Photo Challenge #279 – Visiting the Blue Planet

Posted on September 3, 2019 by Michael

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Image: – Tom Blachford

It seemed a good idea

At the time.

Folklore spoke of a distant blue planet

Three suns beyond the fourth last one.

Now it was in their grasp.

One looked at the other

Sensing fame and celebrity

They descended, careful not to draw attention,

But they were observed,

News spread quickly

They soon found themselves far from alone.

Out the window were people

Some had weapons

Most looked scared

“We come in peace

We come in peace”.

But to the crude inhabitants

It sounded &$*##^(^%$@&*&(.

Cron, Rron and Fron knew they were in trouble

The first rocket hit the back

The second the front

Things were dire until

They pointed their lasers

Reduced their attackers to ash.

Alone they ventured out

Found one person who listened,

Nodded, smiled, nodded once again

Gave them a cup of tea,

Showed them a DVD player.

They watched Star Wars, grunted approval,

Went back to their spaceship

Left vowing to never return.

What seemed a good idea

Could have ended in chaos.

The person who gave them tea

Wrote down his experience

And sealing it in an envelope

Addressed it to his future self.

 

Written for: https://mindlovemiserysmenagerie.wordpress.com/2019/09/03/photo-challenge-279/

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Sunday Writing Prompt “Inner Beauty” – A Date.

Posted on September 2, 2019 by Michael

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He was going on a date. He didn’t want to late.

His mother had always stressed to him the importance of punctuality.

What surprised him was the willingness of Sally Parsons to go out with him. She was short and athletic and unbelievably attractive. He, on the other hand, was tall and gangly.

He was determined to make his best effort with this date. He went out and bought new clothes, polished his shoes and booked a table at the Theatre Restaurant.

He was working on the notion that clothes maketh the man, but at the same time, he knew a girl like Sally Parsons would expect more than his new shirt and chinos.

Inside he felt good, he knew he looked the best he could, but he hoped Sally would look beyond his physical appearance and see inside the man he believed he was.

He was a kind and generous man, he supported a few local charities, worked on the Church working bees and knew he was a good listener.

Sally Parsons had acquired the reputation of a girl who was worldly, and he worried about that as he didn’t see himself in that sort of light.

They met outside the Restaurant and their night went very well.

After they sat in his car outside her house and talked. It was a chat of any great depth, but Sally said to him:

“Thanks for a wonderful night, I’ve had a good time. You’re a lovely man, and I like that you let me be myself, I didn’t feel I needed to impress you, and I liked that you were giving me the same feelings about yourself.”

He blushed at the compliment and replied: “There was little point in being anything than myself. I wouldn’t be able to sustain the pretence so what you see is what you get.”

She said she had to go as she had a job to get to in the morning but reaching across the seats she kissed him on the cheek and said: “I like what I see.”

 

Written for: https://mindlovemiserysmenagerie.wordpress.com/2019/09/01/sunday-writing-prompt-inner-beauty/

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Thursday photo prompt: Frozen #writephoto

Posted on August 30, 2019 by Michael

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She stood beside the creek and looking down,

Shivered and drew her wrap tighter around her chilled self.

She’d walked out earlier that morning

Now she wondered the irony of her present situation.

Their argument had been about her being a frigid bitch.

It hurt her to the core

For she knew she was not cold like he accused.

She had asked him to talk about how she felt

That she was struggling inside the life they shared

She felt trapped, unable to move,

He wasn’t one to talk about feelings

To him, the world revolved around

House, family, job, security,

It had nothing to do with how she felt.

Right now, everything seemed pointless,

Her life like the creek was frozen,

Going nowhere, with no one to turn to.

Unlike the creek, her life was not going to thaw

But rather would stay the same as, day in day out.

Her husband wanted her to accept their life

He was content, he had what he wanted,

He didn’t understand she was stifled, caught,

She contemplated a change, it wouldn’t be easy

But something had to happen.

 

Written for:https://scvincent.com/2019/08/29/thursday-photo-prompt-frozen-writephoto/

 

 

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Crimson’s Creative Challenge #42 Fossil Road.

Posted on August 30, 2019 by Michael

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Crisp, my aged companion, was excited.

Today she was determined to get to the Fossil Road as it was one of the many historical sites she wanted to explore.

It was a short ride on the Number 37 bus to Ossilton then a ten wait for the Number 37 bus to Fossilton and then a quick walk to the Fossil Road.

We were soon there and Crisp stood awestruck at the sight before her. Stretched out in front of her were the fossilized bones of a myriad of plants and a few skeletal remains of what were once mammals who inhabited the area.

Crisp was happily snapping photos when a man with a broom approached.

“Sorry about the mess, my cart overflowed, I’ll have it cleaned up in a jiffy.”

