Category: Weekly Challenge

Weekly Challenge #969 – Mind

The next topic is PICK TWO Scorpion, Walking on eggshells, Turn, High pitched, News, Craftsmanship

RICHARD

— In the eye of the beholder —
“Well, really! Do you mind?”
The exclamation caught me by surprise, I turned around, white stick exploring the floor between us.
“Oh!” An embarrassed pause. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t realise.”
I cocked my head slightly, “My apologies, I seem to have startled you, miss. Is there something wrong?”
In a friendlier tone, she replied. “It’s just that, well I think you may have taken a wrong turn… Not your fault, at all, of course!”
“Oh?”
“Well, this is actually the ladies’ changing room.”
I apologised profusely and allowed her to escort me out.
She really believed I was blind!

SERENDIPIDY

How do I deal with it?
I suppose it’s really just a state of mind. Call it professional detachment if you will.
I guess it’s no different to being a medic, or cop or doing any of those jobs that exposes you to terrible experiences. You don’t allow yourself to become emotionally involved, you concentrate on the job at hand, and don’t let it get in to your psyche.
Then again, who am I kidding?
I don’t have to deal with it, because I thoroughly enjoy what I do!
But, you won’t enjoy it, when I do it to you!

LISA

A Meeting of Minds
Derek wasn’t traditionally good looking, but he was a successful hypnotist and that had brought considerable wealth. Heidi was a supermodel. The most beautiful face of 1972, 73 and 74. She had a body to match but no personality.
Heidi was attracted to Derek’s wealth initially. Then he did his finest work: making her attracted only to him, a mind control trick that would ensure she never looked again at another man – she was completely under his spell.
Derek aged well; unlike Heidi. She became a bitter hateful woman. And as he’d ensured, she never looked at another man again.

TOM

SomeThing

It wasn’t Billy wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed. As a child he had a fever that messed up his hearing. What he heard often seem by other as quite amusing. Take his belove Grandma. She would tell him to Mind his manners. Billy heard Mine his manners. Confusing how you could execute this, Billy did his best to compile. He had quite a deep hole in the backyard, before Grandma looked over the edge and declare that his manners were quite exemplary. Later in life Billy founded the Manners Mining Company who hold the mining right on Mars.

NORVAL JOE

The butler walked into the waiting room and seeing them sitting along the wall, approached. “Is there any word on Mr. Withybottom, madam?”

“No John,” she said wearily. “We don’t know how long it will take to get results. Why don’t you take Linoliamanda and head home.”

“Really Mother. I don’t mind waiting here with you,” Linoliamanda said with a sideways scowl at the butler. “If it gets late, I can walk to Billbert’s house, and his parents can take me home.”

Perkins looked unhappy but nodded. “As you wish, Madam. I will wait for your call at the manor.”

PLANET Z

They say that the last thing that goes through a bug’s mind when it hits the windshield is its ass.
You could say the same about Andy Parker, the first man to ride on a rocket sled.
After multiple experiments with cadavers and animals, the scientists wanted to test rapid acceleration and deceleration on a living human.
The staff who volunteered drew straws, and Andy got the short straw.
The ink was barely dry on his contract and life insurance policy when the rockets fired up and the brakes were released.
What his actual last thoughts were, nobody will know.

Weekly Challenge #968 – Blood Test

The next topic is Mind

RICARD

— ​Bloods —
I swear that when you reach a certain age, it gives doctors a licence to prescribe a whole range of medicines they’ve been itching to give you for years.
So they ask you to pop in for a blood test.
A simple blood test. Nothing to worry about – just routine. Give us a call in a week and we’ll have your results.
Those results, once you reach that magic age, open the floodgates to a catalogue of woes – diabetes, heart problems, cholesterol, cancer… You name it, and you’ve probably got it.
Not me.
I switched my son’s samples for mine.

TANGENT

The world was due for cancer screening. A century prior, it had barely survived. From the fallout, symptoms were documented, and as the years of testing passed, the world was content that it would not return. Attention turned to its autoimmune disease. If left untreated, fever would come, and kill. A screening was missed while the autoimmune treatment plan was drafted, but the symptoms were minor, and the world was content.

The cancer, it turns out, had returned. Its presence accelerated the autoimmune disease, and the fever had started.

The world is dying, but it has survived worse. Have hope.

