I took another break from Visual Fiction this week and decided to do Alastair’s Photo Fiction prompt.
copyright Alastair Forbes
Gumdrop Miners
“Come on, pixies, down the hole!” the foreman yelled
The pixie miners lined up at the head of the gumdrop mine, dried and crusted sugar stuck to their overalls.
Saccrin checked his gum-saw and his bag of powdered sugar. When it was his turn, he grabbed hold of the rope and was lowered into the dim expanse below.
Their deposit was yellow and the intense smell of lemons engulfed him. In the gloom, he could see other pixies sawing out blocks of gumdrop, dusting the edges with powdered sugar and loading them on transports.
It was a hard life, being a gumdrop miner. He wore a mask, but still, diabetes and “gum-lung” were rampant. Plus, they paid him in chocolate coins.
“Hey Saccrin! Get your candy-coated butt over here. We hit a peanut brittle layer lower down; you’re on chopping duty.”
“Sugar!” Saccrin cursed and went to get his axe.
The Green-Walled Tower 
June 2nd, 2013 at 11:27 pm
That is brilliant 😀 I love it. I always wondered where Gum drops came from, and now I know 😉
June 2nd, 2013 at 11:38 pm
I want to work there. This is fabulous. Perhaps a little “sweet” but how wonderful. Tough choice to make. Willy Wonka’s factory or the Gumdrop mine! I do feel sorry for Saccrin, though! 🙂
June 2nd, 2013 at 11:44 pm
Yeah, it’d be hard life. The only way out is in a foil wrapper. 🙂
June 2nd, 2013 at 11:46 pm
okay now I’m laughing! 🙂
June 2nd, 2013 at 11:54 pm
I like an original take on a prompt and this is an original take on a prompt. Good one!
June 3rd, 2013 at 6:14 am
What a sweet piece of writing, David! I saw Eric’s post and came to visit you…I also read Penny’s write up on this photo and both of yours were wonderful. Oh, and maybe the world would be sweeter if we all said, “sugar” when we’re upset! 🙂 I’m going to do some more perusing…
Lauren
June 3rd, 2013 at 9:56 am
This was very lovely, especially the writing style. and ‘sugar’ is a curse word in their world:) and congrats on being Eric Alagan’s blog pick of the month.
June 3rd, 2013 at 1:27 pm
Thank you. Where I am from, “sugar” is a very inoffensive exclamation, so thought it would be interesting to make it more of a curse.
June 3rd, 2013 at 10:59 am
I’m smiling from ear to ear. Great take on the prompt! I wonder if these pixies could join the ‘Lollipop League’ for better conditions and wages?
June 3rd, 2013 at 1:05 pm
That’s an idea. I’m sure OSHA would have something to say about the working conditions.
June 3rd, 2013 at 4:44 pm
That would be my dream job!! Good one David 😀
June 3rd, 2013 at 7:43 pm
Haha, I love it. No idea how I’m going to create a story out of that picture though!
June 3rd, 2013 at 10:20 pm
A sweet job! Ok – maybe not really – but – sounds like it could b Maybe in time – they will have a sugar-free sweets area in their factory for the diabetics 😉
June 3rd, 2013 at 10:24 pm
That would be nice of them, although perhaps Nutri-Sweet mining would have its own hazards. They should go all natural and just stick to honey. 🙂
June 3rd, 2013 at 10:28 pm
Mmmmm….Honey!
June 4th, 2013 at 2:42 am
Fantastic story. Gum-lung doesn’t sound much fun at all, but if the miners need someone to get through that peanut brittle layer quickly, I’m available.
June 4th, 2013 at 8:35 am
Yes, I’m sure a job like that would have great perks: you get to eat all the “rocks” you break up. 🙂
June 4th, 2013 at 4:30 am
That’s a seriously imaginative story. I love it! I also think it’s very sweet. *ahem* This is just brilliant. Great job.
June 4th, 2013 at 8:33 am
Thanks. That’s sweet of you. 🙂
June 4th, 2013 at 12:23 pm
Oh, man, does this mean I have to buy of the those wrist bands? What color is the gum-lung wrist band, anyway? Is it tasty?
June 4th, 2013 at 7:01 pm
It’s just a gummy worm you tie around your wrist. As long as you don’t inhale it, you should be fine. 😉
June 4th, 2013 at 3:18 pm
loved it! I love the fragrance of lemon!
June 4th, 2013 at 6:59 pm
yeah, lemon is my favorite flavour for candies like that too.
June 8th, 2013 at 12:11 am
Terrific version! Love where you mind took us! *goes to kitchen to get Jolly Ranchers*