Certainly several thought-provoking pieces this week, with a subtle use of the prompt words, which makes me feel I need to be more rigorous in my choosing a winner. So, from a shortlist of four: the sly sarcasm of John's 'Valuable antiques', Perry's wide-angled 'Wilder', David's, 'The cabinet of icons' and Jim's 'Coming of age' , I finally picked Perry. Not easy to differentiate, but I thought I ought.
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midnight Thursday 27th January, new words
posted Friday 28th
Thank you - it's a high accolade to be picked from such a group of elite wrting talent and I treasure it.
ReplyDeleteCongrats, Perry!
DeleteYours was the right choice, Perry! Congrats!
Deletedefinitely the right choice, Perry!
DeleteThe Appointment
ReplyDeleteShe wore a turquoise kangaroo skirt with a matching blazer and walked with urgently long strides. She had no idea what case she had been appointed.
In the prison cell, the defendant said, “You’re late.”
She blinked. “And you’re Donald Trump.”
“I get that a lot. Let’s get started.”
She sighed and picked up her pen.
This appointment is not off to the best of starts.
DeleteShe has an admirable sense of restraint, to simply sigh.
DeleteI had to Google 'kangaroo skirt' but wearing one indicates she's well-prepared.
DeleteI imagine it would be quite an interesting and difficult job to be a lawyer, especially when you don't know who your clients are! Clever use of kangaroo.
Deletethat's clever and predictive and altogether fascinating!
DeleteEllis 027
ReplyDeleteThat night we left the commune, I did my best to forget.
The Parent’s self-appointed conviction that they knew how to run our lives had become unbearable, but we had no plan. Urgent whispering in corners about Getting Out wasn’t a plan. And in the end we left in chaos. Jasper could drive but wasn’t quite tall enough for the van, but the Beetle’s keys were lost in the flames. Soot smeared in the fleering darkness, six of us got out, Jasper kangarooing the battered van down the track, heading for the town. Two left behind, they escaped the crash.
Mayhem and chaos abound! There is something to be said for planning.
DeleteGlad I read this first and saw you'd taken my intended use for kangaroo. As ever, this is weighted with back story and I want to know more
DeleteSo much happens in communes; I'm glad I've avoided them so far. An action packed tale with lots of excitement.
DeleteA mad dash to freedom. I'm also very curious to know how they arrived at the commune and what led to the fire. Lots for my imagination to chew on here!
Deletetension runs rife here, bunch of people struggling against odds they didn't really apppeciate... wonderful basis for a story!
DeleteCAUTION
ReplyDeleteBergdis followed as Sally was stretchered to the rusty bus converted for urgent medical cases only to be blocked at the door.
‘I only look to help,’ she said.
‘We don’t know you,’ Colm responded, half-apologetically.
The others gathered around.
‘I treated your friend and carried her here.’
‘Yeah, how DID you manage that?’ Caolin quizzed from the wings.
‘You know my daughter.’
‘That’s debatable – even IF Una is yours,’ Colm returned, the foundling’s mastery of The Tide in mind.
‘What’s this,’ X goaded, ‘some sort of kangaroo court?’
‘Naw,’ Caolin in a snottery tone, 'you just need an appointment.'
Th sarcasm and nastiness are bristling here!
DeleteTerritorial bristling indeed, lots of marking grounds going on.
DeleteDurn - I forgot Bergdis's name in the original draft - hence the X, which I neglected to edit.
DeleteThis has a wide-screen feel to it, very visual.
DeleteIt does seem to be somewhat of a kangaroo court. Or maybe they are seeing something untoward in Bergdid.
Deleteyou can hear the tension crackling between these people! That's hard to write well and this is written well.
DeleteI agree, the dialogue is filled with excellent tension.
DeleteNO FURTHER QUESTIONS
ReplyDelete"Did you like Captain Kangaroo?" The prosecutor asked urgently.
"I loved him," answered the defendant.
The prosecutor shrugged. "I preferred Beanie and Cecil."
The defendant's attorney rose swiftly. "I object! This is a murder trial, and the state is talking cartoons!"
"Overruled!" said the judge. "Continue, counselor."
The prosecutor smiled at the defendant. "Did you like Clutch Cargo?"
The defendant sprang to his feet. "A fiendish assassin appointed by Beanie and Cecil to kill Captain Kangaroo!"
"Your wife?" asked the prosecutor. "How did she feel about Clutch?"
"She loved him. That's why I killed her."
“No further questions, your Honor.”
I had to look up Captain Kangaroo and Clutch Cargo. Intriguing to find while they did not cross the pond, some of the cartoons featured in CK did, evoking memories of Ludwig the weird egg. Thank you!
DeleteTripping-up of defendants by means of clever interrogation always impresses me.
DeleteAn unorthodox but effective line of questioning. Very entertaining.
DeleteI agree with Sandra, always impressive when a certain line of questioning leads to a fervent confession.
DeleteLost Apollo
ReplyDeleteThe 12th Apollo was launched in secret. Military in nature.
The capsule missed its appointed rendezvous. The astronaut, James Randall, was not heard from till the 8th of December 1984, the day the last episode of Captain Kangaroo aired on NBC.
An urgent message interrupting the broadcast. ‘I’m alive. We are not alone.’ People watching thought it was a skit. Part of the show. Somewhat bad taste.
Secretly NASA verified that it emanated from the dark side of the moon.
Silence ever since. No explanation. Your mission is to find out what happened.
DeleteA mission I'd decline, I think. Good luck to whoever takes it on, though
Some things are best left unresolved. A very interesting entry, David.
DeleteI always wondered what happens on the dark side of the moon. Only Pink Floyd knows for sure.