LISA

Six Months
It wasn’t the result anyone would have wanted. But there it was, unquestionable. She shunned all treatment feeling if it was her ‘time to go’ she should leave with grace. She contemplated speeding things up but didn’t want to leave anyone a mess.
She swapped a Netflix series for a brisk walk, a pint for a green smoothie, stopped smoking and started yoga.
So, sixth months turned to sixteen, turned to sixty.
She survived decades; then died as she crossed the road whilst engrossed in an article about a blood test mix up in her area, all those years ago.

SERENDIPIDY

To give them their due, they were very thorough.
They took swabs, they dusted for prints, they took hundreds of high resolution photographs.
And they found nothing.
Just the blood test to go.
I held my breath, and waited as they sprayed Luminol over every surface they could find.
They turned on the blacklights… And still found nothing.
Not a smear, not a spot, not even the slightest indication of blood anywhere.
I’d done my job well.
And, if they couldn’t find any sign of the murders, I was pretty certain there was no chance of them finding the bodies!

LIZZIE

She was in the tub. Went for a swim, someone joked. The blood test was inconclusive. Are you sure it was a person? He nodded. Melted in that tub, someone joked. It wasn’t funny. Where did he get the blood from then? The wall. Plenty of it. The acid took care of the rest. And now? Now, it was in their hands. That’s why you’re cops, he said, I’m just the coroner. Well, the blood wasn’t hers. It was his. That damn pocket knife he used to slit her throat first. Good thing no one noticed that he kept saying she.

NORVAL JOE

Linoliamanda, her mother and Billbert waited in the front lobby of the hospital while they admitted Mr. Withybottom. The nurse told them it would be an hour or more while he got his blood test, xrays, and possibly an MRI of his head, so they might as well get comfortable.

A group of teenage volunteers surrounded a small table, chatting, and waiting for their turn to push a patient or carry flowers to a room.

They were mostly girls and Billbert considered how some were very shapely, like Sabrina. While others had hardly any shape at all, more like Linolamanda.

TOM

Often discovery in less than amazing.

It was discovered in remote corner of Anatolia. Bronze Gears festooned with Lapis lazuli. After cursor inspection a sweeping claim was made, this was the world’s oldest safe. X-rays of the interior while clearly showing all the working part didn’t offer a clue how to open. In the heart of the safe was signal sheet of parchment. 10 years of exploring different methodologies the safe finally swung open. The Parchment took another 10 years to decipher. Seems the glyphs on the parchment were the combination to the safe. It ended up in a museum the parchment taped to the side.

968

There can only be one

Two go in, one walks out. Imagine the duel in Dune. Two form circling. Muscles coiled like steel springs. A fury of jabs failing to hit the mark. Glancing blows drawn no blood. Sweat rolling of arm. Finally, a countermove brings the point to the skin of the neck, but not quick enough. With a roll to the right and dropping to one knee she finds the tiniest of open. S jabs and press the plunger. Red fills the crystal chamber. The crowd screams. It is over, the blood test has been fulfilled. This one hell of a Nursing School.

PLANET Z

I order a lot of things online, and I get a lot of packages.
On recycling day, there’s a stack of cardboard boxes and padded envelopes on the corner.
Sometimes, I mail things out.
Warranty cards, returns.
Tests my doctor orders for this or that.
Most tests I take at the corner clinic, but some are tests I can smear some blood on a card and mail back to the lab.
Most bill my insurance, others take a credit card.
One lab requires that I write checks.
If they can’t process a credit card, how will they process my blood?

Weekly Challenge #967 – Safe

The next topic is Blood test

NORVAL JOE

With her husband safe and sound inside the ambulance and speeding away to the hospital, Mrs. Withybottom wrung her hands together and looked around. “I think I should go to the hospital to be with Thurgrave.”

The butler put a hand on her shoulder. “I’ll drive you, Mitzi. I mean, Madam. Then I can return and keep an eye on your daughter.”

“No way,” Mandy said. “I’m coming with you to the hospital.” She grabbed Billbert’s hand and dragged him to the old Cadillac.

In the huge back seat, she whispered to Billbert, “I don’t like, or trust, that man.”

LISA

The School Run
Belle ran for the bus: could still feel his touch as he’d brushed passed her, his foetid breath was inside her nostrils. Panic built inside.
She cursed the dark, she cursed her shoes, she cursed her heavy bag. Breathless. Stitch stabbing at her sides. She just wanted to be home but the bus doors closed as she neared the stop. With a final frantic push she ran desperately, arm out, thankfully the driver saw her and waited.
Belle sat on the bus feeling safe at last, panted, closed her eyes.
She didn’t see him get on at the next stop.

