18 April 2026, Freewriters Community Daily Writing Prompt Day 3077: prevalence of lying
“The belief that you are inherently superior to someone else because of your ethnic origin is a lie. To live in that belief, and to make policy based on that belief, puts you in direct contravention with reality, in which contravention you begin to think that since you are superior to one area of creation, you of course are superior to all others. This prevalence of lying, of self-deception, has dominated most of the leadership of Lofton County for the better part of four centuries, with the most recent generations in delusion thinking themselves superior to topology, climate, and physics. Fortunately, justice always brings matters up to remembrance in due time. Unfortunately, real human beings in Lofton County have to deal with what that looks like today, in the wake of Hurricane Justicia and Mneme.”
This opening from James Varick IV, editor-in-chief of the Lofton County Free Voice, caused literal howling with rage in some circles, a deep sigh of acceptance and resignation in others, and a sense of deep vindication in others.
But –.
“No matter how you feel about it, you can't argue with it after driving ten miles in any direction outside of Big Loft, Tinyville, or Fruitland and the Veteran's Lodge,” Sgt. Vincent Trent said about it to his children as they drove around the county. “Everyone knows exactly who is being talked about, defying the laws of nature and of the land where possible to keep up the pretense that we are less than and they could do whatever they wanted to us and to the rest of creation, and all of us would bend. Well, we didn't bend after 1865, and creation just shows it knows one God and no white man in Lofton County is Him. Those who humbled themselves and prepared to meet the conditions of two hurricanes did fairly well, but this here?”
“But this here?” said Edwin Ludlow III to his cousin Garlene and uncle, Capt. R.E. Ludlow as they rolled around the county Edwin Ludlow Sr. did so much to build up in the 20th century in their uncle's car.
“It looks like everything your grandfather, father, and uncles didn't nail down has been destroyed,” Capt. Ludlow said. “It was like those storms were sent on a mission, and I don't say that lightly, because the Captain of the Hosts of the Lord knows every evil my generation of men back to Tarquin Ludlow I has done to anyone not like us and also to each other. I include myself because I've had my moments of siding with the folly.”
“Good thing it was just moments, Uncle Rob, because we need our last uncle to stick around, although I'm glad Uncle Henry in particular didn't live to see this,” Garlene said.
“Henry foresaw it,” Capt. Ludlow said. “He knew the Lord so well that he knew Lofton County would be visited in due time for what it did to our father and many others over centuries who labored here. To God, Edwin Ludlow was no better and no worse than the most mistreated among the enslaved who built long before him – to God, all accounts could be settled at the same time.”
“Yeah,” Edwin III said. “Is it just me, or is Littleburg littler?”
“It is,” Capt. Ludlow said. “The historic and business districts are gone. Littleburg Baptist Church is the only thing in the residential area that collapsed.”
“Isn't that the church where the folks met to burn down the Lofton County Free Voice?” Garlene said.
“It is,” Capt. Ludlow said. “Turned out that perhaps they should have listened, Edwin, to your father when he said that in a strong enough rainstorm with big wind out of the south, it was going to give Slocum Slide a rival.”
Edwin Ludlow III considered this, and then slowly shook his head.
“Well, given that they were planning a mass murder in there, they weren't on the Solid Rock anyway, because Christ has never been with this foolishness.”
“And, all other ground is sinking sand – if you actually believe the Bible and those old hymns based on it, you know,” Garlene said.
Capt. Ludlow sighed.
“Listen to your old uncle, who is trying to stay here for your aunt, all your little cousins, and you – there comes a day when whether you believe or not, you'll know. This is Lofton County's day. Let us hope that men like me get to and keep on repenting before another and worse thing happens to us all.”