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copyright Claire Fuller
The Poison Church
“Mommy, why are there spider webs up in the corners?”
“This church has been closed for years. People said it was poisoned because of all the lead in the roof and windows.”
“Is it dangerous?”
“No, it was just a scare. People overreacted. Don’t eat the shingles and you’ll be fine.”
“I see.” The little girl paused and looked around. “Then why are we all crowded in here now?”
“Remember all the stuff in the news today, all the flashing bulletins?”
“Breaking news,” the girl recited.
“And remember our other new word?”
“Melt…down.”
“Right. This place will keep us safe.”
The Green-Walled Tower 
August 21st, 2013 at 7:54 pm
Clever.
August 21st, 2013 at 7:55 pm
Dear David,
You’ve said a lot in this layered bit of 100 words. I enjoyed the full circle you illustrated in the “poison” church becoming the place of safety. “Don’t eat the shingles.” Classic. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
August 21st, 2013 at 9:45 pm
Thanks, Rochelle. I like irony. 🙂
August 21st, 2013 at 7:55 pm
Dear Dave,
Sure it will. Lead in the roof? I love how you worked that into the narrative. This is a great story and a fitting tale for the prompt.
Aloha,
Doug
August 21st, 2013 at 9:46 pm
Thanks, Doug. I was staring at the picture, trying to figure out an angle and I saw the roof and realized there is a lot of lead in a church: in the crypts, the roof and the leaded glass windows and started to think of the good and bad effects. I love the journey a picture can take us on.
August 24th, 2013 at 6:46 pm
Very thoughtful, this process. Insightful too. Love the angle of this story.
August 21st, 2013 at 10:32 pm
[…] Stewart’s The Poison Church is a study in irony that is […]
August 21st, 2013 at 10:32 pm
Love the irony in this one, David.
August 21st, 2013 at 10:36 pm
This is so cleverly done! I’m very impressed.
August 21st, 2013 at 10:51 pm
Nice twist there David. Well done.
August 21st, 2013 at 11:02 pm
i hate to repeat others’ comments but seriously, clever and a lot in 100 words. masterfully done. 🙂
August 21st, 2013 at 11:05 pm
Thanks. 🙂 I was stuck on this for a while and then, it all came in a rush. Weird how inspiration goes.
August 21st, 2013 at 11:21 pm
Nice! The poisoned church now came out to be the savior.
Clever indeed!
August 21st, 2013 at 11:52 pm
Thanks! I liked the symbolism of it.
August 21st, 2013 at 11:53 pm
David, make your news flash stand out more. Congrats!
Also, excellent story from start to finish. Great layers.
Thanks for sharing.
August 22nd, 2013 at 12:34 am
Oh this was good, David. Those shingles do look poisonous! I like the way this started one way and then switched it up at the end. The dialogue is believable and well crafted.
August 22nd, 2013 at 2:49 am
I loved the juxtaposition between the poisonous church and danger… compared with a place of sanctuary and safety.
A great flash.
August 22nd, 2013 at 4:47 am
David, I love the “don’t eat shingles” … and then the clever take on the nuclear disaster… hope they will be Ok…
Tack så mycket
Björn
August 22nd, 2013 at 5:01 am
Refuge from a greater poison in the poison church. A clever tale.
August 22nd, 2013 at 7:39 am
Reblogged this on ROXXXXYBABEEEE.
August 22nd, 2013 at 7:59 am
Very interesting story, but frankly I’m more terrified of the spider webs that the meltdown. OMG, they’re not going to drop, are they?!!
August 22nd, 2013 at 8:25 am
Whoa. The lead roof that was once poison is now their savior. Good reversal!
August 22nd, 2013 at 9:04 am
Hi David,
Creative story, inventive premise. Finally, lead is put to good use instead of bad. And you managed a political message as well. Ron
August 22nd, 2013 at 9:04 am
Really well done. This story carries weight. And very-well written.
August 22nd, 2013 at 12:03 pm
Very creative, David! Well crafted and socially relevant, all in 100 words.
August 22nd, 2013 at 12:55 pm
A safe haven once again–impressive. You covered a lot of territory in 100 words.
August 22nd, 2013 at 2:05 pm
Brilliant weaving David!
August 22nd, 2013 at 8:00 pm
One man’s poison is another man’s refuge. Well done.
August 22nd, 2013 at 10:07 pm
Ooh! Yes, I like this, very much.
August 22nd, 2013 at 10:11 pm
🙂 Thanks~
August 23rd, 2013 at 1:25 am
A great take on the prompt. The way you dropped in those few words ‘Breaking News’ and ‘Meltdown’ through the voice of the innocent child lent such horror to this short tale.
August 23rd, 2013 at 4:17 am
Loved it
August 23rd, 2013 at 6:19 pm
its a very intriguing theme for a larger story!
August 23rd, 2013 at 6:22 pm
I loved the ‘Don’t eat the shingles’ line. I liked how you drew a picture of catastrophe without needing to expand within the text, it was a great use of the unspoken. Nicely done David. 🙂
August 23rd, 2013 at 9:08 pm
Really clever – as perhaps the lead they all feared will save them now.
Charmingly told as a conversation. Fantastic, all tolled!
August 24th, 2013 at 12:28 am
Really nicely told – i agree, having the child say the horror-filled words was most effective.
August 24th, 2013 at 9:14 pm
There is something about the innocence of a child that adds weight to the already dire concepts. Thanks for the comment.
August 24th, 2013 at 12:38 am
A lovely lead-in to a lethal ending. Indeed, don’t eat the shingles. I hope mum is right in saying they are safe. Shades of Syrian refugees here. And Egyptian, and …
August 24th, 2013 at 5:47 am
Now I am going to have to hunt down old churches as nowadays one never knows. I’ll make sure I don’t eat the shingles. 😉
August 24th, 2013 at 12:09 pm
“Don’t eat the shingles and you’ll be fine.” Always sage advice, hah! Love what you did with this, and how deftly you handled it. 🙂
August 24th, 2013 at 2:22 pm
If it’s not one thing, it’s the next, huh? Good to know they’ll be fine so long as they don’t eat the shingles. I hope they have enough food and don’t resort to eating them or…each other. That would be the next awful thing!
August 26th, 2013 at 1:09 am
If only Mommy’s right and all the lead will protect them. This is such an original take on the prompt.
August 26th, 2013 at 8:28 am
Love how sneaky these 100 worders are. Good one!!!