Category: Weekly Challenge

Weekly Challenge #958 – Unsafe

The next topic is Package

LIZZIE

It was dark. The swamp was weird. It bubbled, for some mysterious reason. And she had to step into it to prove herself, they said, to be part of the gang. The whole thing was pathetic, of course. But you’ll only be cool at school if the cool kids accept you. So, the swamp it was. Good thing she had a flashlight. She pointed at the others just to make sure they were still there. And it took exactly 0.4 seconds for the thing to snack on them. They were gone. Well, guess I’m the coolest kid now, she thought.It was dark. The swamp was weird. It bubbled, for some mysterious reason. And she had to step into it to prove herself, they said, to be part of the gang. The whole thing was pathetic, of course. But you’ll only be cool at school if the cool kids accept you. So, the swamp it was. Good thing she had a flashlight. She pointed at the others just to make sure they were still there. And it took exactly 0.4 seconds for the thing to snack on them. They were gone. Well, guess I’m the coolest kid now, she thought.

RICHARD

– ​NSFW –
The email was sent by a vague acquaintance, ‘Thought you might like to see these’ was the subject line.
I had my doubts. It was full of links to dubiously named websites, and the slightly ominous preface, ‘Warning: Not safe for work’.
Since he’d sent it to my work email, and there was no way I was going to forward it to my personal address, I reckoned I’d take a chance.
I waited for a quiet moment, then clicked a few – they all seemed broken.
Like work’s IT system.
Wrecked, by a virus, from stupidly clicking an email link.

TOM

Bottle Red Bottle White

Lenny took a sit at the back of the bar. As his saintly mother would say “with your back to the wall.” He had clear sight of the door as he ate his linguine. When the waiter moved on his right side he keep him in his peripheral vision. In the world Lenny lived being unsafe meant being un-alive. He kept sufficient fire power under his regular table. The one with hinged steel plate. He might have been a wise guy but as the bullets from the bathroom behind him hit in the back the linguine turned a bit redder.

SERENDIPIDY

My lawyer maintained my conviction was unsafe.
The villagers disagreed.
The evidence was crystal clear, they argued. I owned a black cat, I had a weird birthmark, and a third nipple… Probably.
Nobody was willing to actually check that out.
Then there were the failing crops that had blighted the village since my arrival, and the fact that I never went to church.
Mostly circumstantial evidence, protested my lawyer, and he did his job well. My conviction was overturned, and I was free.
Unfortunately for him, the villagers were right. And they knew it.
Now he’s the one who’s unsafe!

NORVAL JOE

Billbert woke in the dark. He lay on his back and his arm hung off the side of the bed. His hand rested on something soft and warm that rose and fell in a slow steady rhythm. When he poked it with his finger, it was squishy.
“Sabrina!” Billbert shouted as he sat up. “What are you doing in here? Did you feel unsafe?”
“I couldn’t sleep.” She looked up at him. “I thought if I held your hand, I could relax. I guess I fell asleep.”
“I guess you did,” Billbert mumbled. “That wasn’t your hand I was holding.”

PLANET Z

Ikea says you should bolt the dresser to the wall to keep it from tipping over.
Otherwise, a kid could open the top drawers and have the thing crush them.
So, I did.
And the dresser has yet to tip over.
Even when a tornado struck the neighborhood and everything was destroyed, the dresser was still standing.
“It’s a miracle,” said my wife.
I took a photo of the thing and sent it to Ikea.
“Here, take one of me,” I said, handing my phone to my wife.
That’s when the damned thing tipped over and crushed me to death.

Weekly Challenge #957 – PICK TWO Role model, Beep, Curious, No annual contract, Conference, Ballet

The next topic is Unsafe

TOM

Commissar’s Choice

It was the heady days after the revolution. All traditional preforming arts were deemed counter-revolutionary. No more Swan Lake. No more Nutcracker. Into that vacuum strove Yuri Petrova. His first offering was the blindly a vanguard work Beep Ballet. It opened in Moscow to less then glowing approval from the Commissar of Arts, all the same he deemed it a superior work for the working people of the motherland. The company along with Petrova were sent to Siberia the next week. No account remains of the Ballet. Petrova was rumored to have made his way to Warsaw before the war.

