[Flash Fiction] Remember, Remember, The Fifth of November

“I can’t believe you’re serious about doing this. What if people see you?”

“That’s what the mask is for.” He pointed to the white mask already secured on his face, his identity hidden behind an oversized smile, red cheeks, and a wide black mustache. 

“And if they decide to shoot you first and ask questions later?”

He paused from packing the little tubes of paint into his backpack. “Beneath this mask, there is more than flesh. Beneath this mask, there is an idea, and ideas are bulletproof.”

“I don’t understand why you can’t just live your life quietly and not create any trouble!”

“Because the world is not quiet. Because innocent people are suffering, and somebody has to protect them when those in power won’t.” He lifted the backpack onto his shoulder. “Because it’s time for another revolution, and somebody needs to ignite the flame.”

© Jade M. Wong

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Written for Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers. Word Count: 145

I’m not entirely sure what the photo prompt is depicting, but I interpreted it to be little tubes of paint. I combined that with the fact that I have been in a V for Vendetta mindset all day, as is usual for me every November 5th, and this is the story that resulted.

For those of you who are not aware, V for Vendetta is a brilliant, mesmerizing political thriller starring Hugo Weaving and Natalie Portman. In it, Hugo Weaving’s character, V, wears a Guy Fawkes mask (described in my story), and utters the line about ideas being bulletproof, which is one of my favorite lines in the entire movie. I claim no credit for that piece of genius dialogue, and I’ve included the scene from the movie where he says that line, below. 

The title of my story is also taken from the movie, when V utters the iconic 5th of November line. I’ve included that scene below too.

I highly recommend this movie for anyone who hasn’t seen it yet!