-Z Challenge April 2014! This year, I’m offering up a story – each one 100 words or fewer - for each letter of the alphabet.

Some are heartfelt, poignant, sweet. Others are…not. 

I hope you enjoy them.

*****

UPWARD MOBILITY

Like litter, dirty and crumpled, she skitters down the sidewalk, passing the homeless shelter she slept in before the apocalypse.

She was once a creature of alleys and underpasses. She was once a victim, a survivor, a thief, a murderer.

She still is.

Inside The Tivoli Tower, she hurries through the ravaged lobby. The stairwell’s dark throat spews her out onto the highest floor. She barricades the penthouse’s door, puts away her supplies. She wraps herself in a burgundy cashmere robe.

On the balcony, she pours herself a drink from a bottle older and more expensive than she’ll ever be.

*****

35 comments:

  1. The apocalypse was a new opportunity for her.

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  2. I suppose the lower you are when everything falls, the easier it is for you to take advantage of the disaster - nicely done!
    Sophie
    Sophie's Thoughts & Fumbles - A to Z Ghosts
    Fantasy Boys XXX - A to Z Drabblerotic

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  3. Alex, Sophie - I think the skills she had before help her survive now.

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  4. Very well written Madeline. Love the ending, "a bottle older and more expensive than she will ever be."

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  5. Wow, this sounds like an interesting story.

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  6. I loved this! This story is right up my alley. :) And this sentence is amazing: "The stairwell’s dark throat spews her out onto the highest floor." Well done!

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  7. Nana - in a way….

    Chrys - I'm glad you enjoyed it.

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  8. Great twist that the apocalypse actually helped her. Love the line about the stairwell's dark throat.

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  9. Oh cool. I really like this. I could feel her self-loathing. Good stuff.

    Brandon Ax: Writer's Storm

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  10. Another powerful flash. You are so-o-o good at these.
    Deb@ http://debioneille.blogspot.com

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  11. I like how she was able to move upward, no matter what the circumstances that got her to do so.

    betty

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  12. Fabulous! Love your writing! Would you be willing to let me advertise you in a blog hop next week? Then it would pass to you to pick two more bloggers.

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  13. Oh, how I love this:Like litter, dirty and crumpled, she skitters down the sidewalk.

    I adore your writing, and look forward to your 100 words every day.

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  14. A pauper turned princess without the happy ending. Great read.

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  15. Yes! Amazing imagery, and I love the transition from trash to queen.

    True Heroes from A to Z

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  16. Susan G - you never know, she might return in another story/novella/novel one day….

    Debi - thank you!

    Betty - she certainly made the most of things….

    Noelle - thanks! I could only access your Google + page and not your blog so not sure what blog hop etc you're referring to.

    Susan K - thank you so much. I really appreciate that.

    Loni, Crystal - thank you!

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  17. Another cracker. Such an excellent title too - I went back up to confirm the title. The story is fantastic.

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  18. Just a few lines, probably will consist one page in a novel book but very engaging!

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  19. So vivid-- and upward mobility so well portrayed.

    Damyanti, Co-host A to Z Challenge April 2014, My Latest post

    Twitter: @AprilA2Z
    #atozchallenge

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  20. Love this one! My favorite line: "The stairwell’s dark throat spews her out onto the highest floor." Such powerful imagery!

    I love reading your flash fiction!!

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  21. Liza, Scribbler, Maria, Damyanti, Jolie - thank you all!

    Kristin - I'm glad to hear so many people like that line. :)

    Tasha - thanks!

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  22. Zombie apocalypse?!?! Oh please, oh please, oh please...

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  23. It's called Pass the Baton blog hop:http://lindanightingale.wordpress.com/2014/04/05/baton-pass-blog-pass-that-baton-promise-not-to-drop/
    Hope I can advertise you!

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  24. Noelle - I've got a lot going on in the next few months so I'm taking a bit of a break from blog hops for awhile. Except for IWSG, that is. :) But, really, thank you for thinking of me!

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