June 7: Flash Fiction Challenge – The Humble Man

Posted on June 9, 2018 by Michael

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June 7, 2018, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story about man glisten. It was a fun term coined by two men with glitter in their beards. What more could it embrace? Look to the unexpected and embrace a playful approach. Go where the prompt leads.

The humble man knew he was up against it. The shelter for the homeless was a pie in the sky venture argued so many who coveted everything they thought they had a right to.

Greed and lust prevailed, and it was every man for himself. The homeless suffered the cold, the heat but more so the derision of a society who didn’t care.

He built a rough shelter, it was warm and clean and appreciated by those in need. When he stood back to reflect on his efforts, those who watched were amazed by the glow from within him.

 

Written for: https://carrotranch.com/2018/06/08/june-7-flash-fiction-challenge/

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Thursday photo prompt: Remains #writephoto

Posted on June 9, 2018 by Michael

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Once a month the keeper of bones and artefacts would open the crypt and dust off the remains of Albert the Alchemist. He always marvelled at how the place, which was sealed, still attracted dust.

The dusting complete he would take a rag from his bag and spray it with his home made spray and wipe and clean the bones of the long dead Albert.

Unlike many of the remains he found as he worked his way around the old cemetery, Alberts were very much intact. They hadn’t crumbled and shown the wearing of time, as did so many others. He wondered if that had anything to do with his work. There was no doubt Albert would have worked with all sorts of chemicals and potions in his time.

Each time he cleaned the bones they came up looking pristine, as they would have been in his prime.

The keeper of bones and artefacts finished his task, looked around and found everything, as it should be.

He nodded to the resting bones of Albert the Alchemist and closed the crypt one again.

 

Written for: https://scvincent.com/2018/06/07/thursday-photo-prompt-remains-writephoto/

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Reena’s Exploration Challenge #Week 40 – All About 40

Posted on June 8, 2018 by Michael

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Lent has 40 days. So we were told.

I was brought up in a very Catholic family, Mass every Sunday, no meat on Fridays and Lent we were told were days of fast and abstinence.

Each year it was a matter of what are you giving up for Lent. Chocolate was a popular one. We used to receive these little moneyboxes called Project Compassion into which we placed all the small change we generated throughout the Lenten period.

Lent finished with Easter. I never liked Easter much as it was a series of Church goings that drove me crazy. The Sunday before Easter was Palm Sunday. This necessitated the reading of the passion of Christ, which was long, and you had to stand for it.

The following Thursday was Holy Thursday, an evening Mass where the priest washed the feet of twelve parishioners as at the Last Supper.

Friday was the Adoration of the Cross, another long event during which the passion was read again. Though in later years I did take over my church’s ceremony in that I had the passion read in parts, a Christ carrying a cross, one my dad made for me, and on one occasion I had the guy carrying the cross fall down in the middle of the church. Though my days were numbered when the conservative right wing branch of the parish frowned on me when I had the priest sit out the reading of Christ’s part in the passion, I had another guy do it much to the pleasure of the then Parish Priest who was happy to be given a break from it.

Saturday night was another Easter ceremony, with burning fire and candles. At least the Saturday service was the final one for Lent and Easter freeing us up for Easter Sunday and the Easter bunny.

So the 40 days of Lent and Easter were over. After we embraced the chocolate delivered by the pagan Easter bunny though in my house the no meat Fridays continued.

In was in much later life that I heard a better saying for the 40 days of Lent. Instead of what I was giving up for Lent, I was told it was better to say: What am I doing for Lent.

Though by then I had fallen by the wayside regarding my religious practice.

 

 

Written for: https://reinventionsreena.wordpress.com/2018/06/07/reenas-exploration-challenge-week-40/

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Tale Weaver – #174 – Making Sense of Nonsense – Seeking the Elixir of Life.

Posted on June 7, 2018 by Michael

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Image: Pinterest

Carstairs found himself in a precarious situation. He now had a clearer understanding as to why the Elixir of Life was so elusive.

Though he did think himself halfway there. He’d found the root of the Goodtogo Tree, and that was half the battle.

The next task was to cut the tip of the root off without falling into the pitiless bottom below him.

His companion in this endeavour was the less than intelligent Carstruck. They had become friends through the most extraordinary circumstances, which won’t be revealed at this time. And yes the coincidence of their names being similar is remarkable in itself.

Why both men wanted the Elixir of Life was a mystery when both struggled with the day to day as it was.

So as Carstairs hung by one arm confident the root would sustain his weight he reached up and took the saw offered to him by Carstruck.

The trick was to cut the tip from the root as within the tip lay the secret ingredient. It sounded easy but remembering Carstairs had only one arm to do both cutting and catching, so it was going to require some remarkable dexterity.

It was important for the root tip to be sawn not broken off. Breaking it off would bruise the chemicals and ruin his chances of producing the elixir.

Carstairs was preparing to drop the saw at the appropriate time and was at that very moment a picture of concentration.

All was going well until Carstruck made the unfortunate mistake of asking Carstairs the time.

Without thinking, Carstairs looked at his watch and announced it was 10.23.

Carstruck called, “What did you say?”

Carstair looked at the saw in his other hand and thought, it is a long way down.

 

Written for: https://mindlovemiserysmenagerie.wordpress.com/2018/06/07/tale-weaver-174-making-sense-of-nonsense/

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50 Word Thursday #4 – Gallop’s Bad Day.