SERENDIPIDY

I know you do all the right things.
The whole thing about not inviting me across your threshold; how you check for my reflection in mirrors, and the way you keep a wooden stake within arm’s reach, just in case.
And you really can’t hide the stench of that garlic necklace.
You think you’re safe, don’t you?
But, here’s the thing: Everything you think you know about vampires, you learned from fiction.
Just because you read it in a book, or saw it in the movies, doesn’t mean it’s true.
And, by the way, we love a bright, sunny day!

LIZZIE

You’ll be safe, he said. But nothing was further from the truth. I wasn’t safe at all. The irony, the sarcasm, the criticism, the mockery. Day after day. I was not safe. When I left, I left for good. I walked away and became invisible. I changed my name. I hid myself among strangers. My looks, my job. Everything changed. The day he knocked on my door, I just had to get rid of him. The strangers understood. The cops are still looking for him. He’s in the Madden’s crypt, in Mrs. Madden’s coffin. He’ll be safe there… or not!

RICHARD

Uncle Simeon
We were clearing out Uncle Simeon’s house after he passed. To say he was a bit of a hoarder was something of an understatement. The whole house was crammed to the rafters with junk.
Well, most of it was junk.
There were a couple of antiques, here and there, but nothing of any real value.
Oh, and there was a safe.
An old-fashioned, solid steel affair that defied all our attempts to open it.
In the end, we took it to a blacksmith, who cut it open with an oxy-acetylene torch.
Of course, it was crammed full of junk!

PLANET Z

The realtor told me to get a fireproof safe for important documents, so I bought the most sturdy and reliable safe with an ironclad warranty and guarantee.
Then I dropped all my important documents in there… my mortgage, my insurance plan, all my medical stuff for tax purposes.
And I locked it up.
Problem is, I’ve forgotten the passcode on it.
And I left the emergency keys inside.
The safecracker I hired can’t bust it open.
I’d call the company to get a technician out, but their number is written on the warranty.
Which is locked inside of the safe.

Weekly Challenge #965 – Classical Music

The next topic is PICK TWO Throwaway, Flight, Once more with passion!, Blood pressure, Engine, Roast

RICHARD

– ​Mr Dobbs –
I first encountered classical music in primary school. As we gathered together for morning assembly, Mr Dobbs – one of the teachers – would play something from his own collection to accompany us.
The name of the piece, composer and date were always written on a flipchart on the stage, and I soon knew a bunch by heart.
As for Mr Dobbs: We derived endless pleasure, watching him bob about to the music, humming along to the tunes, oblivious to our stares.
These days, if I hear one of those pieces. I picture Mr Dobbs, and I bob along, just like him.

LIZZIE

She couldn’t find her violin. She shuffled through the pile of bags waiting to be placed in the train. Where’s the violin? Where is it? She ran around like a lunatic, grabbing people’s arms and repeating the question over and over again. In the distance, a man walked away with a violin case. Why not? She had rejected him. She had mocked him, saying she had played him like a fiddle. Really? So, he was taking the fiddle. No more fiddling with people’s feelings. She would have to face the music, and it wouldn’t be the classical version of it.

TOM

By far the best piano movement

I tend to like more modern Classic music. And I am partial to works with piano and full orchestra. Wedding Day at Troldhaugen by Edvard Grieg. Erik Satie Gymnopédie No. 1. Aquarium by Camille Saint-Saëns. Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. Liszt Les Préludes, symphonic poem No 3, S 97 1. Hans Zimmer’s Time from Inception. All excellent works, but for me the work that moves be the deepest is Prokofiev Piano Concerto No. 1 in D-flat Major, Op. 10. The first movement is like a runaway train. It sores upward taking my soul with it. Pure Bliss.

SERENDIPIDY

It’s a fact that music can influence the manner in which we approach activities.
I’m told that many surgeons like to have classical music piped into theatre when they’re conducting surgery. Apparently it promotes calm and helps them to focus on the job at hand.
Athletes train to upbeat, motivational songs, and we’re advised to avoid playing loud, heavy rock music when driving, since it promotes speed and risk-taking.
Personally, I like to listen to thrash metal, when I’m conducting surgery.
Not because I like it, or I’m a sloppy worker.
But it’s perfect for drowning out the screams!

