At What Cost?

Welcome to Friday Fictioneers hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields.  Photo prompt has been provided by Ted Strutz.

If you would like to read more 100 word stories, click the blue button at the bottom of the page.

 

The rain hammered.  Car after car rolled onto the ferry, watery tracks staining the deck.  

Ted watched, swallowing down nausea.  He looked at the worn gate locking mechanism again.  How many times had he filed the work request?  Twenty?  At least! 

Another report this morning.  “It will fail, sir!  We need to replace it!”

His diligence was not appreciated.  Shareholders wanted profits. 

At the cost of human lives?  Apparently.  “Just do your job!”

He knew it wouldn’t hold. 

The cars kept rolling on board.  Men, women, children, babies.

What of his own family?  No, he couldn’t just walk away.

-word count: 99

40 thoughts on “At What Cost?”

    1. I think it’s too late to make them listen. He’s done all he can and now he’ll just try to save as many as he’s able.

    1. I’m more than just a pretty face. I have some grit. It’s usually in all the wrong places but it’s there. :o) Thanks for stopping by, Trent. :o)

    1. Even more that he’s going on that ferry even though he knows it could go down as soon as today. I like his courage. Thanks for stopping by Michael. :o)

    1. The ferry went down, Ted saved every last passenger and all the major Shareholders & CEOs were sent to do hard labor in a Gulag in the furthest reaches of Siberia. :o) Thanks for stopping by Keith. I’ll get to your story tomorrow. I promise.

    1. Sometimes it’s nice to write about a genuinely wonderful person. Thanks for stopping by Christine. :o)

  1. Scary and very topical for UK readers, following the Grenfell Tower tragedy, which could have been prevented if people in power had acted on concerns that had been raised time and again.

    1. Profit without conscience is an evil thing. The Grenfell Tower is a disaster than should never have happened. I hope they prosecute. Thanks for stopping by JS.

  2. Reminds me of all the reports on what you should have done for that building in London… I hope he will do the right thing… (but Ted is good so it will work out well)

    1. There should be more people like Ted, especially in positions of power. Thanks for stopping by, Bjorn. :o)

  3. This is similar to the disastrous business with the tower block cladding fire in London. People may die and heads will roll, possibly even Ted’s. Let’s hope the lock holds. If it does, Ted better leak the truth and find another job. Good writing, Lori. —- Suzanne

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