Prime time for crime

By On September 8, 2011 · 31 Comments · In Criminally in Vain : A Thrillogy., Featured

The year is 2212.  Sal Buttaci does not imagine a kinder, gentler nation.  And yet, the crime rate is down considerably.  Not that we are kinder, or gentler, but that former crimes have now become, well…let Sal explain.  Here is his entry into our latest contest, Criminally in Vain– A Thrillogy.

CITY-BLOCK WARS

“It’s a Crime”

“Not anymore,” Giosif said. “Remember, old man? It’s 2212.”

But Great-grandpa Alowishis remembered when he was was even younger than the boy. Porch-chair afternoons found him ears glued to the stories his own great-grandfather recounted of Old America.

He felt sorry for ten-year-old Giosif who had lost both his parents in a city-block war. Alowishis was all he had.

Suddenly Old Glory waved proudly in the old man’s memory. He bit his lip to dispel it.

“Things is different now,” Giosif said without looking up from the green Spetzer in his hand. Hypnotically he ran the chamois up and down the green triple barrel.

“Ain’t a crime no more.”

He raised the shiny Spetzer, aimed it with a cool hand and fired at Clara somebody. She fell where she stood.

“Stay your ass on K Street.”

Alowishis muttered “murder,” but the boy laughed, reloading in case Clara brought family.

-END-

In 2212 bullet points takes on a slightly different demeaning

Salvatore Buttaci is an obsessive-compulsive writer whose work has appeared widely. He was the 2007 recipient of the $500 Cyber-wit Poetry Award.

His latest collection of short-short fiction, 200 Shorts, is available at

www.amazon.com/200-Shorts-Salvatore-Buttaci/dp/0984639241/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1314991699&sr=1-1

His follow-up collection of 164 flash stories, Flashing My Shorts, also published by All things That Matter Press, is available at

 
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  • M. Stang

    From the king of shorts, another amazing run at another contest.  Alowishis?  Really?  Great name!  The art of giving us such full characters in these creative plot lines with so little time is pure  Buttaci all the way. 

  • Anonymous

    Agree 100% with you, Stang. Sal is King of Creative and this is just one more story that demonstrates that. My hat’s off to you, Sal and looking forward to more.

  • Mac Eagan

    I find the two most powerful words of this story, the ones that most aptly capture the attitude of this future generation, are “Clara somebody.”
    When animals kill, we don’t really ask “why?”, we just attribute it to instinct.  When people kill, we search for motive.  Money, vengeance, hate, love.  Some “human reason” for taking a life.
    So, is the future generation human, animal, or something less?  To kill just because one can?  Because it is no longer “a crime”?
    Powerful writing, Sal.

  • http://theturnofthekarmicwheel.blogspot.com Monica Brinkman

    Salvatore Buttaci – yet another amazing story. Brings fear to the soul thinking humanity may come to such an end when life means little.

    Love your characters names Mr Star of Flash Fiction.

  • Stars Fall On My Heart

    This is another one of those stories that make me go “WTF” at the end.  Lower crime rate, higher body count. Wow, that’s fantastic. That’s what “WTF” stands for anyhow. Great job!!!

  • Diane Cresswell

    Good one Sal…into the future we run and boy you really put some perceptions out there in this future.  Lawlessness takes on a whole new meaning.  Love your take on names…I agree with Mike…very creative.  And I know there’s more and can hardly wait…

  • Tlrelf

    I agree with Mac re the “Clara Somebody”. . .talk about turf wars. . .I wonder what led to this state-of-affairs. . .

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Michael-J-Solender/1113856061 Michael J. Solender

    yowza, the future don’t look bright. good thing sal’s writing is. brilliant!

  • Raymond_neely

    Sal,

    Thanks for getting us with this little thriller.  I always love your future society, imaginary society, stories.  It’s a dying art form.  Keep us reading.

  • SalvatoreButtaci

    Mac, you hit the nail on the head about this future generation. We can only hope this flash is not a preview of things to come.