NORVAL JOE

The gravel crunched beneath Billbert’s feet as he walked from the road to the Withybottom’s mansion. He could see from the steps that the front door stood slightly open.

At the doorstep Billbert heard classical music filtering down from the upper floor. He poked his head inside and called, “Mandi. Are you here?”

Rapid footsteps hurried down the stairs and Linoliamanda was shooshing Billbert with a finger to her lips. “Daddy’s asleep and mother doesn’t want us to wake him.”

Billbert shook his head. “I can’t believe you still have him at home. He needs to be in the hospital.”

PLANET Z

The terraforming vessels landed and remade the planet, taking centuries to clear the alien landscape and chemistry, replacing it with the species and oceans and forests of home.
Fabrication vessels landed, mining ores, building machinery and housing.
A sleeper vessel landed next.
Environment-suited experts tested the atmosphere and soil to confirm habitability.
Confirmed. Success.
The rest of the colony ships landed, and the new population set about populating their new home.
One administrator went to his terminal and requested Bach.
But all that played was static.
It would be decades before the request was received, and many more for fulfillment.

Weekly Challenge #964 – Banana Split

The next topic is Classical music

RICHARD

Rocky’s
Years ago, whenever we had something to celebrate at work, whether a birthday, retirement or any other excuse we could concoct for having a bit of a get-together, there was one go-to place we’d always book for a night out.
An ‘American diner’: a bit of a novelty before the days of ubiquitous burger chains. And it was awesome!
From the plastic tablecloths, to the black and white movie photos on the walls; the top-notch burgers and Red Stripe beer.
Then there was their signature dessert – A banana split, for two.
I always had one to myself!

LIZZIE

“A banana split, please.”
The two witches looked at each other, puzzled.
“We don’t have banana splits.”
“What do you have?”
“We have the Death Cap.”
The customer laughed.
“Autumn Skullcap.”
The customer laughed again.
“And the Destroying Angels special.”
“Fascinating! OK, let’s have the special then.”
“Are you sure?”
The customer nodded.
“I feel adventurous!”
They prepared the potion and watched him trot off, sipping from his bottle of Destroying Angels.
“Did we tell him the mushrooms were poisonous?”
“I don’t think we did and I don’t think he read the sign.”
“We can’t fight stupid, can we?”
“Nope.”

SERENDIPIDY

Take one banana. Peel, and slice lengthways, between which, place three scoops of your favourite ice-cream, top with whipped cream, your sauce of choice, and any toppings you fancy.
Next, force the whole thing, lengthways, down the throat of your victim. Repeat with as many additional bananas required until the recipient chokes to death.
It can get messy, but I think if you’re going to despatch someone, the least you can do is attempt to make it a fairly pleasurable experience.
No good for diabetics though.
In which case, I suggest you substitute the banana splits for hot dogs.

NORVAL JOE

When Sabrina’s sobs had ended, Billbert’s mother helped her up. “We need to get you some clothes.” She amped up her enthusiasm. “We can go to the mall, and while we’re there we can go to Farrell’s and get a banna split.”
As they got close to town, Billbert said, “I’m not really into shopping for girl’s clothes. Would you let me out here?”
Sabrina looked out the window when they pulled over. “This is Mindi’s house.”
Billbert scowled. “She calls herself Mandy, and her dad has been acting so weird, I need to check to see if she’s okay.”

TOM

Midwest Confections

Start with any topic of conversation, at some point a reference to Chicago will pop-up. Take this week’s topic Banana Split. Though it was created in Latrobe it took the drug stores giant Walgreens to put it on the National map. I actually had a Split at Walgreen’s long aluminum dinning counter. The glass dessert boat had Walgreens embossed in the bottom. My best memories of the city are wrapped in childhood confections. Cherries were redder, sweeter and plumper. Butterscotch that could drop a diabetic from 40 yards. A crust of frozen chocolate paper thin. Whipped-cream a foam of sugar

PLANET Z

Midwest Confections

Start with any topic of conversation, at some point a reference to Chicago will pop-up. Take this week’s topic Banana Split. Though it was created in Latrobe it took the drug stores giant Walgreens to put it on the National map. I actually had a Split at Walgreen’s long aluminum dinning counter. The glass dessert boat had Walgreens embossed in the bottom. My best memories of the city are wrapped in childhood confections. Cherries were redder, sweeter and plumper. Butterscotch that could drop a diabetic from 40 yards. A crust of frozen chocolate paper thin. Whipped-cream a foam of sugar