Posted on June 7, 2018 by Michael

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“Life was a queer business, she thought.  On occasions it threw people together haphazardly without regard to consequences.” From Frederick J Thwaites No Rainbow In The Sky

When life was a lazy day in a paddock, it was hard for Gallop to see it any different. Pulling the cart was a morning walk, and there was always the prospect of a bag of yummy oats once they had returned. Standing there, he closed his eyes and napped.

 

He was awoken by bags being thrown into the cart. Damn, he thought, weight to carry. Gallop knew his value was summed up by his ability to pull the cart. He’d seen what happened to Trotter the former carthorse. Gallop was determined to last the distance, no matter how far.

 

He felt the tug of the reins as the bit in his mouth guided him to turn towards home. The cart was heavier than before, but he knew if he put his back into it and he’d established a rhythm. Before long he was ambling at a steady homeward pace.

 

They came from nowhere. Two men on horseback, guns drawn, malice of voice. They ejected the driver and took over the reins. The crack of the whip frightened Gallop. They led him in a strange direction. There was to be no peace this day. How he longed for his paddock.

 

Written for: https://debbiewhittam.wordpress.com/2018/06/07/50-word-thursday-4/

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Photo Prompt -The Over 60’s Beach.

Posted on June 7, 2018 by Michael

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There were several reasons for the No Dogs sign on the beach.

As it was an Over 60s Nudist Beach, many of the beach attendees had pets and knowing their pets as they did decided the beach was no place for them.

Also as many had sight issues and going into the water usually meant leaving their glasses behind their sight was often compromised and stepping into something untoward was not their idea of any fun at all.

There was also the situation many of them faced that with age all of one’s bits tended to be more attracted more to the sand than the sun. So with bits drooping and dangling like they once didn’t, the thought of dogs sniffing round them was very off-putting.

So it was the Over 60’s Nudist Beach operated very happily and successfully, providing and warm and sunny outlet to all those so inclined. It was often surprising how many turned up on any given day. The Over 60’s were more your weekday adventurers finding the weekends attracted far too many undesirable folk like young people, young families and children.

There was one other advantage to attending the beach, it saved a lot of folks the indignity of visiting the swimwear shop to buy new swimmers, and as the years moved on, they found it a relief that their current costume would still be in vogue the next year.

 

Written for: https://arousedblog.wordpress.com/2018/06/07/photo-challenge/

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FOWC With Fandango – Simple

Posted on June 7, 2018 by Michael

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Simple. 

A simple solution to the problem was a bandaid. It covered up the indiscretion, and if you didn’t know, it didn’t matter. 

Life was like that. The boy who made mistakes found simple solutions were the best, they allowed him time, allowed him the chance to pretend what he did wasn’t noticed and that it wouldn’t matter as no one would know anyway. 

Trouble was he found himself repeating the same thing, there was a lot to be said for his dad’s saying, “Same shit different day.” 

It took him years to face up to what he was about. It was his second year in prison when it happened and gave him cause to reflect on who he was. He knew he was going nowhere, simple, convenient solutions were nothing more than temporary fixes, and if he used that argument throughout life, he would spend more time in a small cell. 

That was the day he decided his simple reasoning had to be a whole lot smarter. 

 

 

Written for: https://fivedotoh.com/2018/06/06/fowc-with-fandango-simple 

 

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100 Word Wednesday: Week 74 -The Street of Sameness.

Posted on June 6, 2018 by Michael

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In the street of sameness, nothing stood out. It wasn’t allowed, to be different was akin to being subversive, and that would never do.

Once a month the suburban dictator would arrive with set-squares and theodolites to check the sameness. Those who were not compliant were ostracised, forced to publicly apologise for bringing their community into disrepute.

It was a proud community, everyone had a name colour to reflect their sameness, Randy and Sandy Beige, Joe and Jane Pastel, all blended together in decorous perfection.

The residents loved their free society. Their sameness was about belonging.

 

Written for: https://bikurgurl.com/2018/06/06/100-word-wednesday-week-74/

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FLASH FICTION FOR THE PURPOSEFUL PRACTITIONER- 2018 WEEK #23 – The Concert.

Posted on June 6, 2018 by Michael

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Image: Jack Gittoes pexels-photo-761543 Concert

Our tour of the ancient and scenic town of Morgue was put on hold as Roger our tour guide decided to take us for a night out.

It was an added extra on the tour, but Joyce, my aged companion and I had decided we would take advantage of every opportunity afforded us.

Joyce was apprehensive about the concert as she didn’t like crowds or loud music but remarked it would be an experience her grandkids would be pleased to hear about.

The place was packed, and our tickets put us in a spot well back from the stage where upon our arrival we could make out long-haired youths playing what we assumed was their version of ‘good‘ music.

Joyce was obviously anxious about being there as she clutched my arm the entire time. This surprised me as Joyce I had discovered only sought physical contact was on a very limited basis.

Around us, the youth gyrated, bopped and screamed approval as the band assaulted our ears with their non-stop cacophony.

Later in our hotel room, Joyce remarked on her amazement at having survived the ordeal.

 

Written for: https://flashfictionforthepracticalpractitioner.wordpress.com/2018/06/06/flash-fiction-for-the-purposeful-practitioner-2018-week-23/

 

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In Other Words, browsing…

Posted on June 6, 2018 by Michael

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I was in the supermarket browsing as one does.

In the cereal aisle, the boxes started shaking.

Corn flakes mixed with rolled oats in ways that seemed improper.

The weetbix and the frosties ran sensuously in out of the fruit loops, I gulped at such a sight.

A man who once browsed for brooms swept them all away, leaving me serially unnerved.

 

Written for: https://patriciasplace.me/2018/06/06/in-other-words-browsing/

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