Swat – A locust’s perspective

PHOTO PROMPT © Shaktiki Sharma

I creep upward, gripping the slippery black dome. Out of view and hidden. In case some screeching human sees fit to swat me to allay their fears.

Humans. They filled up every space. There is one scratching his beard, looking intently at one of those layers of black and white they use to swat at us. Here is two more chatting to each other. One smaller limbed, more dainty than the other.  Humans. Their voices and movements creating an incessant buzzing and thumping.

Smack! I twitch reflexively. The dainty human swats the bigger one. It’s face red on one side.

100 words

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Written for Friday Fictioneers hosted by the awesome Rochelle. Read more flash fiction here. Or give flash fiction a try and join us!

Responses

  1. neilmacdon avatar
    neilmacdon

    I thought I wasn’t going to like this. But the unexpected target of the swat was fun

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Fatima Fakier Deria avatar
      Fatima Fakier Deria

      Thank you Neil! This was a fun piece and definitely challenging for me to write as I found I couldn’t say words like reading and newspaper and woman. What would locusts know about these things? I’m glad it was a pleasant surprise for you in the end.

      Like

      Reply
  2. J Hardy Carroll avatar
    J Hardy Carroll

    I like this. The grasshopper playing the old game of “why are you hitting yourself?” Well done.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fatima Fakier Deria avatar
      Fatima Fakier Deria

      Thank you J Hardy! Though maybe it wasn’t clear in the story: A woman slapped a man. Not someone hitting himself. LOL. Unless I misunderstood you? Thanks for reading.

      Like

      Reply
  3. Iain Kelly avatar
    Iain Kelly

    Ha, nice perspective and voice. Well done.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fatima Fakier Deria avatar
      Fatima Fakier Deria

      Thank you Iain!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  4. rochellewisoff avatar
    rochellewisoff

    Dear Fatima,

    I’m sure it was a relief to the bug to see a human swat another human. Imaginative story.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  5. trentpmcd avatar
    trentpmcd

    I hate it when a swarm of those pesky humans come in and pillage the area… nice target of the swat.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fatima Fakier Deria avatar
      Fatima Fakier Deria

      I’m so glad you picked up the role reversal there! Thank you Trent.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  6. James avatar
    James

    Ouch. Leave the poor thing be.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  7. granonine avatar
    granonine

    Oh! That was a surprise–and very funny!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fatima Fakier Deria avatar
      Fatima Fakier Deria

      Thank you !

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  8. Magaly Guerrero avatar
    Magaly Guerrero

    Ouch! I was not expecting that. Very clever ending.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fatima Fakier Deria avatar
      Fatima Fakier Deria

      Thank you Magaly! 😊

      Like

      Reply
  9. Snow's Fissures and Fractures avatar
    Snow’s Fissures and Fractures

    That was fun, a bugs perspective on human pests.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fatima Fakier Deria avatar
      Fatima Fakier Deria

      Thank you. Fun to write too. 😊

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  10. Rommy avatar
    Rommy

    I expect that locust enjoyed his moment of schadenfreude

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fatima Fakier Deria avatar
      Fatima Fakier Deria

      Especially since it meant he was not at the receiving end of that misfortune 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  11. michael1148humphris avatar
    michael1148humphris

    This story was a pleasure to read, I loved ‘I twitch reflectively’

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fatima Fakier Deria avatar
      Fatima Fakier Deria

      Thank you very much! Glad you enjoyed it, Michael.

      Like

      Reply
  12. Rosemary Carlson avatar
    Rosemary Carlson

    I liked this!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fatima Fakier Deria avatar
      Fatima Fakier Deria

      Thank you Rosemary!

      Like

      Reply
  13. neelwritesblog avatar
    neelwritesblog

    An absolute pleasure read. How the tables turned. Excellent POV.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fatima Fakier Deria avatar
      Fatima Fakier Deria

      Thank you very much!

      Like

      Reply
  14. Tamal avatar
    Tamal

    This is great story. Liked the twist ending.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fatima Fakier Deria avatar
      Fatima Fakier Deria

      Thank you Tamal. 😊

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  15. FabricatingFiction avatar
    FabricatingFiction

    Really fun!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fatima Fakier Deria avatar
      Fatima Fakier Deria

      Thank you Louise! Glad you enjoyed it. 😊

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  16. Dale avatar
    Dale

    I particularly loved that the humans buzzed incessantly…

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fatima Fakier Deria avatar
      Fatima Fakier Deria

      Human pests! Thank you Dale.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  17. Liz Young avatar
    Liz Young

    A clever twist at the end – I wonder what big human said to upset small human?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fatima Fakier Deria avatar
      Fatima Fakier Deria

      Possibly a lover’s quarrel… Lol

      Thank you for reading Liz!

      Like

      Reply
  18. Michael Wynn avatar
    Michael Wynn

    I thought the locust would need to take evasive action soon but you came in with a great twist at the end.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fatima Fakier Deria avatar
      Fatima Fakier Deria

      Thank you Michael.

      Like

      Reply

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