And thank you for that, Julia, though I doubt I'm the only one grateful for your participation, well-knowing how fragile the existence of writing groups are. That said, I very much hope to read more of Ellis.
words for the coming week: orifice plug stretch
Entries by midnight Thursday 25th November, new words posted Friday26th
And I might be out of practice, but I have not the slightest hesitation in declaring Terrie's 'Fungal transfer' the winner of the week – truly skin-crawling.
Thank you for voting me winner of the week. I have been wanting to write about those nasty little fungal spores for some time and last weeks three words gave me that opportunity.
ReplyDeleteCongrats, Terrie. I had a feeling about your story doing well.
DeleteYours was the perfect choice for #1 last week, Terrie! Congrats!
DeleteMagnificent little tale there, Terrie. Top notch in every respect.
DeleteCongrats - great contribution illustrating the value of research to writers.
DeleteDesperate measures
ReplyDelete“You’ve searched every orifice I own and x-rayed my stomach. I’m telling you, I don’t have the diamonds.”
“It’s not just the diamonds, Vlad. It’s the principle.” The manager motioned for the surgeon. “Did anyone mention one diamond contains a miniature transmitter?”
“What?” Beads of sweat appeared on Peter’s forehead.
“Care to tell us where to cut?” The manager said. “We’ll plug the holes if you’d like.”
Peter stretched his neck, made it crack. “Just take the left leg. And get me a goddamn crutch.”
The surgeon prepared the anesthesia.
“He won’t be needing that,” the manager said.
loved this... the neck crack preceding the bigger one to come!
DeleteA double wince with this one, and as well set-up as ever, John.
DeletePeter sounds like a fairly sturdy fellow, bit it seems like he got himself into a very unwelcome fix. Very nice, John.
DeleteINHERITANCE
ReplyDeleteThere was blood on the rubble and dust in her throat when Sally awoke, observations eclipsed by the searing pain in her back and shoulders.
'Don’t move,' an unfamiliar voice advised, 'I need to plug those deeper wounds and I don’t want you stretching skin and breaking scabs.'
She raised her head a little and saw a dead badger with blood trickling from its snout and excrement from its other orifice.
'What did I say?'
'Sorry,' Sally replied, and she was – pain ignited anew. 'Who are you?'
'Your "foundling’s" mother.
Sally caught sight of a furry paw before she blanked.
What a great opening sentence. "Dont move," is a command seldom followed. One always moves something when told not to.
DeleteYes, indeed, that opening sentence - so good, and then the "breaking scabs" rather too reminiscent.
Delete"foundling's mother" creates a host of interesting possibilities. I hope this continues.
DeleteEllis 020
ReplyDeleteI wasn’t sure what I’d got myself into, didn’t really want to imagine how a man got the nickname Petrol.
Going undercover wasn’t just a favour for Kurt, it would also plug a few gaps in my CV. I did love working for Jasper but daydreamed about climbing the career ladder, stretching myself and rising triumphant above numerous challenges. Being applauded for outstanding detecting in a swanky function room. Sharp trouser suit with fun sparkly heels. Jasper, open-mouthed in admiration. Me telling the nay-sayers which orifice to shove things in...
Petrol Byrne though, was that my half remembered green-eyed man?
A reflective piece, practice. First person narrative is done so well here. Loved the fun sparkly heels.
DeleteThere is a pizza place I frequent near my house called Jasper's. Just the othrr night i thoughtv Jasper would make a good name for a character, which you beat me to...
Superbly smooth use of the prompts, and anticipating more on the punishing "Petrol Byrne"
DeletePetrol Byrne could become quite the interesting character. I'd be careful though.
Delete'My hero!'[Threshold 371
ReplyDeleteAs might be expected my shrieking brought smoke into tender, needful of lubrication of orifices such as eyes and throat, threatening my ability to breathe sufficient air to stretch my lungs to functional. I could see Cocktail's scarlet and purple tattoos did nothing for his appearance – Watching the rhythmic stretching of his mouth – frustrated in his intent to open the window I thought of sucking sea-anemones; decided "Plug ugly" invented for him. The door opened. Closed. Raven strode to the window, hand sheet-protected, he punched through glass, toppling Cocktail four floors to his death. Brandishing the sheet 'We climb down this.'
So long, Cocktail. Good knowing you. Raven had some shine this week. He needed it. Nice, Sandra.
DeleteA sad, but perhaps appropriate, end for Cocktail. I hope the trip down the sheet isn't too far.
DeleteChange of focus [449]
ReplyDeleteReturning home after a long stretch comprising SIO and forensic reports, jealousy-led jibing from the DCI and a desiccated post-mortem (plus pretending to ignore the traitorous door-step photos being circulated, to much mirth), Pettinger found Philly lecturing a sulky Aleks. 'In Rome, there's an orifice known as Bocca della Verità , Put your hand into its mouth and if you've lied it bites your finger off. Shall I take you there now and see if it takes yours?'
'No! I'm sorry, I did use your lap-top. Meant to unplug it after.'
'And did you learn anything new?'
His face contorted. 'Yes.'
Another reason for laptop password protection. Pettinger's photos are circulating... how embarrassing that would be.