Weekly Challenge #963 – Finding

The next topic is Banana split

RICHARD

Finding myself
I quit my job, sold up, bought a backpack, then disappeared for six years.
At the time, life was crap and – according to the self-help books I’d read – the key to finding direction in life was immersing oneself in other cultures, seeking meaning through self-discovery.
Among other things, I picked tomatoes in Spain, stayed in a Japanese monastery, bathed in the Ganges and went walkabout in the Australian outback.
I discovered I was susceptible to sunburn, got robbed in Manilla and contracted bilharzia from my river exploits… But, I learned one very valuable lesson.
Self-help books suck.

SERENDIPIDY

Good luck with finding this body!
I’ve given it special treatment… chopped up into bite-sized morsels, all strategically scattered in remote locations; little treats for bears, wolves and other scavengers.
As for the skull and the larger bones, those have all been shredded into splinters, and dumped in rivers, and the ocean.
It was surprisingly easy to do, and although a little messy, that was only to be expected.
You see, I used my shiny, new chainsaw to get the job done.
Quick, efficient, and extremely effective for the task at hand.
I knew it would come in handy!

TOM

Public Service

Yesterday, I was appointed to my Seventh Grand Jury. I do grand jury really well. I’m called up went thing inside the black box go somewhat off the rails. Bit like herding cats. You might not know but there are grand jury which are not criminal. My Jury looks into matters of county level governance. We interview county officers, locate procedure which need corrections. Basically, we file a final report with numbers of recommendations. All recommendations are supported by multiple findings. Hardest part of my job is explaining the different between facts and findings to jurors at larger. Not easy.

NORVAL JOE

Billbert carried a box of magical items to the car. Finding that he was alone, he went back to the cabin. Sabrina sat on the edge of the porch and his mother next to her, her arm around the girl’s shoulders.
Sabrina sobbed heavily.
Clueless, Billbert asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Oh, Son,” his mother said, shaking her head. “Think about it. This was Sabrina’s home. And this is where she was shot and her grandmother was killed. We probably shouldn’t have come here so soon.”
Billbert sat next to Sabrina. With a shuddering sigh, she lay her head on his shoulder.

LIZZIE

The man in the cave wanted to be left alone. However, when they spotted him wandering about, they thought it was a great finding. A real caveman. Alive. Yes! Interviews, a book, a TV series, a movie, the money stacking up in their bank accounts. Did they think about the man in the cave? Nope. So, the man in the cave decided to treat them as he would any other animal. No, he didn’t eat them. He just hung them upside down from a tree and watched. It was highly entertaining. Well, what a shame they didn’t last long.

PLANET Z

I was never any good with Rubiks Cubes.
Even with a book, I could never solve them.
Some people would peel off the stickers and rearrange them to solve the cube.
I used a flathead screwdriver to pry out the moving cube pieces and arrange them correctly.
But having all six sides solved was boring.
I twisted them up to make X patterns on each face.
That was more interesting looking.
Then I peeled off the stickers so every side was black.
Every turn was the right one.
Then I threw the dumb thing out.
Like so many people did.

Weekly Challenge #962 – PICK TWO Lost in translation, Incapable, Wish, Chainsaw, Too long, Full of

The next topic is Finding

KINGLESTAT

Last Wish

It was a beautiful day. One of those days you wish you had nothing to do. Sunny, but with the right amount of clouds. Just take a walk on the beach. Perhaps with a beautiful babe on your arm. Or two. A nice bottle of wine. And spend it there watching the seagulls frolic. But he came, interrupting my reverie. “About this last wish?” he seemed harassed, as if he had something urgent to do. I told him. In detail. Trying to capture the images I had seen in my mind. “This is taking too long.” “Platoon?” “Take aim!” “Fire!”

NORVAL JOE

The locked cabinet was full of mysterious objects. There were no shrunken heads or pentagram amulets, but there were figurines of cryptic creatures and talismans with arcane symbols.
Knowing he was incapable of opening the curio, Billbert said, “I wish I knew someone with magic who could open this thing.”
Both Mrs.Wienerheimer and Sabrina stared at him blankly.
Sabrina put her hand on the cabinet and there was an audible click. “When I told you I’m a witch, was something lost in the translation?”
His mother smiled patiently. “Be a dear, Billbert, and get the cardboard boxes from the car.”

