Sabotage!
Friday Fictioneers is a weekly photo prompt-inspired flash fiction challenge hosted by the talented Rochelle. This week’s photo was supplied by Marie Gail Stratford, and close to 100 of us write somewhere around 100 words on a weekly basis!
To read the other stories for this week, click on the blue froggie fellow below. Why not give it a go yourself?
My first thought when I saw this week’s photo was “nuclear rods in a reactor”.
Copyright Marie Gail Stratford
Jed trembled as he approached the reactor, the words of the resistance leader echoing in his mind.
“Pull the pink rods. The reactor will reset and drop the security grid. We don’t have a radiation suit for you. I’m sorry.”
He carefully slid the rods from the reactor core. The nuclear glare, brighter than the sun, melted his eyeballs. His insides liquefied as the radiation bombarded his body, the remains of his organs dribbling through every orifice, his brain trickling…
“Jed, where’s that bloody wine, we’re gasping!”
His imaginings interrupted, Jed returned to the dinner party, a bottle of Pinot Grigio Rosé in each hand.
Sharing My World Week 37
Before I kick off Sharing My World (courtesy of Cee at her photography blog), let me tell you about the spider in my house last night.
It was HUGE. It was so big that it was nowhere near my line of sight and I still saw it. Its hideous eye stalks were bigger than most spiders in their entirety. It barely fit in the glass. When I threw it outside it made a big noise when it hit the bushes, it was THAT BIG.
It must have taken 30 years to reach that size. How have I not seen it before? How many more are there? Please tell me they don’t hunt in packs.
List three pet peeves.
People who drive really slowly around corners and then when the road opens up and straightens and I finally have a chance to overtake, they accelerate away. Then when the road narrows they’re suddenly there again. Why are you slowing down now? Because there’s a sign which says “Slow”? It doesn’t apply to you, you’re ONLY GOING FORTY.
People who don’t clean up after themselves in communal areas because “someone else will sort that out”.
People who put the toilet paper on the holder in “underneath mode” (see final question).
Obviously these are trivial, but the question said “peeves”, not issues which make me want to grab someone by the throat and scream “WHAT THE HELL”.
What makes you unique?
Nothing about me makes me special, but everything about me makes me unique.
What would be your ideal birthday present, and why?
I really have no idea. A big lottery win? Maybe a meal with the family, which is all sorted for my upcoming birthday. So that’ll be nice 🙂
Which way does the toilet paper roll go? Over or under?
Over, obviously.
The one on the left is clearly incorrect
Silver Lining
I can hardly believe that it’s time for Friday Fictioneers again, but it is! This week’s photo has been contributed by Dawn Q. Landau, prompting us to write a 100-ish word story. Friday Fictioneers is hosted as always by the lovely Rochelle.
I have to admit, I have no real idea what this photo is of. It looks to me like an aerial view of fields, but with a huge person standing there!
To read this week’s other contributions, click on the little blue chap below. More stories are added throughout the week!
Copyright Dawn Q. Landau
Javik scrambled out of the way as the aged giant tottered across the field. Marick wasn’t so lucky, disappearing with a grisly crunch in a cloud of red mist beneath the giant’s uncaring feet.
A few more steps and the monstrous figure, evidently hard of sight, lost its footing and fell from the cliff. A huge cloud of dust signalled the creature’s landfall.
Javik counted himself fortunate, more fortunate than the mangled villagers at the base of the cliff. When, hours later, he reached the bottom he smiled as he watched the survivors cut meat from the corpse. No-one would starve this winter.
Sharing My World Week 36
It’s Share Your World time here at draliman’s blog. The questions are posed every week by Cee – give her a visit and check out her wonderful photos!
Do you prefer reading coffee table books (picture), biographies, fiction, non-fiction, educational?
I have a small number of each of these type of book, but I prefer fiction. That’s what I read for fun.
I had enough of educational books back when I was getting myself educated, thanks. I prefer fantasy/sci-fi type fiction. Nothing heavy. After all, I’m trying to relax, unwind, not stress myself out trying to plough through a so-called “classic”.
Besides, I’m sure many of the books I read today will be “classics” in a hundred years 🙂
Most of my recent books are on Mr Kindle, because I ran out of space where I used to live, but here is a couple of exciting action shots of one of my bookcases to give you an idea.
One day I’ll see about getting them into some sort of order. Maybe.
What is your biggest fear or phobia? (no photos please)
I don’t have any phobias that I’m aware of.
I’m quite afraid of fear. Sometimes I dread something I’ll have to do because I know that although it will be fine I’ll be afraid of doing it during the days leading up to it, and that annoys me.
And then there’s spiders, of course. The bigger, hairier ones. Obviously none of them here are poisonous – we have only one poisonous animal and that’s the adder snake, and that’s not even particularly poisonous. Well, “venomous” I should say, strictly speaking, but let’s not split hairs.
If a spider gets on me or comes rushing towards me, you wouldn’t believe how fast I can move. Then I’ll spend the next however long it takes trying to catch it, because I can’t be having no icky spiders wandering around somewhere.
What is your favourite cheese?
Mmm, cheese. Bring on the cheese. Any cheese, I don’t care. As long as it’s cheese.
