Copyright Madison Woods
Deep beneath the slick, rain-streaked cobbles of a Parisienne suburb, I continue my restless journey.
Occasionally I’ll hitch a ride on the greasy fur of some reluctant water-rat, accelerating my progress as it tries to shake me off, but I lost three days clinging to the face of a bloated corpse before I realised she was going nowhere. Nothing had changed for her, even in death.
The days have been long and dark, but today I see a glimmer at the end of the tunnel and I ooze gently in anticipation.
Sunlight… spores… soft breezes.
Today, Paris; tomorrow, a sewer near you.
And later…
The last time this photo was used for the Friday Fictioneers prompt, I opted for a more humorous approach with Brotherly Love. This time, with Rochelle taking a short break and my dark side champing at the bit, I’ve taken a different direction. And now… off down the Rhone for us. 🙂
castelsarrasin 
Looks like you’ve been plagued with dark thoughts! Wonderful first person travelogue, though I don’t fancy the world tour it has planned!
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No, that’s a cruise I’ll opt out of too. 🙂
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Sandra, Well written as always, and hilarious this time. 😀 I especially liked the part about the corpse. I don’t know that we have much to fear from that alien. It seems as confused as the rest of us, perhaps even more so. 🙂 —Susan
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It’s not the sharpest knife in the drawer (as they say) but it can still do a lot of cutting, I think.
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Well…it does make one wonder…in the microscopic world what is going on…plenty to eat, that’s for sure! Well told!
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Yes, a full spread awaits. 🙂 Thanks for commenting. I enjoyed yours too.
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Such a great POV, very funny story.
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Thank you, glad you liked it.
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A plague with a mind of its own.. grizzly.
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Thanks for reading Bjorn. 🙂
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“I ooze gently in anticipation.” … Snort! That’s good! 😀
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Yes, I’m always up for a gentle ooze. 😦 Or maybe not…
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Sandra- I finally matured to a place where I didn’t fear what might be lurking in the sewer and find its way up my toilet. Now that sense of peace is over. Only consolation is I’m not in Paris. Wait, no that’s no consolation at all. Great story- Dana
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It can only be a matter of time Dana, in fact, you’d better check quite soon, and every time…
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Sandra, beautifully ominous story. So glad your dark side didn’t surface during our visit. 🙂 Enjoy the Rhone!
janet
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Thanks for reading Janet, and yes, we’re already 60 kilometres into our journey. 🙂
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I’m sitting in a coffee (tea) bar in Chicago. Would prefer the river, but..,
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One of these stories where you don’t really need to “get it”…just enjoy the description and the possibilities.
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Thanks Paul, glad you liked it.
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Good grief was this gross! I loved it, but now I will be standing on the seat to p–
😉
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🙂 🙂 how graphic is that?? 🙂
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Safe travels!
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Thank you Dawn. 🙂
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Gross but great 😉
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Thanks for reading Helen.
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Brilliant phrasing.
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Thank you! 🙂
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Brrrr. Time to bring out the disinfectant. Nicely done.
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Double dosing, I should think. 🙂
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I wish it doesn’t arrive here close to me. Let it be in Paris, the city of lights!
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Well it is a free market you know… no travel restrictions.
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I was driving through France a couple of weeks ago on my way back from Spain with my family and we unexpectedly drove through Castelsarrisin. I immediately thought of you and I am glad to see that you are still writing your stylish FF contributions.
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Hi there! Seems a while. Yes, we once wintered the boat at Castelsarrasin, which has a lovely basin port, and as I started working on this blog shortly after, I gave it that name as a working title. Never got round to thinking of anything better, and I guess too late now. Thanks for visiting.
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the best I’ve read from you so far. very smooth sailing from beginning to end.
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Thank you Plaridel.!
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I personally think that this is the Part 2 of your Brotherly Love piece, and this is the remains of the sister oozing around in the sewers after being wanded.
Randy
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Some sisters are like that you know, holding a grudge for ever more…
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I chuckled when I read “Nothing had changed for her, even in death.” Good point-of-view story.
