Couldn’t resist trying this challenge again.
in 42 words exactly
Bob was my boy friend killed in Viet Nam
Charles Babbage
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Charles Babbage a mathematician and the founder of the modern computer. lived during the golden age of music and considered telegraph machines to quickly convey information.
Well, looky here. He never envisioned computers in every home and a band called the Smeezingtons.
**
written for
Blogophilia Week 9.7 Topic: Golden Age of Music
Bonus Points:
(Hard, 2 points) Incorporate a quote from Charles Babbage
Telegraphs are machines for conveying information over extensive lines with great rapidity.
(Easy, 1 point) Include a lyric from a Bruno Mars song
looky here looky here from Runaway Baby
Google Image
Me and Steve were just hanging around. No school for us, both kicked out.
The bridge was old, crumbling and rusted. What little of it survived the conflagration two years ago so I placed my feet on what solid footing I could find. Didn’t wanna get thrown into the river beneath.
I glanced at Steve to see if he had found anything interesting. “What’s that red thing down below?” A feeling of apprehension hooked me in the gut.
“Geeze it’s a kid. The current is pulling him under.”
“He’s too little to over power it and it looks like his big rubber ball bobbing in the other direction.”
“He musta tripped and fell.”
“Yep the end of the pier probably collapsed.”
We were good swimmers so we jumped into the water. Man it was cold.
Steve captured the kid, gripping the boy by his coat. We managed to haul him to dry land.
“James, are you okay?” Are you okay James?”
I coughed up sludge and slime grimacing at the sour taste of the filthy liquid. “Yeah I’ll live.”
Steve called 911. While we waited for the ambulance we leaned against the abutment and caught our breath. The child sat on the ground matching me cough for cough. He would be fine.
***
Written for Blogophilia Week 8.7 Topic: Hooked on a Feeling Bonus Points: (Hard, 2 points) Incorporate echolalia (echo-like repetition of another’s words) (Easy, 1 point) Include a conflagration
this seems to be addictive – am doing it again
Hope it’s not too “off the wall”
in 42 words exactly
I had so much fun last time with this group – am doing it again
And maybe got the badge right this week?
in 42 words exactly
As some of you may know I love to write flash fiction. Flash fiction is a style of fictional literature or fiction of extreme brevity. There is no widely accepted definition of the length of the category. Some self-described markets for flash fiction impose caps as low as three hundred words, while others consider stories as long as a thousand words to be flash fiction.
The Drabble (stories of 100 words) is my preferred style.
Recently through a friend I participated in a writing challenge called Garbleblaster. I have no idea why it is called that. Prior to this I participated in a 38 word challenge through the same friend who loves the ride and buys the tickets.
We had to write 33 words plus the last mandatory line for a total of 38 words.
I wrote:
“I love you.”
“I love you too.” He looped the rope around her wrists.
“I trust you but what is the knife for?”
“You said you love me. I am demonstrating my devotion.”
“That wasn’t what I meant.”
Last week I wrote this for my first garbleblaster
Answer the question – What’s so amazing that keeps us stargazing?
Mostly we live mundane lives, free of excitement so we vicariously experience what our world lacks by looking to the stars: music stars, movie stars, media stars .It matters not. Envy motivated we reach out to the infamous. We watch and dream.
The group posting on that site comprise very talented writers The experience left me slightly past tipsy as if I had eaten an entire machine full of sweet snacks. Frankly even though Blogophilia came out Sunday and even though I’m participating in the A-Z Challenge I couldn’t resist another Garbleblaster. It’s an addiction. I have no control. These challenges are a learning experience and As long as I’m learning something, I figure I’m OK – it’s a decent day.
hmm I didn’t answer the question.
That’s it. I’m outa here. Oh wait did I just see another writing challenge? I’d better go check it out….
***
Written for Blogophilia Week 7.7 Topic: Slightly Past Tipsy Bonus Points: (Hard, 2 points) Quote Hunter Thompson (Easy, 1 point) Incorporate a snack machine
I assumed a plethora of people would comment when I posted a give-away for my book, The Bench, poetry and very short fiction.
