Short Story

Warning Sign

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶

Written for Only Murders In My Mind
Weekly Writing Prompt #81 and the
photo prompt shown below. Also for
Fandango’s One Word Challenge – ‘horoscope’.
Here’s where the prompts took me.

Image from Mike Jackson @ Only Murders In My Mind

Harry always started the day by reading his horoscope. This morning his horoscope warned him to avoid driving due to potential danger. Being very superstitious, Harry decided to heed the advice and opted to take the bus to work instead.

As Harry boarded the bus, he felt a sense of relief for following his horoscope’s guidance. He arrived safely at work, happy for not ignoring the warning. After a busy day at the office, Harry was looking forward to relaxing during the bus ride home. He climbed on board, showed the driver his pass, and made himself comfortable in a seat in the second row. Little did Harry know that fate had a different plan in store for him.

Typical of late October, the sun set around 6:00 PM and Harry found himself dozing off. In the darkness, the bus zipped down a newly-paved road; the driver smiled, appreciative of the smooth ride. However, in his moment of contentment, he failed to notice a “ROAD CLOSED” sign. The bus continued on the road and before anyone could react, it crashed through a construction barrier and plunged into a massive pothole the size of a crater. The crash was fatal, killing the driver as well as the people sitting in the front row; Harry and several other passengers were gravely injured.

After multiple operations to repair his fractured hips, pelvis and broken back, Harry began extensive rehabilitation; doctors were unsure if he would ever walk again, let alone drive.  Despite heeding his horoscope’s warning about not driving, Harry found himself in a tragic situation that he could never have predicted.

Harry still reads his daily horoscope but now he knows to take the advice with several grains of salt.


NAR©2025
#OMIMM
#FOWC

This is “Born Under A Bad Sign” by Cream

Weekly Writing Prompt
FOWC With Fandango — Horoscope

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23 thoughts on “Warning Sign”

  2. Way back in the old pre-internet days, when we got a daily newspaper, I sometimes read the horoscope just for laughs. But every once in a while whoever writes those things ends up making a lucky guess. On my birthday in 1984 my horoscope told me that my opportunities for creativity would increase in April of the following year, and I cracked up because I was pregnant and my baby was due the following April. By bizarre coincidence, I found a bird’s nest in our Christmas tree that year, shortly after I had been told that if you find a bird’s nest in your Christmas tree it means you’ll have a baby within the next year.

    No, of course I’m not superstitious. Everyone knows it’s bad luck to be superstitious. 🙂

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    1. What a great story! I’m glad you put the word ‘bizarre’ before “coincidence” when relaying the story about the bird’s nest and the Christmas tree. I have never heard that before! Honestly, how often do you think someone finds a bird’s nest in their Christmas tree?

      Thanks for a great comment. Excellent closing lines, Blue! 🪺🎄

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  5. A dire warning, and painful outcome, Nancy, you paint such a fantastic picture, story wise,(I’ve never believed in horoscopes!!) … hope your Wednesday is a fantastic one my friend,…💙

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