  • SalvatoreButtaci

    Thanks, M. I changed the spelling of the two characters to show how little regard this future generation has of the past–an almost irreverence of all past things. Thanks for the “king of Shorts” tag. I may race out today and buy myself a plastic crown or get one from Burger King!

  • SalvatoreButtaci

    glclark, thanks for your uplifting comments. I love writing flash fiction and will continue to write them, post them here, and read the great flashes of others here, like yours!

  • SalvatoreButtaci

    Sometimes, Raymond, when I write these stories of the future, I am saddened to think there is always the chance they will become true. After all, as a boy I read Flash Gordon comics and thought going to the moon was hilarious entertainment and nothing more. Man, was I fooled!

  • SalvatoreButtaci

    Michael, I have written some stories where the sun shines brightly and everybody’s feasting on roasted pig, laughing at life and spreading good cheer everywhere. But only a few tales like that. I like to vent my dark side. Thanks for calling this little flash “brilliant.” Sharon says I am a glutton for praise. No, don’t answer that. Just tell me once more, my friend, It’s a good thing whose writing is bright?

  • SalvatoreButtaci

    Tlref, the City-block Wars did not come about overnight. It took a good century and a half for Americans to become so damn tolerant of everyone and everything, they started feeling sorry for those whose fingers were trigger-happy, the psychotic who saw nothing wrong with playing God and pulling the plug on the living. What a horror show! It has already begun…

  • SalvatoreButtaci

    Diane, when I thought this one up, the movie projector man in my head insisted on flashing more, but because I was restricted to 150 words, I yanked him out of his chair, gagged him with a greasy popcorn bag, and gave him a lesson on the virtue of patience. He sat there nodding his head…

  • SalvatoreButtaci

    Stars, the premise of my flash is pure horror in my book! I would hate to think some future society will be so heartlessly diabolic as to place more value on their concrete streets than on those who stroll down them. But if we look carefully at the signs all around us where violence desensitizes us from cradle to grave, maybe the premise, though horrid, can come to pass…

  • SalvatoreButtaci

    Monica, my prayer is that the world comes to its senses and stops placing personal money gain and selfish motives ahead of the welfare of others. To me, however, it seems to be worsening. No telling how true this flash will be one sad day.

  • Joseph Grant

    A great story of a Utopia sold to the highest bidder with a gun! Taut and lean, classic science fiction. The kind they don’t write any more.

  • SalvatoreButtaci

    Joe, I’m still writing them! I love to sit and imagine what the future will bring or take away!

  • Diane Cresswell

    So Sal any connection to the “boys” from Italy???? HUH???  Reading Albert Brooks’ book 2030 and you might enjoy it with his take on what the future might bring…amazingly close to what you are writing…

  • Rich Bottles Jr.

    Sal reminds us in his usual not-so-subtle way that there can be consequences in the future if society continues to place less and less value on life.

  • RichardGodwin

    Sal you capture the dehumanisation of a certain type of criminal mind, that raised on alienating games and amorality. We need to explore what influences create such objectification, and you portray it brilliantly here.

  • Jdtravers

    Hell,this may be coming! Nice job!

  • SalvatoreButtaci

    Thanks, Jeff. Let’s pray those times never come to our city blocks!

  • SalvatoreButtaci

    Thanks, Rich. I believe the human race has a long way to go on the evolution trail before it leaves behind those traits and vices that serve only to dehumanize it.

  • SalvatoreButtaci

    Rich B., when will we ever learn! The danger in remaining asleep and ignoring the disregard for law and order is that the situation can only worsen, as we are seeing day to day.

  • M. Stang

    Or at the very least, the tee shirt.

  • Mac Eagan

    I couldn’t help but notice – Stars used the word “fantastic” and you clarified with “pure horror.”  We often today describe great things as terrific, but that word has its roots in terror.  Some older writings that I recall would have characters saying things were “fantastic” when there was nothing positive intended.
    Funny how language changes over time.

  • Vincent J.

    What a story!! Another fine job by Sal Buttaci. It hits you right between the eyes in that short time and gives us plenty food for thought. Is this where we are headed?…………Keep up the good work!

  • SalvatoreButtaci

    Vincent, thanks for your kind words.