PHOTO PROMPT © Brenda Cox
Bird and Don enjoyed sailing on the Hill’s fifty-footer, but they were tired of being guests.
The salesperson assured them no knowledge was needed for pontoon boats; just fill the tank, hop on, and go.
They christened her Maryjane and invited a dozen guests for Memorial Day on the water. After boarding guests, coolers of beer, spirits, and mixers, Maryjane sat low.
As they chugged away from the dock, distant clouds resembled angel wings. By mid-lake, they darkened into a reaper’s shroud. Bird turned Maryjane back amid screams. The metal lightning rod roof and no life vests sealed their doom.
[100 words]
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields is the charming host of Friday Fictioneers.
Tao Talk 
A sad ending to their maiden voyage
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Reckless behavior so often leads to tragedy 😦
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Indeed it does b
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A tragedy! Nice take.
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Thanks, Iain!
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A little instruction might have helped after all
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Thanks, Neil!
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OK, well if this was real (or even if it isn’t). Never take critical advice from the same person selling you something.
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100% agree, Neil. Thanks for reading.
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BLAMMO
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Thanks, Ron!
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Nothing beats a good crisper! Anyone for human nuggets??? LOL! Great story. Ghastly scenario.
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Honestly, this story could be used for training videos about what NOT to do. “Human nuggets” I love it 🙂
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Sorry, fire house humor yesterday. I sometimes forget not everyone sees it that way. It’s how we were taught to ‘release’ some of the horrible things we saw. Oh, and I was munching chicky nuggs at the time, too. my sooooo bad. hehehe! I still loved your story… not sure the life jackets would’ve done much good. HAve a great week, Jade!
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I enjoyed your comment before and now, especially that you were munching chicky nuggs. You also, Bear ❤
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Poor Frank Zappa and the Mothers, some fool with a flare gun burned the place to the ground. Smoke on the waters.. Sorry… that song is based on a true story and the names weren’t changed.
Anyway, speaking stories, I did enjoy yours. Nope, don’t listen to sales people. Yep, get trained before you do things. Always listen, watch or read the weather report before going on the water.
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I knew it was based on an actual event but not the details. A flare gun? I misheard it as “flagon” as of alcohol 🙂 Thanks much for reading and the comment, Trent.
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Well that certainly took a turn for the worst.
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The root of it was envy… Thank you, Dawn.
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Yikes, it turned out to be the first and last dance with Maryjane! “Smoke on the Water” is one of my all-time favorites by Deep Purple from what I consider the best hard rock album I’ve heard to date, “Machine Head”.
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I saw what you did there with Maryjane 🙂 I agree Machine Head is pretty danged awesome. I love Deep Purple’s music.
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How horrifying. I can only imagine the terror.
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Indeed 😦
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how sad, it felt like the titanic. 😦
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Thanks for reading, Plaridel.
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That’s a dark tale. But inexperience and overconfidence often dooms us. (K)
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Exactly, Kerfe. I think that envy blinded these two and everybody paid the price 😦
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Too often we don’t think about the effect of our actions on others…
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Well, good grief. Too bad they weren’t better-educated before they sailed off with their doomed friends.
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Boating looks easy from shore and as a passive guest but it’s anything but…
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Knowledge may not be necessary to float the pontoon boat, but common sense is mandatory in any potential life-or-death situation.
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Oh no! That’s a tragic ending!
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I know 😦 Thanks for reading.
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You are welcome!
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I think Bird and Don wished to be guests after-all. A tragic twist. Nicely done, Lisa!
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Thanks, Brenda!
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Oh no disaster at sea – they should have been better prepared 🚣🏼♀️😊
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Life jackets at the very least!
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Dear Lisa,
As the saying goes, “If sense was common, we’d all have some.” Maryjane’s last dance for sure. Now I have two earworms for the price of one. 😉 Good one.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, LOL about the dueling earworms. Thank you very much and so true!
Shalom,
Lisa
p.s. Yesterday, I shared with my dream group how much I have learned along the way about Jewish culture and history by reading your story.
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story = stories!
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Such hopes of endless fun that ended in a freak disaster, no doubt classed as an act of God. How cruel.
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If you look at boating accident forensics you might be troubled to learned it is not such a freak accident as you might think… Thanks for reading and your thoughtful comment.
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Interesting to read
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Thank you!
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oh no it was so enthralling until the end. Great story Lisa! 👏🥲
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Cindy thank you very much 🙂
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Absolutely, LIsa! 💗
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Oh dear, it started so well. The salesperson has a lot to answer for methinks.
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Boat and Harley Davidson salespeople both have. Thanks, Keith.
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What a tragic ending. Interesting take on the prompt, Lisa.
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Thanks for reading and your comment.
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Yikes. That’s a tragedy, nicely done!
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The worst part is that it didn’t have to be. Thank you for reading and your comment.
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Oh no.
They probably should have read up on safety rules at least.
Nicely written… great slow descent into drama
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Thanks for the great comment, Laurie, yes they should have.
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Ooh, not good. Always love your stories. Nice one.
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Thanks much, Brit!
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