Crisp looked at him in amazement. The man then said, “If it’s the fossils you’re after there down around the next corner.”

 

Written for: https://crispinakemp.com/2019/08/28/crimsons-creative-challenge-42/

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Tale Weaver – #238 – Pests – 29th August – Barney

Posted on August 29, 2019 by Michael

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The first day Barney Cheapshot arrived at our school there was something about him that said trouble.

He had that devilish look in his eye, and you sensed it as he stood in the door to our classroom and surveyed the scene in front of him.

It was as if Barney was deciding which kid he could easily exploit to his advantage.

It wasn’t long, and Barney was proving himself to be the biggest pest in the classroom anyone ever imagined.

He would borrow pens and pencils from other kids, he would then refuse to return them saying he needed them when in reality, he did little in the way of school work.

The girls in our class quickly grew tired of him once he started to be rude to them, pull their pigtails and try and stand over them by demanding they share their recess with him.

As for us boys, we saw him initially as a guy to boost our recess and lunch games, but Barney wasn’t into games, in his world games were a distraction from his desire to create as much havoc as often as possible.

I remember our teacher, Mr Grownup, was often frustrated by Barney’s behaviour. On arriving at class, Barney would go through this elaborate charade of saying he didn’t have his book or pens. Mr Grownup would ask him to open his school bag and discover the books and pens inside. Then the pantomime revolved around getting Barney to open his book, find a pen, which he would claim wouldn’t work and so on until having gone full circle, and wasted most of the lesson he would finally get to work just as the bell went.

“You’re a pest Barney Cheapshot,” the teacher would say, “I don’t know why I bother, you are a waste of space.”

In hindsight, this was the end Barney desired. He had bettered the teacher, and so was content, his work was done.

The only time I saw him do anything different was the time Sally Lawler’s mum suffered a bad car accident, and the school was asked to put in to raise money to help in her recovery and to provide for the family as Mr Lawler had recently deserted the family and they needed help.

Barney surprised us all by coming in with a  donation and then offered to sell raffle tickets in a raffle to raise money. He had a generous side and one no one ever suspected of him.

All that didn’t last long as Barney was more your pest than anything else.

 

Written for: https://mindlovemiserysmenagerie.wordpress.com/2019/08/29/tale-weaver-238-pests-29th-august/

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Fandango’s Flash Fiction Challenge #29 – Fang and Dango In Pursuit.

Posted on August 27, 2019 by Michael

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Image: AAA.com.

The world’s most infamous detectives, Fang and Dango were hot on the trail of the equally notorious criminal, Jerkeye Jenkins, thief and general all-round bad guy.

Jerkeye had given them the slip on more than one occasion, in fact, he had given them the slip on every occasion.

He was last seen heading west toward the mountains of the Impasse. The snowcapped peaks loomed ahead of the two detectives as they made their way west sure they at least had their man cornered.

“So, what’s the plan?” asked Fang.

“Get Jerkeye and put him away for a long stretch,” replied Dango, his eyes firmly set on the road ahead.

“You been here before Dango?” asked Fang.

“No first time, you?”

“First time for me too.”

“What do you suggest we do when we get to the snow-covered peaks?

“That’s when we’ll nab him, he’ll never suspect we would track him to the snow-covered peaks.”

The two detectives drove on in silence as the snow-covered peaks drew closer.

“They appear to go up a long way,” observed Fang, “you think the car will go up there?”

“It’s a piece of cake Fang, just you watch and see, the old Dango has a few tricks up his sleeve and catching Jerkeye will be a breeze, I can feel it in my waters.”

“There’s a toilet up ahead,” offered Fang, uncertain what Dango meant by his waters and cast a quick glance at the floor to make sure Dango hadn’t already put his waters among them.

“No time Fang, there’s a crim to catch, and by tonight we’ll be heroes, and Jerkeye will be in cuffs and wondering how we managed to catch him so easily.

Fang having no reason to doubt his partner settled back to watch the passing scenery and await Dango’s next command.

Some hours later, with their car metres deep in snow, the two detectives realized they were in trouble.

“Fang we are in trouble, up a creek without a paddle, and if we don’t do something soon not only will Jerkeye get away but you and I will be frozen solid.”

Just then an old man appeared driving a tow truck and managed after some pulling and pushing to get the two detectives released from their potentially frozen fate.

As the old man drove away, Dango looked at the business card he left with them.

‘Jerkeye’s Towing and General Help in the Snow Services.’

“We almost had him,” said Fang watching the tow truck disappear.

“So close,” added Dango, “I didn’t know he’d aged so much. Maybe tomorrow?”

 

Written for: https://fivedotoh.com/2019/08/26/fandangos-flash-fiction-challenge-29/

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Photo Challenge #278 – Being Cool.