TOM

Incapable Wish With grateful thanks to Babylon Five

Victoria Van Beinghem Shushburge Ausstaylor Holezinvice was the 15th Matetron Supreme only six years old. One day she was wandering in the imperial gardens when she came upon a rose brush. “Why aren’t flowers,” she asked. The general accompanying her replied “They will bloom in a few days.” Victoria quipped, “Have a guarded posted to protect the blossoms.” The general clicked his heels “Your wish is law my queen.” A guard was posed. Soon the child lost interest, became old and died. The court remained incapable of countermanding that wish. So, a solider still stands guard a 1000 years later.

LIZZIE

The chainsaw hanging behind the door didn’t go too well with the sweet little quote on the wall. “After all this time. Always.” After all this time? Always? That could mean something completely different. He had to go. What are you doing, she asked. Nothing, nothing, just looking for my shoes. Leaving? Well, I… He tapped his watch. Where was the damn door, he thought. She turned around to grab something and to his horror… Is this what you’re looking for? He always thought the sound of church bells would be the last thing he would hear. Nope, it wasn’t.

SERENDIPIDY

Admit it, you knew I was going to pick ‘chainsaw’.
You’re thinking that a prompt like that is a gift to someone like me, obsessed with blood, guts and gore, and pretty much incapable of writing anything that doesn’t involve torture, decapitation, murder or cannibalism.
Well, sorry for being so predictable.
Not that I care: That’s how I write, and I can’t see it changing any time soon. If you don’t like it, then just move on to somebody else’s story.
However, nobody dies on this occasion.
But, trust me, I’ll be putting that chainsaw to use in the future!

RICHARD

Wishful thinking
I’ll admit I felt a bit foolish when I found the lamp, but I had to give it a quick rub, just to see.
Remarkably, it worked, and a huge genie suddenly appeared, bowed and spoke to me in a deep, rumbling voice.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t understand a word. I assumed he was speaking Arabic, offering me the usual obligatory wish.
But, no biggy. I fished out my phone, and typed ‘Make me a multi-millionaire’ into Google translate.
There was a poof of smoke.
And I found myself locked up in an asylum.
Guess something was lost in translation.

PLANET Z

Back in third grade, I knew this kid who asked Santa for a chainsaw.
That was back when it was okay for Santa Claus to show up in schools, before all this politically correct and woke nonsense took over.
Every year, the kid asked for a chainsaw, but he never got it.
First grade, second grade, third grade.
No chain saw.
I moved in the spring of third grade, so I have no idea if he ever got the chainsaw.
I read the newspaper from there now and then to see if his name pops up.
Perhaps he moved too?

Weekly Challenge #961 – Wasp

The next topic is PICK TWO Lost in translation, Incapable, Wish, Chainsaw, Too long, Full of

NORVAL JOE

When they arrived at Buhmilda’s cabin, the only thing moving was a wasp buzzing around under the eves. All the residents of the meadow and their campers and vans were gone.
Entering the cabin, they found it completely empty. All the furniture, food, and even Sabrina’s clothes were missing.
The only thing remaining was a dusty curio against the far wall.
Billbert peered through the cracked glass. “There’s lots of cool stuff in here. I’m surprised no one took any of it.”
Bitterly, Sabrina said, “They would have if they could have. You need real magic to open this cabinet.”

TOM

Not our kind, dear

I was born a poor catholic kid. My daddy was bummed he couldn’t be in the klan. I was bummed I couldn’t be a Mason. Screw that Knight’s of Columbus shit. Despite growing up in Polish, Irish, Italian, Bavarian neighborhood I never once dated a catholic girl. Major up-hill battle there. Basic I went out with Wasp Women, Job’s daughters, and later in life Junior Leaguers. That’s a story of pain and destruction. Now for all you kids out there a wasp is far from being a bug, they’re the folk still running the show in America. White Anglo-Saxon Protestants.

LIZZIE

The shovel was crap. The ground was too hard. The body was, let’s say, unbendable. And no one volunteered to help. Then, there was the wasp. He tried to kill it, but he kept hitting the body, adding cuts to it. It really annoyed him that the coroner would think this guy had been tortured with a shovel. He had a reputation to protect. So, he paid some low level dude who drove by to dig the hole and dumped the two in it. Not his neatest work but even a hitman has a bad day every now and then.

