A Little Bit of Soul

flash fiction about commercial air travel in 3025

     It was less like darkness and more like a velvet-black void.   

     There were no stars, moons, planets...nothing could be seen.

     A whisper interrupted deep silence.

     "This is the launch pad? There's nothing here, not even other people!"

     "We're here," Desmond answered, also whispering. "I can see the launch pad, and I see you."

     "I can't even see me!" Michael said. He turned to look for Desmond, but only saw a faint prism of color. "Is that you? Those colors?"

     "Yes, Michael. You present as colors, too. We're on the dark inside of Moon Three now, where things are very different. We are, too."

     "But in real life, we're ordinary human Shadows!" Michael forgot to whisper. His voice sounded alarmingly normal.

     Desmond touched Michael's shoulder and said, "Don't worry. We're in line for the launch and getting closer to departure. Our Shadows are swallowed here, but we're still in 'real life.' We're close to the launch pad. See that sign up there?"

     Michael faced front again, or what he guessed was front. "I sorta see red," he said. "Some kind of words. I don't know that language."

     "It's Old English," Desmond said. "It says 'Soul Train.' Isn't this great? We worked years to get these tickets and now we finally get to go to Earth, where our ancestors came from!"

     "But will we get our Shadows back? And what do those words mean?"

     "'Soul Train'? That's the name of the vessel that ships souls between planets and across time. Don't you have that vid I gave you?"

     "Sure, Desmond, right here." Michael took the vid out of his pouch. Desmond reached for it and thumbed a green block, and a Guide appeared. The Guide was only six inches tall, both a Shadow and colors, and it spoke immediately, in a voice that harmonized with itself.

     "Welcome to your launch on the Soul Train, the best way to see Earth for ten fun-filled Saturdays! Your soul does the traveling and your Shadow waits safely for your return. The Queen of Soul, Aretha, will entertain you on the flight, along with The Godfather of Soul, James! We're happy you chose us for your interplanetary travel and we...." Desmond touched the green block again, and the Guide collapsed back into the vid.

     "You know all that," Desmond said to his friend. "I've been playing those people's hit songs for you all week. You can't find better soul music than that!"

     "But how do the Soul Train people get our souls up here?" Michael looked worried. "Don't we have to die or something?"

     "Oh no!" Desmond laughed. "Our Shadows just rest here while we're gone. This is all about soul, not gospel."

     "Well, what is gospel, then? I mean like the songs, like, the music, I mean. Soul and gospel sound alike to me. What's the difference?"

     "Think of it this way," Desmond said as they moved toward the launch pad. "Soul is Saturday night, and gospel is Sunday morning."

     "Ah." Michael smiled for the first time.

Author's Note

Flash fiction = less than 500 words.
Can you picture this easily?
Does it fit the genre science fiction, or is it fantasy?
Did you enjoy the story?

Reviews

[Samuel Dickens]

So, two shadows are standing on a launch pad located on the dark side of a moon, awaiting a ride to Earth onboard a vessel called "Soul Train". Yes? No? I studied this one for a good while, and am still in the dark on some of it. The shadows have shadows? And they worked for the tickets? (Hmm) I guess this could be either sci-fi or fantasy, but I think it leans toward the latter. I love both genres and really wanted to "get" this, but couldn't make it happen. Me grey matter is scrambled a wee bit. While reading, a song popped into my head and continued throughout. Then, I realized I was humming "love train", not "Soul Train". It's an interesting premise and obviously took some good imagination to write, but for me, at least, it needs some ironing out.

[LJ]

Thanks for reading and for the useful questions. No, the Shadows don't have shadows, yes they worked for the tickets, and the whole thing needs work... you're right about that. I suppose I'll ditch the flash fiction label (it's at 469 words now) and do a few re-writes. Thanks again!

[Samuel Dickens]

I'm sorry. Perhaps you could get some more opinions?

[LJ]

Never be sorry for being truthful, because it helps writers much more than falsehoods, as you know. I'll let this sit for the moment and see if I can come up with details and such. I'm not really that good at sci-fi-type ideas.... or fantasy.

[Julie McCarthy (juliesp..]

Wow wow wow I wrote a very similar theme about life after death a good year ago you have a vivid imagination too
I loved it by the way !

[LJ]

Really? Is it posted here? I'd like to read it.
What's it called?
And I'm very happy you love this one. Thank you!

[Brian Shepard]

I actually laughed out loud. Nicely played sir. Charming and whimsical. I look forward bro reading more of your work.

[LJ]

Oh, you're wonderful! It's meant as longish bit of a joke, and you got it, the first who says so. I'm very glad to 'find' you here and hope to enjoy your work as well. Thank you.