Whatever the saying is about lots of
berries meaning a hard winter, all I know is that I don't recall what has
recently been identified as a whitebeam – a decades-old "free tree"
opposite my kitchen window – ever having berries, never mind the quantity there
this autumn. Only time - and snow - will tell.
In the meantime, I have to tell you
I'm off again next week, so next Friday will schedule new prompt words and I'll ask
you, once again to choose your favourite.
This week, it's my turn, and, after
two weeks off I find I'm sadly out of practice when it comes to making a decision
about a winner, especially when the criteria, the factors that give pleasure vary
for each and every one. In the end I decided Jim deserves a mention for
his ability to keep me reading through eight episodes of 'The Box', despite the
gruesome horror, but the second paragraph of Perry's 'Exiles' was so delicious
that it had to be awarded first place.
this
week’s words are: proof tendon yawn
Entries
by midnight Thursday 15th October, new words posted Friday16th
Usual rules:
100 words maximum (excluding title) of flash fiction or poetry using all of the
three words above in the genres of horror, fantasy, science fiction or noir.
Serialised fiction is, as always, welcome. All variants and uses of the words and stems are fine. Feel free to
post links to your stories on Twitter or Facebook or whichever.
Thanks for the honour - I am delighted to be regarded a peer among such quality writing. And now...
ReplyDeleteNAVIGATOR
Colm soon realized that the crystals were not constant, but respired as twilight waxed to night, growing and receding.
The ‘chalk’ had helped.
He’d searched a clear sky only made possible by alien destruction of the agents of human pollution to locate The Starry plough, and followed the two pointers to the North Star.
That had guided him far enough to spot the brightly burning beacon, proof he was close to … home??
From this elevation he could see Lough Foyle yawning towards the sea.
A noise.
Silently he raised his bow and notched an arrow on the sheep-tendon bowstring.
"Lough Foyle yawning towards the sea" really captured my attention - lovely.
DeleteI found Colm's navigation of the night sky fascinating. Too bad whatever made the noise had to butt in. Well done.
DeleteWonderfully descriptive. I caught a sense of melancholy within the words also. Don't know if it was intended but it lent much to the telling.
Deleteit resonates with a hint of melancholy as so many night watchers find. This captures it beautifully. Then gives us that killer last line again.
DeleteGreat job, Perry. Not surprised it captured the top spot.
ReplyDeleteThanks.
DeleteYou've not lost any of your ability to write stunning items, Perry! You earned that top spot. Congrats.
DeleteThank you, Antonia
DeleteI Sing the Body Elastic
ReplyDelete‘You freaks wanna’ get hired I need proof of enhancements.’ barked the foreman.
‘Free riding elbow joints so my arms can stretch on self-expanding tendons,’ said the first guy.
‘Go see the electrician. He can use you for passing wires through the dry walls.’
‘Detachable jaw,’ said the second. ‘Mouth yawns wide so I can carry stuff in my pelican pouch.’
‘Go see the storeman. Tell him to load you up with nuts and bolts.’
The crowd surged.A freelance surgeon handed out discount coupons.
‘Move it, freaks,’ yelled the foreman. ‘Show me what you got.’
A VERY novel entry, David. Such a splendid idea for using this week's tough prompt words.
DeleteMy mind's eye immediately paints this crowd in Peter Howson-like figures, which adds to the imagery you've created.
DeleteHow in the world did you think this up? Very entertaining.
DeleteI get the feeling of a rival to Pratchett's Discworld Watch recruitment. Love to see this expanded.
DeleteNow P.T. Barnum would have been all over this assembly. Don't really know why, but this had a touch of steampunk to it.
Deleteoh absolutely, Patricia, steampunk all over it and shudder worthy people to fill out the story. Brilliant.
DeleteTHE BOX X
ReplyDeleteRandy Dobson and I were little more than sagging sacks of flesh covering bones and tendons as we faced each other in the center of The Box. We held our bone-weapons, proof of the war declared days before when we consumed the last of Rudy Gonzalez.
Now, the war’s only battle was about to begin; the victor would eat the other.
We stepped closer. Randy’s mouth opened… in a grin or a yawn I couldn’t tell.
About to clash, we froze at a thumping whir above us and watched a helicopter descend.
“Fresh meat!” I screamed, lumbering toward the chopper.
Far from sure his optimism is justified, I await next week's instalment to see what emerges from the helicopter.
DeleteAnother brave soul is about to enter the box. This should prove interesting.