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Thank you Mike. 🙂
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Dear Sandra, Love your story – I wrote about an alien too – but I like yours much better. This was the creepiest picture so far in this club. I hope their aren’t too many of them – I could have easily of barfed – but I didn’t. Have fun on your cruise – you are one of the luckiest people in the world! Nan 🙂
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I meant there not their above. Sorry, Nan 🙂
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Thank you Nan; I don’t think we have too many gruesome ones, but this one I remember only too well.
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Aaahhh, the wonderful life of a bug…
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🙂
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A day in the life of some virus, perhaps? A chilling threat for the future in any case. Very imaginative!
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Certainly doesn’t bode well for the human race I think. 🙂 Thanks for dropping by.
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Aha! Creative one! Won’t get to see the creature as I never visit the sewers:)
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🙂 You should, there’d be a whole range of sights you’ve never wanted to see down there.
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Keep away from those Rhone water rats. Great story. I like not quite knowing exactly what this is, plague, green slime, alien oozing life-form even. But the idea of it lurking, unseen, is wonderfully unsettling.
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Thanks Claire; sorry to be late acknowledging.
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Oh ewww! The photo was scary enough 😦 This was good, though.
Ellespeth
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Thank you Ellespeth. 🙂
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You never disappoint! Oozing along just waiting for opportunity … *shudder* 😉
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Thanks Joanna. Sorry to be late acknowledging – various problems this week. 😦
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Sorry to hear that, Sandra – hope things ‘improve’ x
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Brings to mind nasty thoughts of the plague lurking in the sewer. And riding a rat. Yuck! And a corpse. Creepy story to go with a disturbing photo.
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Thank you Alicia. 🙂
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And later a plague maybe. There is a hint of menace in those words. Definitely the dark side.
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Thank you!
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And later…what?! This stuff is creepy, Sandra. My favorite line is “I realised she was going nowhere. Nothing had changed for her, even in death.” Ha, this spore thing seems to have a sense of humor. Love it.
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🙂 Thanks Amy. Sorry to be late acknowledging.
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You are dark, indeed, Sandra! Clinging on a corpse – gives me the willies. 🙂
Lily
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Thanks for reading. 🙂
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Oh, be still my heart. I do love studying infectious, insidious diseases. This one is particularly gross. Great gross job and cautionary, too. Lucy
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Thank you Lucy 🙂
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Dear Sandra,
I think it’s time for me to go on another vacation after reading this one. .This sounds like a maggot’s-eye-view. But could be a host of other things. Evil spirits? Totally ooky and well written as always. .
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks Rochelle. Hope to be back to FF this week. 🙂
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Yuck! The trouble is, you never know . . .
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You never do. 🙂
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Such a delightful image the ‘ooze gently in anticipation’. I enjoyed the annoyance and disdain your disease expresses towards his immovable corpse. Still, I don’t have to like his attitude. (Why am I assuming this manifestation is male?)
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Can’t think why you’d do that Sarah Ann. 😉
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I could see a flea or a parasite with its little suitcases packed like in the movie, “A Bug’s Life.” Pretty cool stuff. Wonderful, as usual, Sandra.
No story from me this week, but I will have one for Friday. Enjoy the Rhone!
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Oh I did Kent. 😦 Hope to be back to FF this week. Cheers.
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How nice of you to leave us with this creepy image, while you drift peacefully down the Rhone! You wicked woman you. 😉 Enjoy your trip, Sandra!
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‘Drift peacefully down the Rhone???’ An unseasonal appearance of Le Mistral with steady winds of 55kmh gusting to 95 was not my idea of a peaceful drift. 😉 Sorry to be late acknowledging – internet difficulties.
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Oh my! Not what I envisioned for you either!! Glad you’re safe– if not a bit shaken.
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Ah, it’s always happy to see one enjoying a holiday! Can’t wait to see the slides.
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You must pop round then Perry. You’ll love them. 😉
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I really like the tone of this story. “I lost three days clinging to the face of a bloated corpse” – so casually gruesome, so vivid.
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Thank you! I like tongue-in-cheek gruesome. 🙂
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