A terrific story, Bill. I loved the Qualinomes and your very clear descriptions of them and their mushrooms! Such a wonderful imagination you have. I would have liked it even if you had ended it here - with no explanation:
"I’ve accepted that I will live among the qualinomes for the remainder of my life."
Bill, your writing is candy for the imagination. The tastes like chicken line made me laugh. The ending was, as always, a total surprise, but it made sense when I consider mushrooms were the source of food.
Fantastic writing Bill. Enjoyed this very much. I believe almost any story about the advanced, enhanced, wondrous future can easily transition to a horror story. Try as I might to be positive, I don't see our version of the New World ending well. - Jim
He miscounted his dimensions. We all do it!
He probably brought excess luggage on board. ;)
Plausible cause. Even more reason to travel with hand luggage next time.
"Measure twice, cut once." Isn't that the rule?
I always overpack.
"Twilight Zone" material. Serling did that kind of ending all the time.
Rod Sterling is one of my inspirations. He was one of the most creatine minds ever.
So the earth really is hollow? But no lizard people?
Wouldn't it be great if the center of the Earth was filled with chocolate?
Now you're talking my language!
Dang! Another decimal point in the wrong place (see the movie "Office Space").
I'll check out Office Space.
It’s a real classic. And don’t miss the red stapler.
So the alien world is inside planet Earth? Poor guy…
A London vacation would have been better.
With the family above the ground…
Do you know the mushroom man? I was ready for space aliens and you surprised me with center of the Earth beings. Fun stuff. 🤓
Thanks, Mark. The Mushroom Man...now I have an earworm. :)
Sorry. 🤣
That's okay. It kicked out the Sesame Street theme song that had been running in my head.
A terrific story, Bill. I loved the Qualinomes and your very clear descriptions of them and their mushrooms! Such a wonderful imagination you have. I would have liked it even if you had ended it here - with no explanation:
"I’ve accepted that I will live among the qualinomes for the remainder of my life."
Thank you, Sharron. I've always been fascinated what beings might live in the center of the Earth. I'm delighted you enjoyed this story.
Bill, your writing is candy for the imagination. The tastes like chicken line made me laugh. The ending was, as always, a total surprise, but it made sense when I consider mushrooms were the source of food.
Thank you, K.C. This was a fun one to write and I'm glad you enjoyed the surprise ending.
Fantastic writing Bill. Enjoyed this very much. I believe almost any story about the advanced, enhanced, wondrous future can easily transition to a horror story. Try as I might to be positive, I don't see our version of the New World ending well. - Jim
Thank you Jim. I had fun writing this short piece and I'm glad you enjoyed it.
There are many days when I'm grim about the future, too.
This faintly reminds me of an old King short story, "The Jaunt".
I'll check out that story Thanks!
That flight could not have been JAL!
Right? There was no washlet on board.
A sure sign that something was about to go wrong.