SERENDIPIDY

It was carnage. Bodies everywhere – twenty kids, two teachers and the bus driver. A few fatalities, and many grievously injured.
The driver was dead. That pleased me.
I’d always hated that driver, he’d make snide remarks to me when I used to catch the bus to school, and I’d dread every journey, with him constantly leering at me in his rear view mirror.
I’d vowed then to get my own back. And when I spotted his epi-pen peeking from the top of his pocket, I knew exactly what I was going to do.
The hardest part, was catching the wasp!

RICHARD

– ​Sweet –
“I really don’t know why they’re not producing”
Josh was new to the hobby, and if I’m honest, he wasn’t the brightest.
To be fair to him though, he was trying his best, and had followed my instructions to the letter, so I found it somewhat surprising that even with all my advice, he wasn’t seeing results.
“Let me take a look at your setup”, I offered, and we headed outdoors.
Everything looked OK, then I took a closer look.
I jumped back in alarm.
“Well, I know why they’re not producing honey”, I said, batting away an attacking wasp.

KingLestat71

The Detective

I had been nursing my beer for hours. Watching her. Studying her. She was bold. She also fit in. Everybody laughed with her. But certainly stubborn. They told her to stop drinking. But she kept dunking them in. She was also aggressive. One guy that approached whispering something to her? She slapped him so hard my hand was stinging. But when she and her four friends decided to sing and dance, they were up all together. She, like the queen wasp. They like her helper wasps. Another disgusted look from the barman, and I was out. Another day done.

PLANET Z

When you move into a house, there’s things you can plan for and there’s things that plan for you.
No point in getting all worked up. Just make a list and deal with it.
There was a wasp nest along the gutter of the house.
And a few more on the edges of the garage door.
I bought some spray from Walmart and sprayed them all.
Nothing flew out, so I figured they were old nests, long abandoned.
I got a pole and knocked them down.
Maybe they’ll be back. Maybe they won’t.
Until then, I’ll be ready for them.

Weekly Challenge #960 – Icing on the cake

The next topic is Wasp

DOM

The Game

I was sweating. Already tired after playing for over eighty minutes. It wasn’t helping that the coach and my teammates kept screaming insults at me. What about my self-esteem? Idiots. True, I had missed three chances. I had managed to put one in. Pure luck. But it’s why I was still on. Playing. Finally! There was the ball I was waiting for. Gerald had drilled a powerful cross, I escaped my marker and jumped. I saw the keeper react, so I aimed low to the left. Goal! Winning is fantastic. But beating your rival? It’s icing on the cake.

NORVAL JOE

The icing on the cake came the next morning when Billbert’s mother woke them up. He heard his mother’s voice and realized she stood at his feet with a perfect view of Sabrina and him. Sabrina lay almost on top of him, face down, her chin tucked over his right shoulder, her arm and chest across his and her right knee between his thighs.
Billbert cleared his throat, rousing Sabrina. “She couldn’t sleep and wanted to hold my hand.”
Humorless, his mother said, “Right. I think we need to go to her place and pick up some of her clothes.”

SERENDIPIDY

They found me under a table, surrounded by crumbled fruit cake, greedily stuffing what remained of the icing on the cake into my mouth.
It was the only bit I liked – marzipan and icing – the cake itself was gross.
My stepmother was horrified. I’d destroyed the wedding cake, and ruined the happiest day of her life.
I didn’t care. I hated her, hated weddings and hated the stupid dress she’d made me wear.
But, I loved icing. Although, it really didn’t like me.
As the bride found out shortly after, when I vomited it back out, all over her dress!

TOM

much nuts and blots execution. The size of the event or the location did not matter. When L. X. Marthers contacted Bruce to plan his daughter’s 16th birthday party, he had only one request: Over the top. At first Bruce turned the gig down. That was until Mama Marthers whispered in his ear. He said, “That would be doable and that would truly be the icing on the cake metaphorically speaking. Taylor Swift bursting out of cake. Jaw dropping moment.

