It was a perfect day. Almost too perfect.
Today was the kind of day that people were going to bring picnics and have an enjoyable family day sitting beside the river as they watched the boats go by. The sun was beating down and the water was incredibly calm as everything gently moved along in the current.
Everybody was eating their sandwiches and just generally talking about the current events of the day along with how wonderful the weather was for the time of year. Colourful blankets littered the grassy banks as things drifted by.
Stories began to be made about the boats and the people sailing them. For example, the family holiday going on in the blue boat where the father was steering as the mother struggled to cook a lunch on a moving vessel. You could just about picture that along with the teenager who looked like he was doing some backseat steering.
Sad but true, nobody noticed the very real story going on in the obscure white boat. Nobody was paying any attention to the fact there was an unmanned rowing boat drifting down the river by itself.
Nobody noticed the naked and lifeless body inside it.
Written for Sunday photo fiction
AngieTrafford 
Great story Angie, I was tempted to go down that route too, something about the empty boat seems sinister! You set it up really well with the contrast to the people enjoying life unaware.
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Just saw the empty boat and that’s where it took me! Thanks for reading.
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Who would want to notice something like that on such a pleasant day. Great story.
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Nobody would, probably why it went unnoticed! Thanks for reading.
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A great run up to a crime/mystery/thriller short story (or a long story). Sinister shadows on a bright day. Nice.
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I can’t do mystery stories, too much thinking! Thanks for reading.
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Nicely done! I had to take another look at the photo to make sure there was nothing in there lol
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My mind’s eye sees strange things! Thanks for reading and hosting.
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Oo, what a horrible turn that took! Great contrast between the people enjoying their day and the awful story unfolding invisibly right before them.
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Yeah, but life isn’t perfect.Thanks for reading.
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Terrific, Angie.
I love how you took us down one road and then did a sharp turn at the end.
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Well, it looked like you had donated that picture and so I thought I would go down a similar road to what you normally write! Thanks for reading.
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Thank you, Angie, it is indeed my photo, so I am doubly flattered.
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There are worse places to end up dead! Excellent.
Click to visit Keith’s Ramblings!
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I would rather enjoy alive! Thanks for reading.
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Something of a metaphor for life. We imagine how other people’s lives are going without being able to see behind the curtain.
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This is very true. Making up stories about people I have never met is a really nasty habit of mine! Mind you, I am a writer so I can get away with that. Thanks for reading.
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It all sounds sinister and mysterious.
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I am glad that you saw it that way 🙂 Thanks for reading.
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when you started with the first line saying it was too perfect a day – I sensed the doom – good writing skill here Angie dear!
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Nothing can be to perfect 🙂 Thanks for everything.
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Sad and compelling tale about the fickleness of life. Well done.
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People will only things that they want to see. Thanks for reading.
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Oh, forgive my cynicism, but what a party spoiler!!
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It would be the ultimate party spoiler! Thanks for reading.
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