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Lata Sunil

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32 comments on Escalaphobia #FridayFictioneers

Escalaphobia #FridayFictioneers

Step on the moving ladder and hold the railing.  Sally watched as people zoomed towards the escalator and then stood at ease  till they reached the top.  It looked simple.  But, what if her feet did not find the firm step or if it moves when she is just putting her feet.  Should she hold the railing first? Sally could never time it right.  The image of her lying on the floor, her shopping strewn around and people staring was all she saw. She turned to leave when a staff told her, ‘Mam,  you can use the lift.’

chicagoMG

PHOTO PROMPT © Marie Gail Stratford

Friday Fictioneers is a weekly 100 word writing challenge inspired by a picture prompt. Click here to read other stories.

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Lata Sunil

I’m a working mother living in Mumbai with my 2 sons and Husband dearest.

32 responses to “Escalaphobia #FridayFictioneers”

  1. Azar Avatar
    Azar

    My wife have the same fear she shared her experience in http://dearsweethomeblog.blogspot.com/2017/11/escalaphobia.html

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  2. Dale Avatar
    Dale

    A true fear for many. Well told.

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  3. pennygadd51 Avatar
    pennygadd51

    I like a happy ending! Good sympathetic member of staff.

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  4. J. E. Kennedy Avatar
    J. E. Kennedy

    The struggle is real! I have such a hard time with my mum when we’re out. Great story, thank you.

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  5. spicedmullings Avatar
    spicedmullings

    Saved just in time. I too am afraid of escalators as I once slipped on them. Thankfully I can use them but always with trepidation!

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  6. Keith's Ramblings Avatar
    Keith’s Ramblings

    It’s the moving slopes in Ikea and some other stores I’m not keen on, especially when you travel down with your loaded trolley!

    Click to read my FriFic!

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  7. writershilpa Avatar
    writershilpa

    I can so understand what Sally must have been through! The other day, my little nephew was as scared to get on the escalator. And, seeing him scared, I too lost my courage. At times, one can sure get all confused and jittery when waiting to get on the escalator! I do prefer the lift, at times, for not every place has staff that is as understanding and empathetic!

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  8. Mike Avatar
    Mike

    One of our kids (when they were young) got his shoe lace caught in an escalator. Lucky, he did not have his shoes tied and his shoe just came off (which was probably why his flopping shoe lace got caught in the first place).

    Nope .. . the lift sounds good to me.

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    1. lataadmin Avatar
      lataadmin

      Aw that is scary. Thankfully, my kids were not scared of the escalator.

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  9. Rajlakshmi Avatar
    Rajlakshmi

    I am pretty sure my mom too would act like that 😀but how nice of the staff to understand her predicament 😊

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    1. lataadmin Avatar
      lataadmin

      My mom too. She is ready to climb stairs but no escalators.

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  10. Nan Falkner Avatar
    Nan Falkner

    Bless the staff! You bet she will. Honestly, when I was really young, escalators used to scare the Dickens out of me. I was a teenager before I could breath while getting on one. Great Story!

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    1. lataadmin Avatar
      lataadmin

      I saw the first escalator when I was teenaged. And it was decked up like a ride with artificial plants and waterfalls around. Taking this ride was more important then than thinking of falling.

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  11. granonine Avatar
    granonine

    I remember being very nervous about an escalator when I was a little girl living in Minneapolis. Cute story 🙂

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    1. lataadmin Avatar
      lataadmin

      Thanks Linda. My mom is scared too and I have a tough time when going out with her.

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  12. Susan A Eames Avatar
    Susan A Eames

    A kind staff member indeed!

    Susan A Eames at
    Travel, Fiction and Photos

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    1. lataadmin Avatar
      lataadmin

      Yes. Thanks Susan.

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  13. Reema D'souza Avatar
    Reema D’souza

    This reminded me of the first time I had to use one. I was so scared! Nice story!

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    1. lataadmin Avatar
      lataadmin

      haha I saw one first as a teenager and it was the coolest thing. So, couldn’t look scared then.

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  14. Iain Kelly Avatar
    Iain Kelly

    I remember having those sort of thoughts as a kid. Nicely observed.

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    1. lataadmin Avatar
      lataadmin

      Thanks Iain.

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  15. Corinne Rodrigues Avatar
    Corinne Rodrigues

    I didn’t know such a word existed. My Mom would always struggle with them and I would hold to her for dear life.

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    1. lataadmin Avatar
      lataadmin

      I wanted to write about this fear. Then just searched on Google. I was myself surprised that such a word exists.

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  16. yarnspinnerr Avatar
    yarnspinnerr

    You touched a raw nerve here,

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    1. lataadmin Avatar
      lataadmin

      True. It is.

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  17. draliman Avatar
    draliman

    I know how she feels, I hate escalators. Mind, I hate lifts more. Stairs? 🙂

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    1. lataadmin Avatar
      lataadmin

      Its my Mom. She hates escalators. Everytime I go with her, it is a struggle to find the stairs or lift as they are generally at the back of malls or are for stores folks.

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  18. Esha M Dutta Avatar
    Esha M Dutta

    Ah! Seen that fear writ large on the faces of people so many times. You brought it out so well in those few words. Well done, Lata.

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    1. lataadmin Avatar
      lataadmin

      Thanks Esha. It is a real common fear.

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  19. Balaka Avatar
    Balaka

    I can relate to Sally both my mom and mom-in-law are scared to use elevators. Each time they see an elevator they start searching the escape route. This is beautifully written fun story. Enjoyed a lot.

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    1. lataadmin Avatar
      lataadmin

      It’s same on my side. We have discovered lifts in various malls.

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      1. Balaka Avatar
        Balaka

        Same here…we often use the emergency stairs 😀

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