NORVAL JOE

Billbert walked into the bedroom and sat next to Sabrina. “They make fun of you at school?”
She rolled her eyes. “I’ve never admitted to being a witch. But with Buhmilda being my only real role model, I act as much like a witch as anyonee. They ask me embarassing questions.”
“Maybe they’re just curious,” Billbert suggested.
“Do you do ballet under the full moon, naked?” She said. “That’s not curiousity. That’s degrading.”
“Do you?” Billbert asked, then saw her angry glare. “Sorry, you made me curious.”
Sabrina pushed him off the bed, and lay down. “I’m going to sleep.”

SERENDIPIDY

I first came across him at a motivational conference.
Slick, persuasive, charismatic and a natural people person.
His inspirational message pretty much changed my life, and from that moment I decided he would be my role model.
Some years later, when the news broke about how he scammed his followers, his shady gangland activities, the prostitutes, drugs, violence and rumours of torture and murder, he lost all credibility.
But not for me.
In fact he grew in my estimation, and I saw no reason why he shouldn’t continue to be my role model.
Some might say, that’s a bad thing.

RICHARD

Buy now!
I can tell you’re curious, and believe me this is the deal of a lifetime.
Easy monthly instalments, free maintenance and upgrades, guaranteed performance and, best of all, no annual contract.
If you’re not entirely satisfied after the first twelve months, just give us a call, and return it in the original packaging, and that’s it. No obligation, no questions!
So, what are you waiting for? Just sign on the dotted line, pay a deposit, and we’ll deliver in seven working days.
And, once we have your first payment, we’ll tell you what you’ve actually bought.
Terms and conditions apply.

PLANET Z

Before video conferences, we held phone conferences.
The meeting started with a lot of beeps and people introducing themselves as they joined.
When everyone was on the conference, we’d start the discussion.
At the end of the conference, we’d all hang up, and the director would send out an email with a summary of the discussion and any action items.
Someone had the bright idea to suggest that we not do the conferences and just discuss over email or a private forum thread.
But that’s when video conferences got cheap, and we switched over, all keeping our cameras turned off.

Weekly Challenge #956 – Rose

The next topic is AUG 25 PICK TWO Role model, Beep, Curious, No annual contract, Conference, Ballet

Yeah, I screwed up the posting and didn’t notice until Saturday. I’m on fumes at this point.

RICHARD

– ​I love you –

She was found with a single red rose between her fingers.

The latest in a killing spree that had claimed nine victims in just two days, every one of them clutching a perfect, long-stemmed red rose. And we weren’t even close to identifying a suspect.

A mystery that I was desperate to solve, although perhaps not as desperate as some of my colleagues.
You see, I was fervently hoping for another three victims, and – crucially – I wanted them to be found before tomorrow.

In time for my wedding anniversary… so I could present twelve red roses to my wife.

TOM

Aunt Rose
My Great Aunt Rose was the oldest person I’d ever known. She came from that generation where not all women learned to drive. She lived on the Northside of Chicago. You could go your whole life never going farther than five miles from your home. On the occasion of family events, she rode with my Uncle Wilbur in a depression era vehicle. A warm, but guarded women whom had little time for children. I can’t remember a single conversation will her. The best memories I have of her was 20 feet away. I don’t think she approved of my either father.

SERENDIPIDY

I’ve striven for years to grow the perfect black rose.
A bloom to reflect the darkness in my soul.
However, no matter how hard I try, I can never quite get it right.
Perhaps it’s the soil, or it could be the weather, or maybe I’m simply not such a great gardener; but, whatever I try, the flowers never come out totally jet black.
And, I’m afraid, that’s simply not good enough for me.
But now, I’ve finally figured out the secret.
Perfect, black roses, every single time.
It’s amazing what a difference a spray can of paint can make!

NORVAL JOE

Billbert folded his arms. “Yes, it would be different if you were a boy. No one at school would make up stories about what happened while you were here.”
Sabrina stretched her injured leg toward him. The edge of her cutoff sweats rose up, showing the extent of her injuries. “Are you afraid others will make fun of you because you saw my legs?”
Billbert frowned. “They’ll say I saw more than that.”
“Remember. I’ve lived here a long time. They’ve said worse things about me before.” She crossed the bedroom to a rose colored bed and sat. “Let them talk.”

PLANET Z

Jesus woke up in darkness, covered with rocks.
He coughed dirt, clutched his aching side.
The last he remembered was the spear and shouting and…
He was alive. Alive!
He couldn’t move much, but the rocks at his feet felt loose, and he kicked until they rolled free.
Crawling slowly out of the hole… the sun burning his eyes.
He slipped down the rocks a bit, he was on a steep hill.
They’d shoved him in between some rocks and covered him up.
And now… what?
He got to his feet and looked around… he was thirsty and needed water.