DeleteA clever twist of psychology there. Rather than one expecting the helicopter to announce a rescue.
DeleteOh my....another poor unfortunate is about to enter the fray. Will he be stronger or weaker from any former experience? Time will tell...but the waiting is definitely difficult.
Deletedefinitely a twisted psyche here, no rescue just fresh meat...yuk...
Deletehow do you do it, Jim?
Change of focus [398]
ReplyDeleteProof, at least: Aleks' absence evident in the yawning emptiness of his bed, duvet heaped upon the floor.
Aware of Philly, eyes avidly absorbing his books and pictures – pitifully few, which in themselves told a tale – Pettinger ushered her out, making incoherent and insincere suggestions of coffee, suddenly aware of the … impropriety (or obscenity, in some eyes) of making a move on a lass young enough to be his daughter.
But, old beyond her years (and that no re assurance!) she shook her head. Rested, for a moment, two fingers on the tendons of his throat. 'We'll just sleep.'
I liked Stepcart's little head shake fingers touching his throat. Very well done. I think, perhaps, there will be a little more than sleep happening soon.
DeleteSubtle expressions of anticipation, sensuality and nobility.
DeletePhilly Stepcart seems to be playing Pettinger like a violin at this point. She is a character to be much admired.
Deleteagree with Patricia about Philly's abilities. 'We'll just sleep' - really? Are we supposed to believe that???
DeleteCutting Class
ReplyDeleteMagda looked at the clock for the third time in less than an hour. Still twenty minutes to go. Her overt yawn provided proof this was quite possibly the most boring lecture to date. She hadn't signed up for a course on Human Body Structure to become educated about the anatomy of muscles, tendons and ligaments. Monotonous drivel!
No...Magda was infinitely more interested in the delicate art of dissection.
That 'delicate' has a cruelty which likely matches Magda's scalpel blades.
DeleteThe artform of human dissection is usually self-taught. It's good to see someone making the effort to do it right. Her victims should appreciate this.
DeleteQuite right - let's get to the butchery! Lovely genteel approach to a psychopath.
DeleteMust be something wrong with me, the post mortem us usually the bit I like best in crime thrillers... so this oh so short but crammed with potential and anticipation is so good for me!
DeleteSome hours [Threshold 320]
ReplyDeleteSea or not, that shiny bit had failed to prove itself either way in hours, our drive across the yawning ochre flatness of the trackless desert bringing us no nearer. Noise no longer able from the radio, our only entertainment came from counting corvid-like birds (but bigger) and watching the sun arc across the sky. Attempting to maintain (probably easterly) direction; our faith in the existence of some tendon-like gravitational pull increasingly tenuous.
As, thanks to my stupid insistence on leaving immediately, was our grasp on reality, when we realised neither of us had thought to bring food or water.
Sounds like someone is getting a little cranky. A long road trip can do that.
DeleteSome oversights are minor; some are major. I fear this is the latter.
DeleteAh, but given Raven's resourceful character, I'm sure that will be no obstacle. Yet another magnificent installment with some lovely descriptions...especially the "corvid-like birds."
Deleteyes, the corvid-like birds is classic. I've not seen anyone write the name of the virus into something so far, this shows how effective it can be.
DeleteThe Sphynx
ReplyDeleteGary searched the net for proof that killing his ex-wife’s hairless cat was a justifiable act. The cat yawned, all muscle and taut skin, tendons popping as he stretched.
In the end, he couldn’t do it. He prepared the sautéed chicken livers as usual and served them in the crystal dish as he’d been taught. He stroked the shiny spots behind the cat’s ears and was rewarded with a purr.
Hell, the cat wasn’t that bad.
The cat proceeded to lick his hairless balls.
Gary searched the net for proof that killing his ex-wife’s hairless cat was a justifiable act.
LOL- I had to retrace my steps to the first sentence there "hairless cat" to reorient. Nicely structured tableau.
DeleteLove the way the opening tied in so nicely with the ending. Your ability to not only think out of the box but also out of the packaging is to be envied.
Deletethe local vet was pestering us to remove our Kai's manly bits, we refused, he's too proud of them and what can a house cat do with them anyway? Nicely depicted tableau here, John!
DeleteMr. Right
ReplyDeleteAn enflamed tendon my ass. Won’t even entertain my suggestion of elbow cancer. Says it doesn’t work that way. Where’s the proof? Did she even go to medical school? The stifled yawn. Saying excuse me as if I could excuse such an affront. Might as well slap me in the face. No more medical questions, she says. Stupid quack calls herself a doctor? What else is there to talk about? She flags down the waiter and asks for the check. Good, time to make my move. I have her in the palm of my hand.
