A surreal, dystopian short story capturing the chaotic climax of “The Day Trip to Nowhere – Part II” by Laura Bernardeschi Nelson. In front of an old expedition bus driven by an impassive Praying Mantis, a group of anthropomorphic animals from the Grey Kingdom experiences utter chaos under a grey sky. An arrogant Badger falls from the pedestal of a colossal marble hand monument with a defiant middle finger. A frightened Pug trips a frantic Sheep, whose blonde wig flies off to blind a charging Rhinoceros in armor, while an elegant Hippopotamus slips into the mud. In the background, automatic park sprinklers soak the drenched mice, and a judgmental Crow watches from a wooden fence, all contrasting with the stoic, rebellious stone monument.
Category Archives: Dystopian and Surrealistic stories
The Day Trip to Nowhere
by Laura Bernardeschi Nelson In the Grey Kingdom, team-building was not designed to build morale; it was designed to measure endurance under conditions of extreme absurdity. It was a cold, overcast early morning when the heavy doors of the Great Stone Burrow clanged shut behind them. Madame Bulk had decreed a mandatory “Day Trip”—destination: Nowhere. The vehicle chosen for this expedition was a battered, ten-wheel bus. To accommodate the majestic bulk of Madame Bulk, alongContinueContinue reading “The Day Trip to Nowhere”
The Dinner: A Tale of Moldy Comfort and Plastic Sofas
In the Grey Kingdom, desk-dwellers spent a monotonous week achieving nothing but a report on a missing screw. Celebrating this inefficiency, they sought moldy cheese and bitter liqueur. While dreaming of adventures, they remained shackled by their dreary reality, facing another day of drudgery with Madame Bulk guarding her secret.
The Bath
In the Grey Kingdom, three bureaucratic mice lose the scent of their beloved Golden Cheese, the essence of aged paper. Desperate for relief, they unknowingly immerse themselves in polluted water from Madame Bulk, mistaking it for rejuvenation. Over time, they embrace the toxicity, ultimately forsaking their search for the Cheese.
The Sardine Migration: The Plastic Robinson Crusoe
by Laura Bernardeschi Nelson The Great Metal Migration begins at 4:00 AM. We are the Sardines. We queue in perfect formation, waiting to be sealed inside the great pressurised tube. Three hundred souls, knees pressed against moulded plastic, surrendering comfort for the promise of a cheap fare. We inch forward without complaint, each of usContinueContinue reading “The Sardine Migration: The Plastic Robinson Crusoe”
The Screen-Watchers and the Tyranny of the Blue Sky
In the Grey Burrow, the Chief Rodent and his assistants obsessively analyze a fox’s garden for hidden violations. Their meticulous investigation contrasts starkly with the vibrant world outside, leading them to feel increasingly trapped in their bureaucratic existence. Their focus on regulations stifles their awareness of life’s richness beyond the office’s confines.