7.2

by Melia

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I was standing behind the counter, alphabetizing the video returns. The shop was fairly empty. Just me, my boss and a customer or two browsing.

Have you ever heard the sound of a heavy, metal chair being dragged across a cement floor? That grating, obnoxious sound that makes you want to slap your hands over your ears? That’s what an earthquake sounds like inside a video shop. Well, that accompanied by some screaming, shattering glass, televisions toppling, and hundreds of rental tapes crashing all around you.

There’s a moment on the beginning edge of panic when your brain just goes blank and instinct takes over. All I remember during the eternity that the earth shook was grabbing the counters and holding on tight with my eyes squeezed shut as the world fell apart.

I remember afterwards when someone asked what it felt like, I would liken the sensation to trying to stand on a water bed.

Almost 20 years on from that quake, I can still hear it.. still feel it. And it makes me shudder too.

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Comments

Average Reader Rating: 5.0 stars out of 5

  1. 7.2

    Melia's Buddy Icon Melia

    Posted 6 months ago

    I came across this image today: http://tinyurl.com/2fmoee and it’s of a photo taken of the aftermath of the 1906 SF quake. It brought back some sense memories of the 1989 SF quake (7.2 on the Richter in case you were wondering about the title) so I thought I’d ficletize it.

  2. 7.2

    uselessness' Buddy Icon uselessness

    Posted 6 months ago

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    Great story! Great photo, too. My favorite director, Brad Bird, is rumored to be working on a movie about that very earthquake, based on the book 1906 by James Dalessandro. Something to keep an eye out for. :-)
    LoA

  3. 7.2

    Kevin Lawver's Buddy Icon Kevin Lawver

    Posted 6 months ago

    Great story! I love that it’s told in a very conversational tone. Great job capturing the narrator’s voice and making it sound “real”!

  4. 7.2

    Lone Writer's Buddy Icon Lone Writer

    Posted 6 months ago

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    Wow…
    I agree with Kevin!

  5. 7.2

    Ana Cristina's Buddy Icon Ana Cristina

    Posted 6 months ago

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    Congrats on being the featured ficlet! :-)

  6. 7.2

    Tad Winslow's Buddy Icon Tad Winslow

    Posted 6 months ago

    Yeah Melia! Featured, alright. Terriffying account.

  7. 7.2

    Tad Winslow's Buddy Icon Tad Winslow

    Posted 6 months ago

    ficletize—lol, I like that

  8. 7.2

    THX 0477's Buddy Icon THX 0477

    Posted 6 months ago

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    Sounds just like what you might expect someone to share in a support group or something, that kind of candid self revelation. Thanks for sharing.
    LoA

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