May 3, 2018, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) use a line in your story. You can think of the variation of the word meaning, or you can think of visual references. Go where the prompt leads.
Lines
“Here’s ten pence.”
“Sorry, do I know you?”
“Call your mum. Tell her you’re not coming home.”
“What?”
“You must be so tired.”
“Huh?”
“Because you’ve been running through my dreams all night.”
“Just stop.”
“I seem to have lost my phone number. Can I have yours?”
“Seriously?”
“Kiss me if I’m wrong, but dinosaurs still exist, right?”
“Oh God!”
“Can I follow you home? Cause my parents always told me to follow my dreams.”
“You know, if you’d just asked me out, I’d have probably said yes. But after those cheesy pick-up lines, I really don’t think so!”
April 26, 2018, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) write a fish tale. It can be about fishing from any angle, about those who fish, or what might be caught. Go where the prompt leads.
I’m sorry, but a silly take from me this week!
Fish’N’Chips
“Oh, he’s going to be so excited!”
“Fish will finally have his Chips with him!”
Voices filtered through the water, reaching Fish as he swam around in his little tank.
What on earth were they going on about? Why was he going to get excited? Who Chips?
Just then, the water rippled and he came face to face with Chips for the first time.
Great.
“Let me just get this straight,” he said, “this is MY tank, and-“
Chips opened her mouth into a coy O shape and let loose a flirtatious bubble stream…
“-I think I love you!”
April 19, 2018, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story about forest bathing. You can use the Japanese term, Shinrin Yoku, or you can make up your own ideas about the phrase. Go where the prompt leads.
Peace of Mind
The twigs crackled underfoot.
Leaves rustled in the gentle breeze that blew through the forest.
This was true peace.
Heaven.
Karen had heard about forest bathing, and she was determined to experience a piece of this natural healing.
Strolling along, she could hear the feint trickle of water.
Getting closer to the sound, it appeared to be accompanied by splashes and voices.
As she rounded the corner, Karen came face to face with a group of drunk men, submerged in a pool of water, having a jolly of their own.
Not quite the forest bathing she had been expecting!
April 12, 2018, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story that includes a bat. You can use an association to the winged, cave-dwelling critter, or you can explore the word for other meanings. Bonus points for including a bat cave. Go where the prompt leads.
Howzat!
Parker readied himself, bat in hand, waiting for the bowler to release the ball.
He was a top spinner, and a fast one at that; tricky to handle, but he’d been practicing.
Here it came… Parker lifted his bat and slogged it!
It flew over the heads of the fielders, sailing over the boundary.
“Howat!”
Parker started to celebrate his first ever sixer, when it landed, with a crash, through the window of the newly refurbished club bar, aptly named The Bat Cave.
Celebration turned to commiseration – he’d have to pay for that.
So much for this month’s bonus.
And, as His Geoffleship and some others know, my son is an avid cricketer, with a superb left-hand Chinaman spin bowl so I am told… So this is for him!
Oh, and do I get the Bat Cave bonus points? We live in one too… see… check my welcome mat out!
April 5, 2018, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) write a silly sun story. Up north, “sun silly” is the energetic and playful response to returning sunlight. It could also be an April Fool’s jest, a silly story, or a reaction to spring fever. Be silly and write playfully! Go where the prompt leads.
Just got in by the skin of my teeth, what with my little break, but here you are!
Sun Silly Preschoolers!
Billy hung precariously from the climbing frame.
Jane was running round and round the playground like a crazed lunatic.
Another group were taking great pleasure in pulling the flowers off the line of shrubs in the planter.
And there was more…
Mrs Jackson sighed.
She’d heard of the full moon doing something to the children’s behaviour in school. Not just heard, but experienced many times over the years.
But after a long winter and delayed spring, this was the first time she had seen the effect of the long awaited sun on her charges – truly sun silly, they were!
But I Smile Anyway... 