DeleteI wonder if Aleks has learned his lesson. A stern talking to may not be enough.
DeleteThe Secret Armadillo Soldier (SAS) Diaries - entry 176
ReplyDeleteA dirt- spackled ‘Dillo nodded at Sarg, ‘I’ll send a couple o’ diggers t’ plug up tunnels and make detours, they kin use the dirt we’re diggin out .
As fer the traps, I’ll see to it myself. Gonna set a second one behind the first so one orifice collapses into the uvver. No bugger’ll get through when I’m done.’
Sarg nodded appreciatively, ‘‘ow far back does the tunnel stretch now?’
‘Not far ‘til we kin change direction like yuh ordered Sarg. Diggin’ a few side burrows along it to stash dirt in once the traps sprung too.’
Well-inserted prompts - lots of pre-planning.
DeleteIt sounds like Sarge has the right digger. Seems very capable. Nicely done.
DeleteThe Secret Armadillo Soldier (SAS) Diaries - entry 177
ReplyDelete‘Yuh spoke to that luverly Sarg ov yours then.’ Tosca wheedled.
Atlas stretched cramped shoulders, ’yup, tell yuh about it when we catch up wiv the others.
Nigel saw them exiting the bushes,’ ‘missed the action Atlas; plugged a few feckers an’ took prisoners too.’
Atlas nodded, ‘Tosca told me.
Mossy sent me back fer yuh. She’s just up the trail’
Nigel winked, ‘Let’s move it an’ find ‘er then.’
Mossy, the contraption, and her raggle-taggle support crew were waiting for them below trees where bird-nests, with tiny orifices, hung like gourds and pale blossom drifted lazily in the breeze.
Oh! Love the bird's nests!!
DeleteLoved raggle-taggle. It describes the crew very well.
DeleteMarvelous last paragraph, Terrie! Great use of language.
DeleteQUESTIONS
ReplyDeleteSean stared blindly up at the overhead directional spotlight, the metal surface of the table at his back numbingly cold.
Whimsically he reflected that this conflicted with the ongoing torture.
‘You WILL tell us what you know.’
Same voice that heralded the loss of his eyes, one by searing one.
Whatever they’d plugged the sockets with had burned excruciatingly.
He still hadn’t talked.
‘My friend here has been studying undertaking. He’s now draining your blood… How long?’
‘The calibrated orifice I’ve–’
‘English,’ the first voice interrupted.
‘I can stretch it to an hour.’
‘There you have it. Any words?’
and how many times has he done this blood draining, to know how to calibrate it so closely? eek!
DeleteDeliciously horror filled. I would have sang long before the eye removals.
ReplyDeleteBrutally well done, Perry!
ReplyDeleteThere is no orifice from which a voice could issue comments, so I don’t know where they come from, like the one today which said ‘Hallo’ after I had been in the shop for five hours, having said my usual ‘Hallo’ to everyone who might be there when I arrived. I am concerned that the last time Ray came in; he asked why I wasn’t the same towards him. I couldn’t begin to describe the black cloud someone had stretched around him. Nor was it a good moment to attempt to plug any negative thoughts, he was doing so well.
ReplyDeleteThe Old Curiosity Shop saga continues…
ReplyDeleteToday someone asked if we had any old photos. It’s one of the sadder aspects of the flood: we lost a folder full of photographs from one family. One man not checking one orifice before leaving the flats they were renovating destroyed half our stock. We discovered today that the café next door had also been flooded, it shut their electrics down; they had to beware which plug they used. We are all in the same ‘shell’ building so it would be too much of a stretch to think anyone’s business would escape.
Flooding is no fun, that's for sure. Sounds like it could have been prevented.
DeleteA dreary time indeed, Antonia. Keep the faith, for better times are ahead.
DeleteMEMORABLE MOMENTS
ReplyDeleteRandy Dobson chewed off a healthy plug of the tobacco offered him and stared at the noose facing him. He chuckled upon thinking that he had seen a human orifice or two that large, ones he himself had stretched to outlandish proportions.
Yeah, being a sadistic serial killer had engendered some memorable moments.
Feeling strangely bold and preferring to not have his neck stretched by a hangman’s noose, he turned to the guard at his side and spit a stream of tobacco juice into the man’s face.
It worked.
The guard, boiling with rage, shot him through his left eye.
Better than hanging, I would say. Very clever, Jim. The guard will have some explaining to do.
Deletecalculating to the last, love it!
DeleteThe Mad Italian
ReplyDeleteYour PM used at least one of his orifices to bemuse his members. He really had to prepare for a speech which should have plugged any indecision about his leadership. Instead he worked at of stretching the Party’s credulity when he talked of the animated animal Peppa Pig whilst fumbling with papers. This man is all about showmanship, which is fine if it works and disastrous when it doesn’t. This time it didn’t, his so-called presentation garnered nothing but cynical reporting in the newspapers. It does not endear the voting public to a leader in that way.
When in doubt, get a speech writer and follow the teleprompter. But what fun is that?
ReplyDeleteReally missed participating here of late, although I have been keeping tabs on the comings and goings. Hope to return, serializations and all, with the next crop of prompt words on Friday. (Fingers crossed!)
ReplyDelete