“It just isn’t working.”
“I know.”
His dirt-ingrained fingers rake through his grizzled grey hair.
“The fertiliser’s feckin’ useless these days, so the crops can’t thrive… and while they’re sanitising insecticides to the point where they no longer work, pests are becoming hardier than ever.”
“I know.”
“We’re saving the planet… I get that… but who for? There’ll be no food… unless we start to eat insects.”
They listen to the skittering of god-knows-what on the roof, and the furtive scratching of mandibles beneath the door.
He starts to sob.
“And the insects… they know that.”
You hear a lot of talk about eating insects these days, don’t you? Just sayin’… Thanks to Rochelle for leading Friday Fictioneers every week, we’re all very grateful for what you do.
Critters deep fried, not for me. However there might be a place for cockroach soup. In the bin. But your story I right enjoyed. It is full of favour
LikeLike
Thanks Michael! 🙂
LikeLike
Tasty, nutrititious, with a crisp crunch. And so easily farmed.
LikeLike
It would seem so. Thanks for reading, Neil.
LikeLike
Dear Sandra,
Perhaps if the insects are chocolate covered. Or deep fried. People eat just about anything if it’s deep fried. 😉 I fear the only thing the pesticides are killing is the human race. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLike
I draw the line at deep fried Brussels Sprouts myself. Thanks for reading, Rochelle.
LikeLike
Pesticides & insecticides will no longer be needed!
Insect-farming is a trend.
Some nations have been eating insects for quite some time.
LikeLike
Thanks for reading, Anita.
LikeLike
Insects are real threat and they really know this..This is true. I enjoyed your story
LikeLike
Thanks, Vartika.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Of course, they’ll be here long after we’ve gone.
LikeLike
Sure of it. Thanks for reading, Iain.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Free range, sustainable, what’s not to like?
LikeLike
Mandibles, that’s what… Thanks for reading Keith.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh that last line! I wish it wasn’t true…
LikeLike
Thanks for reading. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome. My pleasure 🙂
LikeLike
Methinks they have a whole ‘nother reason to worry about the insects… Now I feel all creepy crawly over my skin!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know what you mean. Thanks for reading, Dale.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Always a pleasure.
LikeLike
Not a good omen for our future.
LikeLike
Indeed. Thanks for reading.
LikeLike
Loved your take on the prompt!
LikeLike
Thank you, Rosemary.
LikeLike
Insects will rule the world when we are long gone. There is nothing worse than lying in bed listening to the scutter of cockroaches or seeing those large leaf devouring grasshoppers decimate plants. It is hard to be kind to the earth but we must try. Great story that says so much.
LikeLike
Thanks for reading. I find myself ambivalent about creepy crawlies. I’ve even been known to try to save bees or bluebottles from spiders’ webs. It makes my skin crawl watching their panicked struggles as the spider approaches. They seldom survive, coated in gooey web thread, but I set them free anyway. I’m all heart.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What are bluebottles? Out here bluebottles are marine stingers.
LikeLike
They’re the very large common flies you get around the house, on rotting matter. I could go into further detail but it’s approaching lunchtime…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh I know the ones. We call them blowflies or horseflies.
LikeLike
A chilling story, Sandra. In the end, they will win. 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks for reading, Bill. And for providing the photograph.
LikeLiked by 1 person
They listen to the skittering of god-knows-what on the roof. Well, that line certainly made my skin crawl. Well done.
LikeLike
Thanks for reading Alicia. It’s a pleasure to see you back on the squares again.
LikeLike
Ah Sandra, a dystopian world indeed. where monster insects devour us all.
LikeLike
Thanks for reading, James.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I once ate dried chocolate ants. I didn’t know it until afterwards.
I wretched as much as I could but nothing. I guess I
must have chewed them real well. LOL
I hope it doesn’t come to this but one never knows.
Interesting thoughts with a bit of UGH on eating insects.
Isadora 😎
LikeLike
No, it could be quite slimming, I guess. 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha Ha
LikeLike
What a great story, Sandra, the all-too-plausible doom of it. I especially loved the creepiness of the last line. I could see this as a great thriller movie.
LikeLike
Thanks for reading, David.
LikeLike
That is such a great piece – sounds like the start of a really good horror novel or movie!
LikeLike
Thanks for reading.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hehe, that was great. Here they come, makes you wonder who’ll eat whom. Kill too many of a sort, and they’ll form resistance. Nature knows that, the chemical industry does, too, but they only care for the money. About eating insects: I’ve seen a documentary about startups that produce dog and cat food from insect protein. Not a bad idea if you ask me. And youngsters may have less of a problem with insect protein. Me, gulp, no, I’d rather go vegan.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I’ve seen one or two articles about insect pet food. My new cat has a number of food allergies, generally I think to the proteins in regular food. I may find myself resorting to that line. Thanks for reading.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This could be a great set-up for a horror story. Really well done.
LikeLike
Many thanks, Linda.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Those reality tv shows that are supposedly deep in the jungle with cameramen all around them…they eat bugs. I can’t see it catching on though. But I can definitely see the potential for a horror story with this. Well done.
LikeLike