Friday, 23 August 2024

Relocation

 We’ve spent the last few days helping our daughter to move into a house less than thirty minutes from us rather than the previous  getting on for six hours. As much as anything, shifting, unpacking, umpteen boxes  has opened our eyes as to the amount of stuff  one accumulates over the years: she’d been in her previous house ten years whereas we’ve been here for fifty; the words accumulate, essential,  sentimental come to mind as prompt words for next week

Entries by midnight  Thursday August 29th,  new words Friday 30th

Usual rules: 100 words maximum (excluding title) of flash fiction or poetry using all three words 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.


12 comments:

  1. The Secret Armadillo Soldier (SAS) Diaries - entry 284

    Sarg flung the ‘Dillo down and turned to the subdued civilians, ‘there’s no time fer sentimental claptrap when lives are in danger. Anyone got a problem with that?’ Her question created head shaking and eye lowering.

    The accumulated scent of fear in the burrow was apparent; so was the stench of unburied ‘Dillo crap.

    Sarg sniffed, ‘Right then, keeping things clean is essential if yuh don’t wanna get sick, so this stinkin’ mess needs sorting. Dig a trench, chuck the crap in, and bury it.’
    She chewed thoughtfully at her lower lip then turned to the still cowering ‘Dillo.

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    Replies
    1. 'the stench of unburied ‘Dillo crap' so perfectly put, Sarg has a wonderful way with words

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    2. Your use of the prompt words is superb, Terrie!

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  2. Thresholds new [35]

    In my time with Raven – years, probably (currently I’d no idea) I’d accumulated a myriad of experiences; of knowledge of the sort of man he was. My first impression - the physical impact of the colour, size and power of him - shaped as much from teenage sentimentality (for which read ‘hormones’), from knowledge shaped by books and magazines; coloured by the lure of yet-to-be- experienced sensations, of desires deemed essential to one approaching adulthood. Of the suspicions of what parental adults would likely deem ‘forbidden’.
    Acker’s response rebellion. Gulch, I feared, had fallen in love.

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    Replies
    1. Once again, Sandra, in the first paragraph you create a marvelous path of language for the reader to follow.

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    2. A well crafted episode Sandra. I can see these twins falling out in the near future

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  3. NO NEED FOR SORROW

    The wind was an enraged, howling ogress – powerful, relentless, merciless. But it was ravaging an already dead landscape, a ruined wasteland where nothing essential for survival had accumulated… no water, no food, no shelter. Nothing existed but an endless stretch of sand and a few ragged shrubs.
    This was no place for human habitation or visitation, and, thus, it was the perfect place.
    I was not alone.
    My wife was with me, but she was dead and now buried deep beneath the sand.
    No need to get sentimental, for it was I who killed her.
    I simply tired of her.

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    Replies
    1. as always a most enjoyable 100 word entry, and what a cracker of a final sentence short ,acerbic and to the point .

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  4. This makes me wonder whether you subliminally dictated the choice of prompt words, so smoothly are they incorporated

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  5. Paradise Deliberately Lost

    'Absolute essentials only,' said the announcement on the Way Station public address. 'Accumulation of items of sentimental value is forbidden and punishable by suspension from travel for a maximum of four weeks.'
    Robbie peered through the shimmering portal at the Eden of lush vegetation beyond.
    'Bin the ring,' he snapped.
    Jenna looked appalled. 'It belonged to my grandmother. It’s an heirloom.'
    'Leave everything behind,' he reminded her, stepping closer to the portal. 'That’s the deal.'
    ‘Everything includes me then,’ said Jenna, giving him an energetic kick to speed him on his way.

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    Replies
    1. I liked how , the dialogue told us all we needed to know about these two characters. I would have definitely kicked Robbie into next week too but if i wanted to travel at a later date would give the old swallowing the ring trick a go .. might not have been detected

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  6. Impelled to cheer at the end of this punchy piece David, so clever!

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