Stairway to heaven

PHOTO PROMPT © Ted Strutz

Oh shoot! The escalator to heaven is broken again. Assistant angel, Nuri, had been accompanying the new recruits to their destination in heaven. He looked at the motley crew of fresh souls, pity squeezing his heart. Bless these poor buggers. At least they died instantly.

Suddenly, the escalator started up again. This time in reverse heading straight down towards Hades chambers! He didn’t fancy dropping in on Hades and Lucifer right this minute. Not with all the war down on earth. They wouldn’t appreciate being interrupted whilst busy deceiving souls.

Desperately, he pressed the red button for the Archangel.

99 words

******

Had a little fun with the divine realm and the supernatural here. The image immediately conjured up images of angels, saints, and stairways to heaven.

Written for Friday Fictioneers hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. A weekly flash fiction prompt where the challenge is to write a story in 100 words or less.

Click the frog to submit your flash fiction and read what others have written too.

bigfred

Responses

  1. ceayr avatar
    ceayr

    Hmm, as a Scot I am concerned that there seems to be a shortage of engineers in heaven…

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fatima Fakier avatar
      Fatima Fakier

      Hmmm, well if you have the qualifications you could apply for the position… 🙂 Although I would miss your posts

      Like

      Reply
      1. ceayr avatar
        ceayr

        It’s just that engineers are traditionally Scots, think Star Trek, for example.
        And thank you, you are very kind.

        Liked by 2 people

      2. Fatima Fakier avatar
        Fatima Fakier

        Oh you’re right of course. Sorry that went over my head.

        Like

  2. neilmacdon avatar
    neilmacdon

    My advice would be to miracle the escalator. Great fun, Fatima

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fatima Fakier avatar
      Fatima Fakier

      Of course! That works well up there! Thanks, Neil.

      Like

      Reply
  3. Colline avatar
    Colline

    Definitely sounds like an intervention is needed 😀

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fatima Fakier avatar
      Fatima Fakier

      It definitely needs some ‘divine intervention’! Thanks, Colline.

      Like

      Reply
  4. rochellewisoff avatar
    rochellewisoff

    Dear Fatima,

    I suspect there will be a few more stairways to heaven this week. 😉 Love your imaginative take on it. If heaven has engineering problems, we’re all doomed.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fatima Fakier avatar
      Fatima Fakier

      Thank you, Rochelle!

      Like

      Reply
  5. J Hardy Carroll avatar
    J Hardy Carroll

    Do not pass go! Great one.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fatima Fakier avatar
      Fatima Fakier

      Hahaha! Do not collect 200. Thank you, J Hardy.

      Like

      Reply
  6. pennygadd51 avatar
    pennygadd51

    Teehee! Panic in the ranks! Man up, Nuri!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fatima Fakier avatar
      Fatima Fakier

      He seems like a newbie to me. 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  7. Keith's Ramblings avatar
    Keith’s Ramblings

    There must be a ladder nearby! A clever take Fatima.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fatima Fakier avatar
      Fatima Fakier

      It would come in handy for sure. Thank you, Keith.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  8. Na'ama Yehuda avatar
    Na’ama Yehuda

    LOL, well done! I think I see some heaven-and-hell salad in the near future of your story … oy vey!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fatima Fakier avatar
      Fatima Fakier

      Unless the archangel shows up…. *cue dramatic music*

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Na'ama Yehuda avatar
        Na’ama Yehuda

        ooops … 😉

        Like

  9. msjadeli avatar
    msjadeli

    Oh how I enjoyed your story 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fatima Fakier avatar
      Fatima Fakier

      Glad it delighted you!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  10. Nobbinmaug avatar
    Nobbinmaug

    “An escalator can never break: it can only become stairs. You should never see an Escalator Temporarily Out Of Order sign, just Escalator Temporarily Stairs. Sorry for the convenience.” – Mitch Hedberg

    It seems that even in the afterlife there’s no shortage of bureaucracy or technical issues. Most of us will get enough of it in life to be prepared for the afterlife.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fatima Fakier avatar
      Fatima Fakier

      At this rate, we’d have paid for all our sins too!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  11. Iain Kelly avatar
    Iain Kelly

    I like the idea that angel engineers are grumpy and moany in their work, just like their human counterparts! Great fun 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fatima Fakier avatar
      Fatima Fakier

      Thank you, Iain 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  12. Mike avatar
    Mike

    Nicely done, yes nicely done.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fatima Fakier avatar
      Fatima Fakier

      Thank you, Mike.

      Like

      Reply
  13. tedstrutz avatar
    tedstrutz

    This does the prompt proud. A friend took this photo and I liked it knowing some good stories would come. Good story!!! You can see her work here… https://instaology.com/

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fatima Fakier avatar
      Fatima Fakier

      She took a great photo. THanks, Ted.

      Like

      Reply
  14. Dale avatar
    Dale

    This was definitely a fun one, Fatima.
    Quick! Need proper help!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fatima Fakier avatar
      Fatima Fakier

      Thanks, Dale 🙂 Had fun with it too.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  15. Tannille avatar
    Tannille

    Ah even machines cause problems in the after life. Love it! Can see the angel swearing as souls move towards hell.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fatima Fakier avatar
      Fatima Fakier

      Angels swearing! That would be a sight! Thanks, Tannille.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  16. granonine avatar
    granonine

    Yes, a fun post, but you also make an important point about Lucifer deceiving the hearts of men. Good post.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fatima Fakier avatar
      Fatima Fakier

      Thank you! I’m happy it resonated with you.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  17. Liz Young avatar
    Liz Young

    This made me smile – even Heaven has mechanical failures sometimes!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  18. Brenda's Thoughts avatar
    Brenda’s Thoughts

    A very fun story. Quick thinking on Nuri’s part. Call upon someone higher up. Nicely done, Fatima!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fatima Fakier avatar
      Fatima Fakier

      Thank you, Brenda. Not sure if it will bode well for his job review though 😉

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  19. James McEwan avatar
    James McEwan

    If only life had that same panic button when required.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fatima Fakier avatar
      Fatima Fakier

      I would overuse it and most probably break it.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  20. Sandra avatar
    Sandra

    There’s always help if you look hard enough. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fatima Fakier avatar
      Fatima Fakier

      Now that is a wonderful thought, thank you Sandra.

      Like

      Reply

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