copyright Roger Bultot
Free to Park, Free to Die
“No parking? What does that even mean? It’s space, your Honor. Space. You can’t own or regulate that. You can’t own anything. Matter was free out in outer space for billions of years and suddenly we put a fence around it? Mine! Don’t touch! Bullshit.
“Of course I entered the yard. I took the vegetables—I made the fire. I’m free, you know. That’s my right. I’m sorry it spread but they didn’t own that house. It’s part of the universe.
“I’m sorry they died. Really. I’m not a monster. But they were free too. They were free to die.”
The Green-Walled Tower 
April 15th, 2015 at 9:56 pm
Hmm, no internal censor or self-preservation instinct. Hope this was his sentencing.
April 15th, 2015 at 9:58 pm
He’s a man of principles, right or wrong.
April 15th, 2015 at 11:40 pm
Hmmm… I knew I didn’t like existentialists, and this must be why.
This is an interesting take 🙂
April 19th, 2015 at 10:36 pm
Thanks, KT. I just look at the picture for a while and see what comes.
April 16th, 2015 at 12:43 am
Interesting take on cosmology.
Most original idea.
April 16th, 2015 at 1:17 am
David,
I like the stream-of-consciousness nature of this. It really works, and it encompasses so much of what we see in the picture. Well rendered.
One nit–I would recommend eliminating the quotation marks. I think it’s pretty straightforward that this is a monologue of sorts. The quotes make it seem a little forced IMO.
Great work.
All my best,
MG
April 19th, 2015 at 10:35 pm
Thanks for the comments, MG. I felt like not having the quotes would make the reader think of an internal monologue, as if he were rehearsing it for the judge, when I wanted to emphasize that he was actually in court. But I always appreciate your comments and critiques. You’re one of the few who give criticisms.
April 16th, 2015 at 2:15 am
It’s all the city’s fault. They put up a sign proscribing parking for 14 hours, when they really meant 2. 🙄
That’s my nit – and it’s an eye-opening story. 🙂
April 16th, 2015 at 2:45 am
Well it’s some kind of a philosophy. good job we don’t all embrace it. Great idea David, and nicely executed.
April 19th, 2015 at 10:31 pm
Thanks Sandra. Freedom, like most everything else, is best in some moderation.
April 16th, 2015 at 2:53 am
fantastic story!
April 16th, 2015 at 3:04 am
You definitely have point there David – about “freedom” 🙂
April 16th, 2015 at 3:21 am
I have a feeling it will never stand up in court.. something about freedom and responsibility that always should match
April 19th, 2015 at 10:30 pm
Yeah, I’m pretty sure he doesn’t have a prayer. Doug said I should write the judge’s response. I’ve been thinking about it, but in any case, the judge probably won’t agree with this guy.
April 16th, 2015 at 4:35 am
Dear David,
The judge is free to send this clown to jail, too. Interesting logic. Sort of like “I shwear, offisher, the light was pink.”
As always your writing is exemplary and your story is fun to read. Good job!
Shalom,
Rochelle
April 17th, 2015 at 9:01 pm
Thanks, Rochelle. I like to think of different perspectives even if I don’t personally endorse them. I had to assure one reader that I didn’t actually have this kind of belief. 🙂
April 16th, 2015 at 4:37 am
Dear David,
It seems to me that you could do another great 100 words using just the Judge’s reply. Don’t leave us hanging. I once told a large woman who was sitting in front of me on an airplane and trying to recline her chair that her space ended where my knees began. She was not amused. Neither, I think, will the be the Judge.
Aloha,
Doug
April 17th, 2015 at 8:59 pm
Good point, Doug. Personal freedom is a great concept until it interferes with someone else’s. I think about what the judge might say. That would be an interesting reply.
April 16th, 2015 at 9:08 am
Great idea and does have very ancient logic to it.
April 17th, 2015 at 8:56 pm
Yeah, I agree. I wanted to write this because on one side, it seems to be logical but you see how wrong it can be when taken to the extreme. Thanks for reading.
