I start by echoing John's comment about how wonderfully friendly and supportive folk are on this site. Inventive too, as has been illustrated this week with wedding disasters and varied uses of 'bubble', along with I would add, an excellent standard of writings. As ever, I am reluctant to single out the customary one or two winners, and (apparently) ignore the rest, but I am sure you appreciate the variety and the wealth of choice and will applaud your own 'winner'. Mine, for the wealth of imagination, is David's 'Wedding of the year'
Words
for the coming week: current espalier regret
Entries by midnight Thursday 9th December, new words posted Friday 10th
Usual
rules: 100 words maximum (excluding title) of flash fiction or poetry using all
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.
No doubt your entry was the runaway winner, David! Congrats!
ReplyDeletecongrats, David! you just get better!
DeleteWell deserved top of the podium, David. Keep 'em coming.
ReplyDeleteMoon Shadow
ReplyDeleteThere is currently nowhere safe to hide in this place, where even flowers, trees and the ornamental espalier eventually turn to petrified stone. The sole beauty is the brilliance of the orb which constantly hangs low above the barren landscape I once hoped to call home. Such are the regretful thoughts of a now disillusioned optimist.
I am the last and have stifled terror far too long. I finally grant it free rein.
They will find me soon.
They can smell fear.
Evocative title, instantly illuminating 'this place' where silent terror takes place.
Delete"Such are the regretful thoughts of a now disillusioned optimist."
DeleteDefinitely punching above its weight. Very nice.
Ooooh, now that could be a fine allegory ... or metaphor ... on top of it being so engaging on its own merit.
DeleteQuite beautiful, Patricia. Well done.
Deletedelicate with a punch, difficult to do but you did it. Great read.
DeleteSomber and sobering. I wonder if this is the fate of us all? Nicely done, Patricia.
DeleteNew knowledge [Threshold 372]
ReplyDeleteI didn't fall. Raven watched me safely land in a brutal, high-walled garden to which trees had been shackled, spatchcock, like multi-limbed prisoners awaiting death by firing squad. Arriving immediately after, he glanced round. Said, with authority, 'Espaliered' which I took to mean some form of medieval torture, but he shook his head, 'A current, regrettable fad, for increased fruit production.'
I'd not seen him as gardener, but such knowledge restored my trust. 'Now all we have to do is get out of here –'
'We climb the trees –' Vengeance-seeking shouts were heard, coming closer –'Quick as we can.'
Espalier was a tough one I thought. I like your use of it as a verb.
DeleteLove the use of "brutal" here - so very apt, and "sptachcock" - new one for me - simply HAS to be considered for a later prompt. Raven came over all domestic there, he did -arr!
DeleteI liked the comparison of the trees to lined up prisoners. You have a way with that type of stuff. Looking forward to finding out who's coming.
DeleteLove the language - brutal high walls and shackled trees
Deletejust a few words and a vivid picture appears in the mind - how do you do that?????
DeleteNOT MUSHROOM FOR ERROR
ReplyDeleteNeither botanist nor xenobiologist knew where it came from. was suddenly just there, mimicking what had been called a brick wall on Earth One.
Broaching the electrostatic barrier currently under repair, the predaceous fungus had stopped at the perimeter … and waited.
Kids of the Martian settlement – though they’d never seen its like – were immediately drawn to it, eager to scale its façade.
Regrettably, dozens had succumbed before the alarm.
Sheriff Denny Took walked up and down, careful not to get too close to the semi-digested bodies splayed on its surface.
He grimaced and spat. ‘Looks like some grotesquely weird espalier.’
love this, an invention as creepy as Dan Simmons' brilliant Shrike
DeleteEspalier had me scratching my head. You worked it in just fine.
DeleteSome nasty flora here. A very imaginative piece, Perry.
DeleteGood old-fashioned Sci-Fi in the mode of John Wyndham - and clever with 'espalier'
DeleteGrotesquely weird espalier? Quite the understatement! Well done, Perry!
DeleteI intended the above comment for Perry's NO MUSHROOM FOR ERROR, below. Clever title, Perry.
DeleteThat's okay jd, nicely sandwiched between the original one word over and the edited 100 word. I wasn't able to delete the error.
DeleteNOT MUSHROOM FOR ERROR
ReplyDeleteNeither botanist nor xenobiologist knew where it came from. It was just suddenly there, mimicking what had been called a “brick wall” on Earth One.
Broaching the electrostatic barrier currently under repair, the predaceous fungus had stopped at the perimeter … and waited.
Kids of the Martian settlement – though they’d never seen its like – were immediately drawn to it, eager to scale its façade.
Regrettably, dozens had succumbed before the alarm.
Sheriff Denny Took walked up and down, careful not to get too close to the semi-digested bodies splayed on its surface.