One person responded.
I find it hard to believe that no one was interested in signing up for a free copy of the book. A beautiful expensive paperback.
I guess that’s what happens when one assumes.
Google Image
On the other side of my eyelids buzzed the yellow glow of emergency lights, but it was not yet time to wake up and have to face the doctors’ questions.
A couple of kids hiking found me after I was attacked by a four legged grey animal with big teeth and a bushy curled tail. They called for an ambulance. I didn’t know what was going on and just lay on the ground dazed. It was too dark for them to realize my body’s components differed significantly from theirs.
My parents warned me not to wander away. They had visited here before but this was my first trip. While they had taught me the language and something about the culture I still did not know what to expect.
But I did wander off. I left the area my parents were exploring; the wild called to me and I skipped away. Curiosity enticed me. And I got lost.
Gazing at home to the left of Earth’s moon fascinated me. I was rooted to the spot, not paying attention to the life forms around me. Therefore I didn’t see the animal rushing towards me until I realised I was on the ground and hurt.
The ambulance people didn’t examine me carefully, they simply packed me onto the table and into the vehicle.
But I knew the doctors would notice my differences. I was paralyzed with fear.
**
written for flash Friday and Blogophilia Week 6.7 Topic: She/He Left Bonus Points: (Hard, 2 points) Use a headline from 1903flash fiction! I couldn’t resist
but I can’t figure out how to get the badge in here.
Anyway
Answer the question – What’s so amazing that keeps us stargazing?
in 42 words exactly
(thank you for telling me about the badge – I did not know)
Painting by Robert Kingsley
“There’s one story I only tell when I’m drunk.” The vampire looked around the church basement at the rest of the group’s members, “but now that I’ve decided to join Gluttony Anonymous, I guess the story will never be told.” He sighed in despair and slumped back into the cheap metal chair.
Jasper McPhee, the organizer of the meeting, though none of the participants could say what sort of creature he was, smiled hopefully at the tall man who had just spoken. “Perhaps it’s best we don’t hear your story.”
“Hey am I the sole Human in the room? When I signed up for AA they told me this was the last session still available.” He had broken out in a sweat and his shaking hands were obvious to the others.
Jasper leaned forward on his seat and spoke directly to George. “You may be the only human but we all have the same problem and we’re here to support each other so that we may live meaningful and productive lives. While our stories will reveal intimacies we’re not a party of lovers. We don’t have to love each other, simply understand and sympathize.”
The draught of sunshine hovering above the chair to the left of Jasper spoke up in a surprising baritone voice. “I’m a pixy. I get high on pixy dust. Only a few lines and not more than two or three. It’s not pretty when I over indulge. The garden I’m in charge of is really special, full of flowers of all kinds and colours and vegetables to feed my family of 16. “But,”said in a tone of disgust, “when I get high I become manic and fly around wrecking all of my hard work. The kids and wife have had it with me and warned me that if I don’t get help they will leave and go over to Henry the pixy in the next garden. I must gain control of myself!”
The small girl with long blonde hair and huge blue eyes cleared her throat. “I’m Emily. I’m a faery and most creatures aren’t aware that if we drink just a drop of cream we can become quite nasty. Now I’m hoping to be someone’s fairy godmother when I’m older but if I continue on this path of destruction I’ll never attain my goal.” Tears welled up in her eyes making them appear luminous. She curled into her seat, her wings taunt against her body.
Jasper hummed a three chord blues tune then glared at the human and creatures around the room. “Well get over it people, and I do use the term loosely. We must forget our differences and concentrate on solving our problems. Be it too much blood for one, and he nodded to the undead guy, “or alcohol for George, we all suffer from gluttony. Search for the bright star. When we have fears we must learn control.
***
written for Blogophilia Week 5.7 Topic: Just A Drop Bonus Points: (Hard, 2 points) Include 2 John Keats poetry titles (Easy, 1 point) Mention “3 chord blues”
sassyspeaks 