April 16th, 2015 at 5:38 pm
I think he might have gotten away with the parking argument but once you add murder to the list the judge is less likely to be lenient.
April 17th, 2015 at 8:55 pm
Yeah, it’s not an argument that resonates well, I’m sure. I don’t think he has a chance, no matter what his convictions.
April 16th, 2015 at 7:21 pm
well, ok, then.
A little more medication and back to ward he goes.
Randy
April 17th, 2015 at 8:54 pm
Pretty much. 🙂
April 17th, 2015 at 6:56 am
The judge certainly is free to stop that person. Great spin on the prompt.
April 17th, 2015 at 8:54 pm
True. He’s free to go to prison too, right?
April 17th, 2015 at 7:21 am
nice! such a “carefree” way of living….hope we don’t have too many of those around
April 17th, 2015 at 8:53 pm
Yeah, that’s a dangerous level of “freedom” to the point of being sociopathic.
April 18th, 2015 at 5:15 pm
Never said it was a GOOD way of living, now did I? ;p
April 19th, 2015 at 10:26 pm
True. 🙂
April 17th, 2015 at 12:49 pm
David, I’ve often pondered the cost of the parking space, a space of concrete! It doesn’t seem right to charge. Who really owns that space anyhow? This is great! Loved your very original take.
April 17th, 2015 at 8:52 pm
As they say, location, location, location. A square of concrete can be worthless or more valuable than a house. Actually, in Korea some parking spaces are about that valuable. Glad you liked the story.
April 17th, 2015 at 9:39 pm
Funny and quite different…as usual, I enjoy reading your posts.
April 19th, 2015 at 10:28 pm
Thanks. 🙂
April 18th, 2015 at 11:19 am
This gave me chills. Fire scares me so…your noir is showing. You’re such a great writer:)
April 19th, 2015 at 10:27 pm
The idea of a house fire scares me more than a lot of things, including airplane crashes. I think it’s because the home is your sanctum, the place you can retreat to for safety, so if that is destroyed…
Thanks for the compliments. You always make my day. 🙂
April 20th, 2015 at 3:32 am
You always make mine too. Home, it’s where you can rest and just be.
April 18th, 2015 at 5:20 pm
This is one from the darkside, allright. Interesting philosophy, there. Think I’ll park in a lot from now on.
April 19th, 2015 at 10:25 pm
Thanks, Perry. Hope he doesn’t come near my house and start a fire.
April 18th, 2015 at 9:13 pm
What a whacko! Good story but creepy guy.
April 19th, 2015 at 10:24 pm
Thanks. 🙂 He does come across as pretty creepy though. That belief system has some pretty logical extremes.
April 19th, 2015 at 12:46 am
where are you?
April 19th, 2015 at 10:24 pm
Busy…exhausted…still alive though. I send you an email just then.
April 19th, 2015 at 4:44 pm
Interesting story that suggests a whole universe in this short space!
April 19th, 2015 at 10:23 pm
Thanks, Emily. It’s a whole different way of looking at things, that’s for sure.
April 20th, 2015 at 5:43 am
I don’t think his remorse runs too deep. However, I agree that we never really own anything. We may pay taxes on it for what seems like an eternity, but eventually it falls into someone else’s hands. What kind of vegetables were they growing? Something you can cook on the grill?
April 20th, 2015 at 7:33 pm
Maybe he was just cold while he munched his raw carrots. Or maybe it was kabobs. It is true that ownership is much more a fleeting thing than most people would like to think.
April 21st, 2015 at 1:23 am
I would imagine that guy is free from any kind of material goods, food, friends, a place to sleep, etc. Now he’s going to be free of freedom. Well done, David. — Suzanne
April 25th, 2015 at 1:24 pm
Good point. They are more than free to send him to prison.
April 21st, 2015 at 8:11 pm
A case of human rights run amok.