AnElephantCant always be funny
Sometimes he enjoys being mysterious
But this piece is neither
It builds up to a fever
He hopes that it is not too serious
This is a weekly invitation to write a short piece of fiction (c. 150 words) based on a photo prompt (below) provided by Alastair.
The link takes you to great stories by some great writers.
But please read AnElephant’s gritty fiction noir first.
And don’t be too scared!
The Clockwork Orange is the local name for Glasgow’s underground rail system.
Copyright Alastair Forbes
The Clockwork Orange
The train thunders into Partick station.
They board it with barely concealed relief, find seats without difficulty, and sit close together, holding hands.
They scan the other passengers carefully, a surreptitious nudge drawing attention to this one or that.
There is no sign of trouble.
The man relaxes, his companion is still excited, almost hyper-active.
Their interlocked hands are a source of comfort to both.
The man points upwards with his right index finger.
We must be under the river by now. Can you remember what it is called?
The River Clyde.
Ah, yes.
He nods with apparent satisfaction, and leans back, reading the adverts.
A tug on his arm brings his gaze down to their reflections in the windows opposite, and the concerned look on the face he loves above all others.
Why is it called The Clockwork Orange, grandpa?
anelephantcant 
The movie of the same name comes to mind… You’ll have to enlighten us as to how it got it’s name! Can’t be any worse than the subways of Manhattan 🙂
I used the subway as an escape!
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Hi, Jules, thanks for visiting again, always a delight to see you here.
The Glasgow Underground has adjacent lines running the same route – a loop – in opposite directions.
Like a child’s clockwork train set.
The rolling stock is, inexplicably, bright orange.
(Isn’t copy/paste wonderful!)
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Copy and past is wonderful…once you figure out how to use it. Took me a while. A good friend explained the ‘C’ is for copy and the ‘V’ really what could that be for? Well ‘Vomit’ of course … Jack might like that. But then I bet he knows more about computer opperations than I do!
Now I also understand the name of the move… makes sense now. How can one say this kindly…folks that might be a tad unstable are said to be ‘loopy’.
Just yesterday I also learned about Horse latitudes.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horse_latitudes which I had never heard of before.
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Interesting that you introduce the word ‘loopy’ on AnElephant’s site!
Just what are you trying to say here?!?!
Hmmm…..
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Awe, if we all weren’t just a tad loopy would we be gifting our words away? It is a pleasure to be crazy nice, loopy. Though I think some might consider ‘loopy’ when one is tipsy? Then are we not all drunk on our imagination? One tends to forget that not all silly words mean the same to everyone. A circle is a loop like a hoola hoop and when a hoola hoop is in action it too is loopy 🙂
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Love it! The grandfather/grandson relationship is so special.
Recently, with, I must admit, some trepidation, I boarded the Clockwork Orange. As we bone shakingly, thunderously, careered through subterranean Glasgow my fears disappeared. One of several firsts that day. A fabulous trip!
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Ah, yes, life is full of new experiences if we only allow them to happen.
Hugs
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Enjoyed that, especially the use of the word “surreptitious”
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AnElephant is always delighted when his use of a bon mot gives pleasure.
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A lovely story, I wonder if Grandpa knows why it is called “A clockwork orange”? 🙂 xo
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Glad you enjoyed it.
And, of course, AnElephant is the font of all knowledge.
(On his own blog, at any rate!)
The Glasgow Underground has adjacent lines running the same route – a loop – in opposite directions.
Like a child’s clockwork train set.
The rolling stock is, inexplicably, bright orange.
Opened in 1896, this is the third oldest underground metro system in the world after, unsurprisingly, London and, perhaps more surprisingly, Budapest!
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Ooh, lovely! It’s nice not read about the London Underground for a change, too!
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Thanks, Freya, the Glasgow Underground is, like AnElephant, much simpler!
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You have shown us a lovely relationship between those two! And by the way, why is it called The Clockwork Orange?
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Thank you, Gabriella.
The Glasgow Underground has adjacent lines running the same route – a loop – in opposite directions.
Like a child’s clockwork train set.
The rolling stock is, inexplicably, bright orange.
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I too will say – Awesome.
Anelephant can always write well. 🙂
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Thank you, Mr Spinner, very happy that you enjoyed and your praise is much appreciated.
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nice work Mr Elephant. Love the reference to a Clockwork Orange. Very clever.
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Thank you, lovely to see you visiting again.
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Awesome. It does make me wonder if this a part of AnElephant’s history 🙂
A great story
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Of course, Al, you know AnElephant too well!
He was maybe 3 years old when we first rode the ‘tube’ and waiting in the station was an exciting but anxious time for him.
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🙂
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