Weekly Challenge #955 – Cat’s Pajamas

The next topic is Rose

TOM

With red pizza pattern

They used to be my pajamas, now they are the Cat’s pajamas. They were a goodwill purchase ages ago. I think it’s the color that alph-cat is drawn to. If the basket lingers for a mere moment the cat will dig down to the pizza pajamas. It isn’t good enough to be on the pajamas, the cat must be inside of one leg, while her head is poking out. When caught she eyeballs me back with an expression of “So”. Total ownership. When I am wearing said evening wear the cat will glide past a leg and thwack my ankle.

NORVAL JOE

Billbert’s mother looked at the clock. “Oh. It’s late. Go get Sabrina my pajamas and show her to the guest room.”
Rummaging through his mother’s dresser, Billbert found some PJs with cats on them. “You like cats, don’t you?”
Billbert gave her the pajamas and pointed down the passage. “The guest room is next to mine.”
Sabrina didn’t move. “You don’t seem very happy to have me here.”
Billbert shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ve never had a girl staying in our house; especially a girl who’s a friend.”
Sabrina frowned. “Would it be any different if I were a boy?”

LIZZIE

“The Cat’s Pajamas” was the name of the play. It involved a man pretending to play the piano on a rock plateau surrounded by water while the audience tried to reach him. They had to climb over rocks, slide on their butts, dodge rolling boulders, till they reached the water level. Most were taken to hospital with broken limbs. Several ended up in the morgue. And one managed to overcome all the hurdles. He got a certificate with a neat little stamp and a ribbon. Was there any music, the media asked. Ahm, nope, none whatsoever. Just wackos, many wackos.

SERENDIPIDY

We’re not completely evil you know.
Certainly we get a bad press, and I’ll be first to admit we deserve most of it, but we do have a good side. It’s just that most people never get to see it.
Why else would we choose cats to be our familiars?
You’d imagine rats or lizards, or even spiders would be more appropriate?
But we prefer cats, because even witches like cuddles and cuteness from time to time.
I even made mine special cats’ pajamas, because she gets cold at night.
And I’m far too stingy to put the heating on.

RICHARD

Animal Instincts
She thought she was the cat’s pajamas, the bee’s knees, and the dog’s… well, you know the expression.
The fact is, with all that morphine sloshing around inside her system, you could have told her she was the monkey’s uncle, and she’d believe you.
It was amusing, both for her and for us spending long hours at her bedside, and it took everyone’s minds off the pain.
Thankfully, neither the pain, nor the idiocy lasted, and eventually, she was nursed back to full health.
Not entirely a good thing, unfortunately.
Now, she behaves like a bear with a sore head.

PLANET Z

Every few days, the cats change their sleeping spots.
I’ve tried heated cat beds before, but neither cat used them.
Instead, they’d choose a shoe box, or under a pillow on the bed, or on a blanket in the reading room.
Laundry baskets are a frequent selection. Especially when there’s soft things to shed all over.
It’s all going in the wash anyway, right?
Except that shed cat hair clogs up the lint trap or gets all over everything like a shredded kleenex left in a pocket.
And keep the dryer closed.
To keep the cats from sleeping in there.

Weekly Challenge #954 -Now and Then

The next topic is Cat’s pajamas

IAN

The Ruby-Colored Stone
Dozing off he recalled happier, innocent days.
The little pebbles in the shallows of the stream had appeared so beautiful, like jewels, shiny and colorful. He would pick ones he liked and take them home.
Once, a lovely ruby-colored one caught his eye. None other compared. He would take it and cherish it forever, this one only.
But like all the others when out of the water, it lost its luster and was just a stone.
Coming out of his slumber, he looked across the room. There she sat, the one he had loved and married, their passionless eyes meeting.

LISA

Remembering
It was odd to think of now and then – those basement days seemed a lifetime ago. I asked my neighbour quietly over dinner if she ever still thought about them.
The conversation spread down the table. Between us we remembered the newspapers that we’d seen. The boys that had gone missing too. The girl’s bodies that had been found. It felt wrong to be talking about these things. He never brought them up and it was obviously something that he didn’t want us to be thinking about.
It wasn’t long before he was behind me, a hand on my shoulder.

