Prime Minister Burris Jackson addresses the people of Brexitannia, after the Corollavirus outbreak has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation…
“We face an invisible, unprecedented enemy. We are fighting a foe we cannot see, with the simple tools of soap, water, and our own singing voices. Remember to wash your hands for as long as it takes to sing the chorus of ‘Happy Birthday.’ Remember: ‘Hands, Face, Space!’ [behind the Prime Minister, his Health Secretary, Mitt Hindcock, casts a nervous glance at his attractive female aide.] Remember to ‘Stay alert! Control the virus! Save lives!’ [At this, his advisor Dick Haddit-Cummings adjusts his glasses.] There are those amongst us who selfishly flout the rules put in place for our own protection. But I urge you to think of others…so…if all do their duty, they need not fear harm.” [PM coughs, unmasked]
Written for dVerse
Tonight, I’m hosting Prosery, where I’m asking you to write a short prose piece (144 words or less) to include the prompt line:
“So if all do their duty, they need not fear harm” from Blake’s The Chimney Sweeper. Apologies to those who don’t follow UK politics too closely: I have linked up a couple of newspaper articles which should explain the references in my short fiction.
The bar opens from 3pm EST – join us for more Prosery!
Experiments in Fiction 
I love the political references Ingrid! I enjoyed this one.
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Thank you Peter: the current UK government is beyond satire really, but I had to try!
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Made me giggle! A great line from Blake and expertly weaved into this piece! 💞
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Thank you Tricia: glad it gave you a giggle 😊
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Ha… yes a lot of talk about duty, but not always easy for people to follow the rules… actually doing things for others is actually easier than to do it for yourself for most people except the psychopaths’.
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Especially not easy to follow the rules when you have special privileges and can break them!
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Ingrid, I’m glad you included the links to the stories behind the story. Funny stuff that really isn’t funny. Satire is the way to get the message across. George Bernard Shaw said, “If you want to tell people the truth, make them laugh, otherwise they’ll kill you.”
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That’s great advice 😅 I’ll have to make more use of that, thanks Lisa!
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You’re very welcome :)
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Well done. They behave like a Monty Python sketch but they are cold-blooded, unscrupulous incompetents.
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And you said all of that without swearing: well done to you, Jane!
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Words are water off a duck’s back to them.
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Perfectly done Ingrid, and so appropriate for our troubled times.
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Thank you Linda, sad but true!
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Nice one!!! BRAVO
went the way of the pandemic also
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I did: unfortunately some politicians do not act too responsibly!
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Good job with the satire, Ingrid! And thank you for hosting.
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Thank you, Merril, and you’re welcome!
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😀
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This is absolutely brilliant, Ingrid! It feels like the line from Blake’s poem is meant for the scenario presented here in this excellent prose piece. I loved every word. 💝💝
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Thank you Sanaa 💕💕
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Poetry and politics are great frenemies.
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They certainly are! Thank you 😊
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Excellent piece, sharp, concise, and loaded with levity. Our minds were on parallel tracks today. I wonder how many more will write about Covid?
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No need to explain, Ingrid. Some Brits and some U.S. citizens seem to rail against protective policies To vaccinate or not has become the battle cry here in the U.S. When we decided to distrust our scientific community I’m appalled to consider! May we all survive this contentious time in our live … and looking at it with satirical humor is a necessity!
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I think it’s one way to stay sane through it all! Thank you, Beverly!
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This is perfectly written satire. You had me laughing at the silliness. Feels kind of liberating after all the nonsense.
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Laughter is the best medicine, as the saying goes!
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HA X 10. & thanks for the cool prompt!
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Glad you enjoyed, Ron.!
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Duty is always a matter of context. (K)
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It certainly is, particularly where those in power are concerned.
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That’s hilarious Ingrid. Most entertaining! The funniest was DIck Haddit-Cummings. LOL
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Thanks Christine! I think they all have it coming to be honest 😅
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bravo for you tell it like it is!!💖💖👏
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Thanks Cindy! It would be funny if they weren’t in charge of a whole country! 😬😅💕
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not even laughable a bit!!! 💖 but yes, maybe then for sure💖
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Not sure if this is cynically satirical or satirically cynical, but it made me laugh anyway. Very clever. 🤣🤣👏
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Perhaps a bit of both! Thanks Hobbo 😅
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Haddit-Cummings, chortle :)
Good work, Ingrid xx
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😅 thanks Nick! X
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heeheeheeheheehehehehee
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Glad it made you chuckle, David!
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We have that lot in Canada too, protesting the mask and vaccine……and THEY are the ones getting sick and driving up numbers. I enjoyed your piece, made me smile wryly.
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I’m pleased it raised a smile, Sherry, thank you!
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Love the way you present this. The nervous glance, the adjustment of glasses…wonderful details that so casually bring the scene to life. I’m so worried for our world right now.
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It looks like I got your comment after all, Mish!
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Love the way you present this. The nervous glance, the adjustment of glasses…wonderful details that so casually bring the scene to life. I’m so worried for our world right now.
Mish
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Brilliantly written, Ingrid! You made me laugh, you made me fume at our politicians.
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Yes, a bit of both really, isn’t it?
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Indeed. What have politicians done to our world!
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Thank you again for a fascinating challenge … and for the gift of your ‘what’s happening now’ prose. Well done.
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You’re most welcome, Helen!
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Brilliant!
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I’m glad you enjoyed it 🤣
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I love satire in all its forms. Enjoyed this piece :)
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Thank you 😊
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Welcome 😁
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Infact we write a series on a fictional Chicken seller based in Goa, India who comments on everyday issues – sharing the same!
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There are so many double entendres in this little piece, I simply have no choice but to follow you! What an amusing and delightful breath of fresh air. Plus, I see a couple of my friends from WP are here, too, so I know I’ll be in good company!
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Thank you 🙌
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My pleasure! 🌟 🐘
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