He grimaced and spat. ‘Looks like some grotesque espalier.’
100 or 101 - very clever piece, comfortable until the last.
DeleteThe Girl Next Door
ReplyDeleteHe didn't see her move in, the girl who currently lived next door. A mysterious shadow who wandered her balcony beyond the shrouded espalier.
Sight unseen, they became friends. Enamoured with her retiring personality, he soon realized she had stolen his heart although there can truly be no theft when something is willingly given.
Finally, she agreed to rendezvous. He arrived with wine, roses and the promise of romance. His love endured, even when met with a wreath of asps and vipers coiled about her head. And there still remained no regrets as her coy glance turned him to stone.
This is lovely, it feels like (with the piece above) we are getting a glimpse at Medusa's early years
Delete"..... there can truly be no theft when something is willingly given."
DeleteYet in Medusa's case does "willing' even enter into the situation?
I like it.
I'll avoid the coarser humour on his predicament and stick to praising the delightful sequence and twist. It put me in mind of a Darkside tale recently rerun on Horror - Medusa meets Blind Mand in modern New York.
DeleteAs evidenced by this great entry, true love can be exceedingly dangerous. Well done!
DeleteVery nice, Patricia. It goes to show you that veiled shadows should remain on the balcony... but what's the fun in that?
DeleteSo skilful a telling of the tale - perfect in every detail.
DeleteI absolutely loved this! Clever use of words before we consider how well the prompts disappeared into the story... great stuff!
DeleteMore Shock and Awe Value
ReplyDeleteVlad the Impaler watched his son doodling on parchment and felt a twinge of worry and regret. He hoped his son would keep the family tradition and stand tall against those who would destroy the kingdom. Current indications created little confidence that Tad could carry the Dracul torch.
Tad looked up at his father and pointed to his parchment.
“Impaling enemies willy nilly like you do is sloppy and makes the kingdom look like a ghetto. My espalier system on an iron framework is neater and has more shock and awe value per linear foot.”
Vlad smiled and stopped worrying.
________________________________
https://lostinthebozone.blogspot.com/2021/12/more-shock-and-awe-value.html
Tad, no doubt, has a very creative mind. The kingdom appears to be in good hands.
DeleteVery clever, MR. Whatever it takes to get the job done.
DeleteHow often we underestimate our children, as Vlad has done here. Glad he was proved wrong to do so.
DeleteSuch good reading tonight! This is clever, crafted to perfection.
DeleteVery neat, Tad!
ReplyDeleteThanks. Espalier threw me some.
DeleteGreat little piece. Of course these days the boy would have ditched the parchment and used AUTOTAD. ;)
ReplyDeleteI think if it were today, we would call him Tad the Emailer.
DeleteThe Interview
ReplyDeleteThe espalier artist sat on a metal chair while the detective made notes. A pair of bloodied pruning shears in a plastic evidence bag lingered on the table.
“Any regrets?” the detective said.
“Currently?”
“… let’s go with currently.”
“No.” The artist swallowed. “Yes, I mean. Those aren’t mine.”
“Your name is engraved on the handle.”
“Someone must have stolen them,” the artist said.
“Any idea who?”
If I had to guess, I’d say someone who appreciates an elaborate vined trellis and all the intricacies involved.”
“And the victim… did not?”
“The bitch hated it.”
The detective made a note and sighed.
Something tells me this "artist" has a number of previous victims. This is good stuff, John.
DeleteHow insouciant is that "Currently?" from the artist!
Deleteseems the detective has a job to do...breaking down that 'defence' and getting the truth -but then again, would w want to know?
DeleteThe artist has done his gardening research, if not his market research.
DeleteREDECORATING
ReplyDeleteTo most it was a trellis, but, being very well-educated, to him it was an espalier. But not just any espalier. His wasn’t in a garden but in a basement room only he had access to.
What’s more, his espalier wasn’t decorated with the customary vines and flowers. Rather, his exhibited human organs - mostly hearts, livers and kidneys, and his current arrangement was particularly gratifying.
Regretfully, a change was needed, as this display was becoming ripe and discolored. Fresh contributions were needed.
Just then a voice raced down the stairwell. “Father Dobson! It’s time to hear confessions.”
He smiled.
One of your best, Jim. Very impressive.
Deletea truly nasty twist in this one, Jim, and I really appreciated that.
DeleteJim, I have to say I'm beginning to regret my choice of such an innocent word as espalier, now it has become so horribly corrupted.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAargh - so sorry John, I seem to have accidentally deleted something of yours when failing to comment. Please do reinstate the original ASAP
DeleteI think I deleted it. My comment to Jim ended up below his post, so I reposted then deleted the errant post.
