Sven and the Fireball Djinni

Summary

Sven, a selfless and environmentally conscious man, encounters a Djinni on Thompson Lake and wishes to make the world a better place, leading to an unexpected revelation about his role in a larger conflict.

Abstract

In the Microcosm flash fiction challenge for week 2, Sven is depicted as a humble man who is confronted by a Djinni offering him three wishes. Amidst personal and global turmoil, including his mother's illness and societal issues like pollution and human trafficking, Sven wishes not for personal gain but to make a significant positive impact on the world. The Djinni recognizes Sven as the individual she has been searching for across centuries, suggesting his potential to answer a significant call. The story, which is part of a larger challenge themed "Rings of Conflict," showcases Sven's internal struggle and his desire to contribute to the greater good, setting the stage for further narrative development.

Opinions

The author expresses a personal enjoyment of using prompts to inspire creativity, indicating a preference for structured challenges as a catalyst for storytelling.
There is a hint of self-deprecating humor in the author's admission of not being able to figure out the random secret society generator, yet emphasizing that their participation in the challenge is driven by fun rather than competition.
The author's excitement about the story's future direction suggests an optimistic view of the creative process and its potential outcomes.
By mentioning their status as a top writer in Reading on Medium and listing publications where their work has appeared, the author conveys a sense of credibility and pride in their literary accomplishments.

Considering the possibilities

Sitting in his little boat on Thompson lake, Sven is staring with disbelief at the beautiful woman who appeared before him and told him she will grant him three wishes.

His mind is full of wonder, confusion, and possibilities. Three wishes. Where to even begin? He thinks of his mother slowly dying of bone cancer. He thinks of the idiots who drink Fireball whisky and toss the bottles out the window of their cars, child-raping priests, human trafficking, global pandemic, war, famine. How can he put three wishes to the most good?

Sven doesn’t think of himself as a hero, just a guy who brings a plastic bag with him to pick up garbage wherever he goes. A man who loves his mother and tries to be a decent human being. Sven worries about the state of the world and wishes he could do more to make it better. That’s it!

“I wish I could do more to make the world a better place,” he says confidently to the Djinni.

Her long-lashed, dark eyes open wide, eyebrows raised. “You are the human I have searched for through the centuries. You are the one who will answer the call.”

Thanks to Microcosm for the August Rings of Conflict Challenge. In this second week I am introducing the character’s conflict with society in exactly 200 words.

I enjoy using suggestions as a starting point and seeing where my imagination leads. I couldn’t figure out the random secret society generator so I had to use the app in my brain. While I hope that doesn’t disqualify me from the challenge, it doesn’t really matter because I am having so much fun.

I can’t wait to find out where this story will go next week!

A recent graduate of the Newport MFA and natural born troublemaker, I’m a top writer in Reading on Medium. My poetry and prose have appeared in Brevity, Multiplicity and Voices of the Valley Anthology.

Microcosm flash fiction Challenge: Week 2

Sven and the Fireball Djinni

Considering the possibilities

About Me — Karen Traub

I Dance in Libraries with a Snake