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.’
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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My wife have the same fear she shared her experience in http://dearsweethomeblog.blogspot.com/2017/11/escalaphobia.html
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A true fear for many. Well told.
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I like a happy ending! Good sympathetic member of staff.
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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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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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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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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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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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Aw that is scary. Thankfully, my kids were not scared of the escalator.
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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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My mom too. She is ready to climb stairs but no escalators.
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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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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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I remember being very nervous about an escalator when I was a little girl living in Minneapolis. Cute story 🙂
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Thanks Linda. My mom is scared too and I have a tough time when going out with her.
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A kind staff member indeed!
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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Yes. Thanks Susan.
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This reminded me of the first time I had to use one. I was so scared! Nice story!
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haha I saw one first as a teenager and it was the coolest thing. So, couldn’t look scared then.
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I remember having those sort of thoughts as a kid. Nicely observed.
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Thanks Iain.
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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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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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You touched a raw nerve here,
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True. It is.
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I know how she feels, I hate escalators. Mind, I hate lifts more. Stairs? 🙂
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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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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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Thanks Esha. It is a real common fear.
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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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It’s same on my side. We have discovered lifts in various malls.
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Same here…we often use the emergency stairs 😀
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