This troubled fellow, I believe, is asking for a kick to the balls, and I believe this lady doc is quite capable of launching it.
DeleteAnd and yet another entertaining tale from your talented imagination this week, John. I'm hard pushed to choose my favourite, to be honest.
DeleteMr right is going to be hard for someone to find with thinking like that!! good one, John!!
DeleteGreat portrait of a cheap Narcissist. Dry humour always appreciated.
DeleteThe Joys of Mediumship no 26
ReplyDeleteProof that I haven‘t grown up is shown by my CDs, Elvis, Scott Walker, rock ballads… it’s that one which today did away with the yawns and let the car pull a few tendons as we laughed, sang and rocked together, In The Air Tonight features a crashing drum section which Gene Krupa adores. The first play made him speechless… I put CDs in at random, he has to wait for this one to come around. When it does, we play it twice… and laugh all the way through at the idiocy the world sees and which we delight in.
I'm glad you haven't grown up yet. I miss my CDs. They don't put CD players in new cars anymore, which irks me. Thankfully, i have satellite radio, which helps.
DeleteNice to know that a legend such as Gene Krupa appreciates the talent of Phil Collins. I always thought the Genesis member to be skillful. Gratifying to know that I had some idea what I was talking about.
Deletethere's a series of crazy videos on Youtube when people are introduced to a song for the first time. Two young streetwise black guys were listening to In The Air Tonight, chatting over it, what's he on about... then the crashing drums sent them both reeling back in their chairs. It's hysterical, so many of us know it and wait for it and there's these younger ones shocked by it...
DeleteLove it - car's tendons. Knew exactly what you meant as I helplessly imagined a drumming gorilla in the car with you.
DeleteStop The Week, I Want To Get Off (119)
ReplyDeleteEven more proof of my inability to grow old, not to sit yawning and moaning about today’s world with customers of my age who struggle with tendons, arthritis and all, is the nonsense I am creating in the shop right now – a Coronavirus Christmas display. Teddies are getting masks; the dog is wearing a face shield… I’ve found bits to make these things and it’s all making me laugh. Shaun has acquired a puppy so not much help, (puppy’s first day) but we will get busy and make sure we are talked about when Christmas sales time comes around.
Good move, getting noticed before the holiday shopping season.
DeleteSounds absolutely delightful. I'm such a pushover when it comes to new puppies. Love the image of teddy bears wearing masks.
DeleteThe Mad Italian (178)
ReplyDeleteI see it but don’t believe it. There is no real proof that masks work, that lockdowns help, but there is (yawn) proof aplenty that the economy will not recover for two generations and they have no more idea of how to deal with it than they have about the healing process of a pulled tendon, caused by people running from their sanctimonious ‘we care about you’ talk. They care about your money, not much else. They talk across one another, say they listen…but the ending of this will come in its own good time, not through anything they do.
I liked the (yawn) proof aplenty insertion. I didn't like the economy recovery delay though I'm afraid he is right about that.
DeleteBrutal truth abounds in your pull-no-punches entry, Antonia.
DeleteWow. The Mad Italian is definitely telling it like it is this week, Antonia. Would that the current world's politicians possessed his insight.
DeleteCripplegate Junction/Part 247 - Safe And Sound?
ReplyDeleteClive Bailey thought the train was moving, albeit it at a snail's pace. He craned out the window until the tendons in his neck ached. The Railway Arches, with their stonework yawn, were in sight and getting closer.
Clive wasn't sure how he felt about this. The Junction had become a second home to the extent that he barely remembered a time prior to Cripplegate. Perhaps he was imagining the metal-on-metal grate of wheels against track. But no...
If further proof were needed, Clive heard the Conductor's whistle signalling departure.
Or, was that the boiling shrill of a tea kettle?
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To read the earlier installments (a suggestion only) which led to this point in the tale please visit:
http://www.novareinna.com/cripplegate.html
A link to return to "The Prediction" can be found on the site. Thank you.
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Clive seems unsure about events surrounding him. Could mental issues be foisting themselves upon him? SO entertaining!
DeleteA very entertaining entry, Patricia. It certainly seems the train is moving, but knowing you, who really knows?
ReplyDeletea train on the move to who knows where and the passenger (is there more than one, we ask...) is wanting to get his head knocked off by hanging out of the window but is that part of the life of Cripplegate?
Delete