Welcome to the Weekly Challenge Number Two Hundred and Forty-Seven, where I post a topic and then challenge you to come up with a 100 word story based on that topic.
The topic this week was Are we there yet?
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Steven
Fifty years since we left Earth in our hollowed-out asteroids, so I’m
sixty-seven. Thanks to hibernation, I only feel fifteen. They let me
man the controls – I’m mature for my age. It makes the month rotation
with my sister go by faster. I could do this for years and years and
not feel anxious about getting to another star.
Amy calls over the comm, quick and panicky. She doesn’t answer when I
call back.
I hear a noise – one I’ve not heard since we left Earth.
A zombie moan.
Now I can’t get off this ship fast enough.
Tom
Burroughs’ bark banged against the waters of hell. “Actually it is the waters between hell and the other side,” interjected the Podcaster. “Are we there yet,” inquired St Peter rubbing his hand over a small pile of burning copies of the Naked Lunch. “I think we’re close I see a less darker dark over there.” Said the Podcaster pointing to a thin line on the horizon. Suddenly wave upon wave of hands rose around the bark tossing rainbows into the boat. “What hell are those,” yelled Burroughs. “AOL CDs,” replied the Podcaster. Make for the shore before the subscriptions activate.
Michael
“Oasis Pub, how can I help you?”, Joe said.
“Hi, I’m Ilene Dover. Harvey there yet? My husband Harvey said he’d be there tonight.”
Ilene Dover, Joe thought. That’s one helluva handle.
“I’ll tell him you called Ilene,” Joe said, hanging up the phone.
He turned to Harvey at the far end of the bar.
“Call home Harvey, Ilene Dover is looking for you,” Joe said, unable to suppress his laughter.
“It could have been worse,” Harvey replied, “ I could have married her brother Ben.”
These people are sick, Joe thought, wiping away the spilled beer from the bar.
Zackmann
TJ was happy with his life’s work as spaceship navigator because space is even emptier than
North Dakota. TJ could tell it would be a long trip when he scolded his future replacement and
very young son, saying “Our new home, The Primogeniture, is a multi-generational spaceship.
We will travel for almost half a Millennium to our new planet. You, your children, your grand
children, and your great grand children are likely to have died of old age before even getting
close to our destination.
So for God’s sake, please stop asking me if we are there yet.”
TerrazaByte
The year was 1903 and time for the annual Father/Daughter hiking trip through the Rein Mountains.
Lieserl and her Father were preparing the backpacks while her mother, Mileva, packed a special lunch for them to enjoy.
“Thank you Mama” she said, as she hugged her good bye.
She then took the hand of her father and they began to walk side by side down the trail.
After what seemed to be hours that passed by, Lieserl asked her Father, “Are we there yet?”
Albert looked at her with a puzzled look and said, “My dear, we are ALWAYS there.”
AM Earley
“One more mile to the mall,” declared my daughter. She is so smart, and such a worry-wart. I can’t tell her anything that will upset her or she will run to her room crying. I hope she grows out of it before she finishes forth grade. Fortunately I found a nice children’s dentistry near the mall. All I have to do now is take the right fork in the road, not the . . . .
“Mommy, the mall’s in the left lane.”
“We’re going afterwards.”
“After. After? After wh . . . ?”
I told you she was smart.
“No, no, noooooooooo.”
And a worry-wart.
Danny
Are we there yet? Have we solved our nation’s problems, have we moved beyond the hate and polarization that rules our current political climate? Are we ever going to see the day when we stop shooting each other because our political ideals differ from one another? Are we ever going to start moving forward in a productive way, creating new things, exploring new frontiers? Are we there yet? Reality check, the voices of hate are too strong, Glen Beck, Sarah Palin, Bill O’Reily, Fox News! Truth be told, this from a man of bad taste, were never going to get there.
TJ
The light flashed. Again. “Check engine.” I did. I hit a rock on the
road and there’s an open coolant leak under my radiator. As long as
I’m moving forward the fan is sucking cold air into the engine, but
the holiday traffic slows as I approach the service center and the
lights are against me. Another red light. I shut the engine off and
wait. It turns, and my car struggles to start again. Oh G-d. Will I make
it? Will I get stuck in traffic? Steam curls ominously from under the
hood as the light goes red again.
Norval Joe
Leanna wiped the sweat from her forehead, pushed a stray lock of hair back up into her bonnet and leaned on her older sister Elitha who tried to push her away.
“Dad,” she whined. “It’s hot. My feet hurt. I’m sweating and tired. Are we there yet?”
George Donner removed his hat and ran his fingers through his hair as he surveyed the low rolling hills of the countryside.
“Well,” he said, “we just left Independence, Missouri this morning, so we still have about 2000 miles to Sutter’s fort. Just keep walking and we’ll be in California in no time.”
Planet Z
One hour to opening.
Time to inspect “World Of The Future.”
I activate the systems, and step onto the moving sidewalk.
The Andersons’ car drives up.
“Are we there yet?” asks Jimmy Anderson. “Are we in The Future yet?
“No, Jimmy,” I say with Dad Anderson. “We aren’t.”
The corporate sponsor’s gadgets line both sides of the walkway.
The Andersons’ spaceship rockets up.
“Are we there yet?” asks Jimmy Anderson. “Are we in The Future yet?
“No, Jimmy,” I say, ignoring Dad Anderson. “But there’s plenty of crap to sell until then.”
“Future’s ready,” I say over the radio, yawning.