Deletethis is intriguing, to say the least, so much covered in so few words. Brilliant stuff.
DeleteI've watched enough movies to know this will probably end badly. :) Though I can't help but be curious what Randall encountered!
Delete[Threshold 380 ]
ReplyDeleteSeizing the opportunity I silently appointed myself navigator, but not, as was apparent from the kangarooing of Raven's eyebrows, invisibly. Luckily (for him!) he had the wit to accept without demur, aware, as I already was, of approaching noises of dissension. Of the suddenly become urgent need to be on our way. Climbing aboard the nearest quad bike I turned the key and with ringing (but spurious) confidence said. 'Follow me!'
It was our luck also that would-be rescuers, intending resuscitation rarely predicted the need to arrive on the scene armed for battle. Nor recognised shouting no substitute for brakes.
An action packed departure. When someone says, 'follow me,' it's like saying, 'watch this." It often turns out badly. Fun read.
DeletePerhaps navigator and driver should be switched... or maybe use Uber.
DeleteLOVE that last line!
DeleteAn excellent final line. Loved the excitement and narrator's confidence. :)
DeleteChange of focus [457]
ReplyDeleteShockingly slow, Pettinger read Philly's fear of pregnancy. Gently, he took her face between his hands and kissed her . 'No condom, no contraceptive is guaranteed 100% effective. Even when they're thick as kangaroo hide there's room for handling errors. Only sure way to stay childless is to refrain from sex altogether, and I doubt you're someone who'd take kindly to that. Best I can suggest is you make an urgent doctor's appointment, ask for the morning-after pill –'
Voice clotted with unwanted tears, 'That the best you can do? Time was, there'd at least be a proposal of marriage!'
An awkward conversation not well handled. At least he's good at investigating crimes.
DeleteI second John. Definitely a handling error from Pettinger!
DeleteYou heartless cad, Pettinger!
DeleteOh dear - and there was me applauding his practicality.
Deletenow we have to wait to find out how he copes with this...
DeleteIt definitely doesn't seem to be going very smoothly. Loved the phrasing of 'Voice clotted with unwanted tears.'
DeleteDismal job reports
ReplyDeleteHe showed up for the appointment wearing a pink kangaroo costume in need of laundering. The interviewer wrinkled her nose and shuffled some papers.
The man looked at his watch and tapped his foot. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to get on with it.”
“Something urgent…” she checked the application. “Mr. Klein?” It pained her they needed people so badly. “Can you operate an arc welder?”
The man shrugged.
“Can you read a blueprint?”
He looked around the room and took a Twinkie out of his pouch.
The interviewer shook her head. “Fine, you start on Monday.”
True fact - I live opposite a police station and last year saw someone in a pink unicorn costume wandering by!
DeleteSurely this interview took place in the USA where many companies are desperate to hire.
Deletethat is so visual!
DeleteHopefully their need is worth the risk and he doesn't set his suit on fire!
DeleteThat really IS desperate!
ReplyDeleteDungeon Crawl
ReplyDeleteVera tucks the gem away like a kangaroo with a pouch, her hand lingering in the fabric pocket. “I’ll keep it safe.”
I narrow my eyes, suspicion sour as bile in my ravaged throat.
“Appointing yourself as our leader then, are you?” Rach speaks before I can. She’s a breath from drawing her sword, eyes shiny like blackened beads.
Vera sniffs and turns. “I’m the spellcaster here. You can’t tell a curse from a boon.”
Felicia suddenly gives an urgent tug to my elbow. “Shush! Argue later. What’s that?”
Golden light crackles across the floor, ancient stone heaving.
“Run!”
The tone here certainly heightens the suspense, Holly. Well done!
Deleteooh very atmospheric! and great descriptive writing
Deleteoh this is good, all that tension and then you cap it with a tension loaded one word sentence!
DeleteJoys of Mediumship
ReplyDeleteI asked for financial help, it came as a suggestion to start tarot readings again. Sounds easy, but first they need to appoint someone to watch over the proceedings so I don’t leap wildly into a tangled situation, even if it is urgent. With one Florida resident it is always urgent and she is like a kangaroo, leaping from one prospective lover to the next… each time she asks me ‘is this the one?’ without giving the poor man a chance to let something develop naturally… or even write to me so I get a sense of who he is..
That sounds difficult to work with!
DeleteShop talk
ReplyDeleteStop the Week
Stop? No customers, car breakdowns, you name it - taking kangaroo leaps over us - aware work is there in the spirit world to help us close down. Nothing urgent, but when I have to empty the till to find rent money… it’s in the air so neither one of us has been appointed to lead us out. The man who led us in has already passed on, I need to ask, how much is he contributing to this, he having started several businesses, made a success of them and moved on. What better person to use for inspiration?
Sounds like things are in somewhat desperate straits, Antonia - hope January's end brings improvement.
DeleteKeep the faith, Antonia.
DeleteBusinesses can be so tricky. Hopefully February is better for all.
DeleteThe Mad Italian
ReplyDeleteI need more than the regular 100 words to express my feelings this week but I will try... first, which fool was appointed to use cake as a weapon against a sitting PM. Second, why did the leader of the so-called opposition make kangaroo leaps into illogicality and ask the same question five times, it felt like 50, in truth... and finally to ask, urgently, where are your leaders?
I am amused by the vehemence with which people speak of Sir Winston Churchill but – people. He took over in the middle of a war and gave you victory. Don't forget...
I had to find out who these people were, too, now I am doubly intrigued!
ReplyDeleteChurchill... thank God for him! Where would Great Britain be without this master politician?
ReplyDelete