Posted on August 27, 2019 by Michael

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Image: Google Images (Original source unknown)

Twice today I was asked my age

But I stayed cool.

I was tempted to lie

But I stayed cool.

On both occasions, blood was involved

But I stayed cool.

My mouth opened to reply but nothing came out

But I stayed cool.

My brain said that can’t be the right number

But I stayed cool

I didn’t want my denial of age to be obvious

So, I stayed cool.

When I uttered the numbers, it wasn’t me

But I stayed cool.

Somewhere inside of me, another voice spoke

But I stayed cool,

In both situations, I remained calm, detached

You could say I stayed cool.

Later I reflected, it was me who was afraid

But I needed to stay cool.

There I said it, what might they think?

But more so, would they think I was cool?

 

Written for: https://mindlovemiserysmenagerie.wordpress.com/2019/08/27/photo-challenge-278/

Posted in Poetry, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 14 Comments

Bonus Wordle “County Fair” – Apple Pie, Bluegrass Band.

Posted on August 26, 2019 by Michael

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This week’s words: Bluegrass  County Fair  Apple Pie  Wobbly Crinkle  Carousel Admission  Sticky  Tent  Exclaim Tractor  Blue Ribbon

The Country Fair was under way and excitement mounted.

Stalls were set up around the fairground, and there was an air of expectation within the thronging crowds.

The blue ribbon event of the fair was to be the Bluegrass festival with the headline act the world-famous Apple Pie.

This act and the playing of their bluegrass hit, ‘Sticky Wobbly Apple Pie’ was to be the highlight of the fair and well worth the price of admission.

The Bluegrass Festival tent was erected next to the carousel where children queued awaiting their turn on the famous old carousel.

A little way off there was an exclamation of bewilderment as the tractor exhibitors became involved in a rowdy affair with dairy maids as to who should present first in the fair parade as both in honour of the main attraction had made a huge apple pie to mark the occasion.

The Tractor exhibitors had put together a pie complete with crinkles and the dairy maids a pie that wobbled like you wouldn’t believe.

It was decided in fairness for one to lead the parade and the other to bring up the rear. That’s when the confrontation got nasty, and all ended up in a very sticky situation.

Meanwhile, the bluegrass band, Apple Pie, played and shouted everyone apple pie as their reward.

 

 

Written for: https://mindlovemiserysmenagerie.wordpress.com/2019/08/26/bonus-wordle-county-fair/

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Fandango’s Flash Fiction Challenge #27 – A Crumpled Mess

Posted on August 24, 2019 by Michael

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The dolls were meant to ease the burden of loneliness.

What was she thinking he would ask himself as each evening he’d sit across from them? The gulf between them and himself testament to his feelings about the whole arrangement.

They were attractive in a very dollish sort of way. But did he need their help?

He was in denial that his loneliness was a matter for concern. He was used to it, and when he received the dolls, he was told it was being done to help him adjust.

That one resembled Michael Jackson was a worry to him as he wasn’t that way inclined, he had no inclination to be with boys or men.

The other doll was a non-descript uni-sex sort of figure. She was reserved, showed no sense of satisfaction, and he worried if he used her what that was saying about himself.

There become a standoff between the man and the dolls. To placate his sense of guilt, he sat them in the front window, thinking the view might give them something to do rather than focus on himself.

It was an hour later he realized the dolls could be seen from the street and he then became concerned as to what the neighbours might be thinking.

No matter what he did, it was guilt all round.

So, he deflated them both. He felt satisfied that now he had two pieces of plastic, crumpled up on the floor, looking as though they had received a shock they might not recover from.

It was now he felt some sense of connection with them as he too felt a crumpled mess.

He kicked them into the corner, unable to touch them, feeling responsible but at the same time happy to wallow in his own misery.

 

Written for: https://fivedotoh.com/2019/08/19/fandangos-flash-fiction-challenge-27/

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August 22: Flash Fiction Challenge – The Old Man

Posted on August 24, 2019 by Michael

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August 22, 2019, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story about old-world charm. It can be nostalgic or irreverent. You can invent an “old world,” return to migrant roots or recall ancient times. Go where the prompt leads you!

He was old and looking up from his chair, he saw the small boy standing in front of him.

They stared at each other the old man wondered where the boy had come from as children were a rare commodity in the nursing home.

“Hello,” said the old man feeling the need to say something.

“Hello,” replied the boy.

“Do you have a grandfather?” asked the old man.

“Yes,” replied the boy, “but he’s not as old as you.”

The old man found himself giggling, “No one is as old as me.”

“I didn’t think so,” said the boy.

 

 

Written for: https://carrotranch.com/2019/08/22/august-22-flash-fiction-challenge/

 

Posted in Uncategorized, Writing prompt | Tagged , , , | 13 Comments