DeleteChange of focus [451]
ReplyDeletePhilly Stepcart regretted questioning the likelihood of her becoming the current Mrs Pettinger, not least for Aleks' taking it seriously. Frown-lines espaliered across his forehead as he struggled to balance need for tact with honesty.
Eventually, with tolerant regret, 'I think he keeps forgetting the mother bit –'
Genuinely curious, 'What do you want from a mother. Aleks?'
Fiercely – this mattered to him – 'A family. A brother and a sister, to start!'
'Does your Dad want that?'
'Well, he keeps doing the bed bit, doesn't he? And none of the women say no – you didn't! – I'm old enough to know bed makes babies.'
What an evocative description of Aleks' frown lines!
Deletedialogue carrying the story forward in leaps but not missing a trick along the way.
DeleteThe 'bed bit' what a great expression for a couple making 'the beast with two backs.' I'll remember that one. Very vice, Sandra.
DeleteAleks is putting a little pressure on. Love it.
DeleteSt Dunstan’s Well
ReplyDeleteThe monastery had been built on the site of a pagan sacrificial alter. In its vast orchard espalier apple trees grew on trellises shaped like crucifixes. They looked like the corpses of green men. The red apples that studded them like bloody beads of regret bubbling from puncture wounds. Passing through it was like pushing against a raging current of white water rapids. A force dragged against you, tried to knock the legs from under you, did all it could to thwart you from reaching the well. For in the treacle darkness of the well the dark god dwelled.
Love the "treacle darkness"
DeleteReally nicely written, this was.
DeleteRich imagery here, depicting true horror.
ReplyDeleteDeliciously diabolical, David!
ReplyDeletebloody beads of rejgret. Wow!
DeleteBERGDIS
ReplyDeleteBergdis had been holidaying at the time of the attack, but didn’t seem to regret being marooned so far from home.
‘I travel a lot,’ she explained in a Nordic twang. ‘I used to spice up my espalier with unusual shrubs from across the world.’
Colm stood at a distance, wondering what an espalier was.
Mary looked a little green as she tended Joanie.
Phelim made an excuse about adjusting the current on the sonic barrier and hurried off.
Bergdis laughed.
‘I stink, sure, but it fools beasts,’ she said, jiggling the badger on her belt. ‘They make fine gloves.’
This reads as a filmic intro to some horror movie (having to hope the actors wouldn't overact the smell!
Deleteris good, very good. So casual 'they make fine gloves' - yuk!
DeleteI loved Colm's wondering what an espalier was. Great idea to throw that in, Perry.
DeleteEllis 022
ReplyDeleteKurt had suggested we debrief at The Orchard Café. I showered, musing on what to wear. The red top went back into the wardrobe with regret, too overt for the smart-casual but subtly sexy persona I wanted to project.
I checked my report again, all the facts recorded, except for the odd electric current I felt on remembering those green eyes.
When I arrived, the café had been renovated and was now a swanky restaurant called L’Espalier. I would have walked past if Kurt hadn’t spotted me from his window table.
“What’s with the pictures of tortured trees?” I asked.
LOVE this use of espalier - and Ellis's interpretation.
DeleteThe Joys of Mediumship
ReplyDeleteDriving to work, (currently tough going, roadworks on the biggest road into the biggest town,) playing a Bruce Hornsby CD and feeling wave after wave of energy responding to his masterful piano playing. I regretted turning it off but we were heading for the garage and its MOT… no espalier cover up and fine greenery there, just the MOT bay, water, air, mechanics and I wonder what else I could need for my car to stay fit and well… I can always go back to the spirit energy, music and greenery when I go home.
Stop The Week:
ReplyDeleteThe shop is as Christmassy as I can get it considering IO am working alone… Shaun’s daughter has had Covid and has been shut away and he shut himself away with her – there’s love! This espalier prompt word has given me thoughts… impractical but if I could… I would get it done, unlike the redecoration we planned…. it’s only been a year… we’ll regret not doing it when we come to closing down, methinks. He’s waiting for another lockdown; I don’t think there will be one. We’ve all had enough of all that! But there’s another variant…
The Mad Italian
ReplyDeleteAh, what fun your government is enjoying at the moment! Currently it would seem everyone was partying but the PM himself. Where was he, then, hiding behind a thick espaliered hedge? These will be days he will regret when the populace turns against him. They are edging that way. If he does not realise that, he will prove to be a bigger fool than most people expected him to be. The pressures on the people who provide the services is becoming too much, there will be more strikes… I am sorry to say but you have had enough!
I'll be back later with comments, all things being equal and the goverment hanging on in there a bit longer...
ReplyDeleteMinor vet emergency this morning so no time for comments today unfortunately. Hopefully, next week will prove to be better.
ReplyDelete::::eye roll::::