Yellow, orange, blue, hard, soft, holes, no holes – I’ll eat it all!
What is your favourite month of the year?
I like sunny summer months and cold and crisp winter months. September is quite nice – it reminds me of primary school, collecting leaves, playing conkers and harvest festival.
January is rubbish – the excitement of Christmas is over and it’s back to work with a vengeance. February is a bit iffy. October is a bit blowy and November is neither one thing nor the other. A bit like March. I’m indifferent about several other months.
On balance, my favourite is therefore Septaugdecember.
An Adventure to Die For
It’s time for Friday Fictioneers, so here’s my contribution!
Hosted by Rochelle, this week’s photo prompt has been provided by Janet Webb. Thanks, Janet!
Click on the little blue chap below to see all the other contributions, as they are added during the week.
Copyright Janet Webb
Through the portal lay a room, a room Marlon had discovered existed over 200 years in the past. He checked his clothing – the costume shop had assured him that it looked authentic. He was ready.
His anticipation reaching fever pitch, he stepped through. A keen historian, he was determined that this, his second trip, would be an adventure to die for.
“See, loike oi said, yer honour!” came a woman’s voice as he materialised. “Witch!”
Further cries of “Witch!” were accompanied by flaming arrows, throwing Marlon’s body back through the portal.
“A truly 18th Century death!” thought Marlon as the flesh melted from his bones.
A Trip to Golitha Falls
Last week I took a little drive to Golitha Falls, an hour’s drive or so away. It’s not a big waterfall, but a series of tiny dinky little waterfalls. And I use the word “waterfall” lightly.
Here are some photos from my trip.
Sharing My World Week 35
It’s Week 35 at Cee’s Share Your World – thanks for posing the questions, Cee! Go over to her blog and check out her great photos, people!
Have your blogging goals changed?
I wouldn’t say that my blogging goals have changed. I wanted to write “stuff” and put it out there, because what I have to say is important, right? 😉
However, the content has changed. I started out musing on life, and life’s experiences. However, I soon ran out of “wisdom”. I finally discovered that people write fiction on their blogs too, so I started in on that. I used to love writing at school, and now that the interweb is here people can read what I write. Much better than it all languishing in a notebook in a drawer somewhere (probably).
If you were to perform in the circus, what would you do?
Me, the circus? Surely you jest! That pretty much makes me the centre of attention.
I couldn’t be a clown, they’re sad and creepy. And not in the least funny.
I couldn’t do any athletic stuff because I’d end up in a broken heap.
I couldn’t do anything animal-related because I don’t like the idea of animals shut in cages being driven around the country.
I think I’d have to be the ring master. Although he’s there by himself and may seem the centre of attention, no-one is actually interested in what he’s doing, as he’s only there to link between acts.
If you could go back and talk to yourself at age 18 what advice would you give yourself? Or if you are younger than 25 what words of wisdom would you like to tell yourself at age 45?
There are so many things I could tell myself, but I wouldn’t listen. Who, at age 18, would listen to words of wisdom, cautioning restraint, a slower pace?
At the end of the day, I’m the sum total of the experiences I’ve had, good and bad. No matter how it’s turned out, I wouldn’t want to mess with that.
Ooh, that was a bit deep for me. I’ve gotta cut back on the double Espresso shots.
What is your favourite comfort snack food?
That’s tricky. I don’t really snack. I need to keep my body in tip-top athletic condition! (It’s not.)
If I did snack, I like that old favourite, chocolate. It’s a classic for a reason. I save it for special occasions, though. Last time I went on a chocolate kick, I was putting away several hundred grammes of Galaxy milk chocolate a night. I had to wean myself off it slowly via chunky Kit-Kats.
Ice cream’s good too. Mmm, ice cream.
Well, it all turned a bit serious this week. See you next week for more questions from Cee!
Drimericks – Man in a Tank
It’s time for another Drali Limerick (Drimerick)! Here’s one about a rather foolish tank owner. As always, it is accompanied by a DraliDoodleTM, professionally drawn by the DraliDoodleTM team.
There once was a soldier named Frank
Who wished to sail off in his tank
The beach was quite sandy
Which turned out quite handy
But on reaching the water he sank.
Memories
Here’s my contribution to this week’s Friday Fictioneers, a 100-ish words challenge hosted by Rochelle. This week she contributed the picture as well!
To read the other entries, click on the little blue chap below.
Copyright Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
Carlos looked deep into the fire, hypnotised by the tongues of flame. His mind drifted back to candlelit dinners with Sally, watching the fire together. Sharing everything, one mind, one heart. But…
… she had hated his job. They had argued, every day towards the end. His job was important, he told her. Someone had to do it. In the end their love hadn’t been enough.
A groan brought him back to the present, back to his job. He pulled a coal from the fire and placed it under his victim’s chin, pushing the head down, and smiled. He loved to hear the screams before the vocal chords burned away.
Mr Coffee
I’ve bought myself a new gizmo! Here it is.
Mr Coffee
It’s amazing! You pop one of these little pods in the top.
Mr Pod
Then you fill the little tank in the back up with water and push the button. Hey presto, coffee. It’s, like magic or something.
Click for a random post!
Woohoo!
I totally didn't win!
Share Your World
Friday Fictioneers
