This piece was written for The Unicorn Challenge, a weekly photo prompt for up to 250 words of prose.
Oh, that view. It’s idyllic here in Lower Sidebottom.
Yes, it is. Now.
Was there a problem in the past?
Yes. Before the Great Purge of 2022.
What do you mean?
We’d been inundated by sea changers, Gen-alphabets, lawyers, car salesman, politicians and social influencers. All the scum of the Earth.
So what did you do?
Nature took care of it with the Lower Sidebottom Tick.
I’ve never heard of that.
I’m not surprised. We locals had always known about it and we’d developed herd immunity. But with climate change, the ticks had bred up and the interlopers started getting bitten. We told them the effects were worse than Lyme Disease.
But surely they would have checked with health authorities.
Oh, they did. But we’d warned them the authorities would lie to prevent panic spreading across the country and, given the modern propensity towards conspiracy theories, they believed us.
And did it work?
As you can see, it did. Now outsiders won’t even visit, let alone live here. Hence the absence of luxury yachts, surf-skis, health food franchises, gastropubs and other abominations.
Extraordinary. On a more pleasant note, it’s a beautiful garden you have here, full of all sorts of exotic plants.
Yes, they make an excellent breeding ground for all sorts of insects. Would you like a tour? Best to tuck your trousers into your socks.
Sorry, must run. I’ve got a yoga class and I need to pick up some kambucha along the way. Another time perhaps.
Six Crooked Highways 
A well-placed lie is the surest preventative for surface thinkers. Paradise protected!
Nice one, Doug!
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Thanks, Liz
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Hey, you could make a fortune here, Doug. We could use your story as the manual for a wee bit of cunning lying about the Scottish midgie and rid ourselves of unwelcvome visitors.
Love this biting(!) criticism of our modern world.
And I particularly like how your narrator gets rid of the visitor!
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Ah, the dreaded midgies. You just need to make them more dangerous. 🙂
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Love it!
A wee blood-sucking parasite to get rid of big blood-sucking parasites.
Come-uppance of karma!
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Exactly. Thanks, CE.
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Ha! Entertaining as always, Doug.
Scum of the earth, indeed!
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Thanks, Nancy
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lol
fun story… (being in a vacation destination, even as I type this comment, I can hear the honking of the car horns of people newly arrived for a bit of quiet relaxation)
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Thanks, clark
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Another day in Paradise ticked off, I guess.
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