RICHARD

Happy Birthday!
Pastry chef… Don’t be fooled by the title, more like a second rate cook. But that’s what they called the dozen of us on the production line, turning out hundreds of cakes a day for the mass market.
I hated the job, more than that, I hated my boss. A mean guy who cared nothing for his staff.
Then one day, I was told to make an extra special cake for the boss’ birthday, ‘and don’t you dare screw it up!’
I made it extra special, all right.
With my own special ‘icing’ on the cake.
Know what I mean?

LIZZIE

I bought a ticket. It didn’t matter where to. I got on the train and closed my eyes. Things would get better. There was a commotion on the platform. Voices shouting, people rushing. When they called out my name, I sank in my seat. But why would I hide? I was a grown woman. I could go anywhere I wanted. Are you this person? Yes. Come with us. Why? And then I knew. She had called the cops on me. My daughter is missing… Oh, I’m so worried. Yes, she wanted me back. The icing on her sadistic little cake.

PLANET Z

At the beginning of the school year, Mr. Craig would challenge students to raise money for an end-of-year school trip to somewhere fun.
The class would hold bake sales and car washes, handing Mr. Craig the proceeds.
At the end of the year, Mr. Craig would say the class fell short of their goal, and would pocket the money.
This went on for years, until one class warned the next class about Mr. Craig.
During one of the car washes, Mr. Craig drove up and handed over his keys.
The kids covered the car with shaving cream, inside and out.

Weekly Challenge #959 – Package

The next topic is Icing on the cake

SERENDIPIDY

I offer a range of services, from the basic ‘catch and despatch’, right through to my ‘Executive Gold’ package.
I know you might be tempted to take the cheaper options but, trust me, gold is definitely the way to go.
It’s fully inclusive: The initial execution of the subject, disposal of the body, and clean-up of the scene. Nothing to worry about; no loose ends for you to tie-up, and complete peace of mind.
Not forgetting the optional extras! But, we can discuss those once you’ve paid your deposit.
Half in cash, up front. The balance on completion.

TOM

Something New under the sun.

Historians label epoch of human development by the central material that advanced them from the previous one. Stone age Iron age Bronze age Steel age Silicon age through the Diamond age. But sometime progress ends up in the ditch. In 2337 all the fossil fuels were gone and I mean the tree to. A thick layer in the atmosphere made Solar less then optimal. People power held everything together. To get goods and products any where in the world. It was done with feet and hands, many feet and many hands. We romantically refer to this time as the Pack-age.

NORVAL JOE

Billbert got out of bed, helped Sabrina up and dragged her downstairs. In the family room he cleared some pillows, blankets, and an unopened Amazon package off the couch.
He pointed.”You can sit here.”
When she did, he sat next to her, pushed a button and raised their feet.
“Now, you can hold my hand, if you want, and there won’t be any accidents.”
“Accidents?” She asked, taking his hand and cuddling up to him, one of her squishy bits pressing against his ribs.
Billbert Froze. He thought Sabrina was only going to hold his hand. What would Linoliamanda think?

RICHARD

On its way
It’s on its way… apparently.
The tracker said, my package would arrive by Wednesday. That was two days ago, and still no delivery.
Now the website says it’ll arrive today, between ten forty-two AM and ten forty-two PM. Great, that’s only potentially twelve hours I’ll have to hang around indoors, scared to take trips to the bathroom in case I miss the damn thing arriving.
Why on earth can’t they be more precise?
I mean, they can land a probe on a comet with pinpoint accuracy, within a tiny time frame.
Why so hard, for a simple parcel?

LIZZIE

What do you do? I fight demons.
Whose? Mine and hers.
Why? Because her demons feed off of mine. Her demons eat me alive and become stronger.
Silence.
When did this start? Since the beginning, but I only noticed it a few years ago. I didn’t know I had demons. I didn’t know she had demons. I certainly didn’t know I would have to fight.
Silence.
Is that from a film? No.
Because I sent you a package with a bunch of films. It’s not from a film.
Have you been sleeping? No.
Silence.
Are you winning the fight? No.

PLANET Z

I like birds and bird feeders, so I bought a bird feeder and a freestanding hook to hang it from.
Squirrels kept spilling the bird seed all over the ground.
So I bought a squirrel-proof bird feeder, and the squirrels still spilled the seed everywhere.
I kept buying different bird feeders, and squirrels kept making messes.
Package after package arrived, all disappointing.
A friend suggested I get a baffle for the hook to keep squirrels off of the pole, and it worked.
No more squirrels making a mess.
And no more birds, because it’s winter, and they’ve all flown south.