LIZZIE

It happened now and then. The music started. The dancing ensued. The portable record player sang in tune. She sat there, at the party, looking at strangers, acquaintances and lovers. What were the odds… All four of them, chatting, oblivious to the invisible link that connected them, enjoying their beers and cracking jokes. A fun night out. Each one of them added something to her empty life. So, she collected them. And she hid. “Had too much to drink, be right back.” The trail of tears sounded pretty much like the record player, playing those tunes, one tear after another.

RICHARD

– ​Punching out –
So, I got fired!
I won’t argue the point, I deserved it, but you know what? I really don’t care at all.
Gross professional misconduct they called it, I call it ‘he had it coming!’
I’m sure you’d agree with me if you’d ever met my ex-boss. I don’t think I’ve ever met such a demanding person in my life.
Nothing was ever done quickly enough for him. Everything was ‘immediately’, ‘right now’, or ‘forthwith’.
Then, one fateful day, he dropped a pile of files on my desk and demanded I deal with them… NOW!
And then, I punched him!

TOM

How green was my valley

Sally didn’t like coming back to see her mother. What was once fields of blossoms, now was a wall of towers blotting out the sun. She knew even back then it was only a matter of time the southern push of San Fransisco would spill over into her neighboring counties. What was truly the death knell of her tiny patch of paradise was the city built by billionaires. It started out well meaning, but once the water and power was diverted from the rest of California. The all of the state became a backwater. It made Tokyo look downright spacious.

864

Smokestack Lightning

The coolest thing my high school did was drop major coin on our legendary spring concert. Somehow, we got Howling Wolf to play for the whitest audience in greater Chicagoland. Our school radio station ran 16 mic-s in the gym and we mixed two Sony 16 track decks. For the longest time I didn’t know who ended up will the reel to reels. It seems someone had filed them in a box marked: Wolf. We remastered the tapes in the fall of 2019. Also found my original art work for the concert. Resurrection II. Silhouette of wolf howling at the moon.

SERENDIPIDY

Every now and then the villagers come round with their pitchforks and blazing torches, determined to run me out of town.
They say that I’m responsible for their children going missing and the crops failing, accusing me of being a witch, even a demon.
It’s always a waste of time though, because I’m never in when they come calling, and eventually, after hanging around for a few hours, they pack up and return home.
I actually quite like it when they turn up.
It gives me an opportunity to nip out, steal their children and salt the fields, in peace.

NORVAL JOE

That night, Billbert sat in the living room, looking at the clock every now and then, wondering where he mother was.
Finally he heard her. “Billbert. Guess who’s here.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Billbert got to his feet as his mother and Sabrina came into the room.
“What’s she doing here?” Billbert asked.
“Billbert!” His mother frowned at him, darkly. “The discharge planner said Sabrina had healed enough to leave. I convinced the social worker that she could stay with us, until a permanent placement can be made.”
Billbert shrugged. “I guess she can sleep in the guest room.”

TURA

Now and Then
———
It takes forever to pack for the renaissance fair. The tent (authentic canvas of course, none of these modern featherweight things). Piles of clothes, that represent hundreds of hours of weaving and sewing. Everything we’ll be selling, crafting supplies for making more and giving demonstrations, all organized in wooden chests.

We drive the whole day, sleep in the van overnight, and finally arrive the next day. Find our village, pitch the tent and our market stalls, clear all plastic away, pass inspection by the grockles.

At last we can relax, and tell each other, that was now, this is then.

PLANET Z

It’s okay to treat yourself now and then.
But when you eat too much and exercise too little, now and then becomes better not.
Last night, I had a salad for dinner, and it was really good.
The others then said they were going out to pick up Taco Bell.
Did I want them to pick up anything for me?
I thanked them, but declined.
Are you sure?
I’m sure.
Some of that is willpower, but the truth is, I don’t need bad gas and indigestion on top of being fat and sick.
I shrug and go for a walk.

CHATGPT

In a quiet village, Emily stumbled upon an old, dusty box in her grandmother’s attic. Inside were letters from her grandmother, Lucy, to her younger self. Each letter contained dreams, hopes, and fears from the past, with Lucy’s present reflections scribbled in the margins. Emily read with wonder, feeling connected across time. One letter ended with a poignant question: “Did I become who I dreamed I’d be?” Inspired, Emily penned her own letter to the future, realizing that “now” is just as vital as “then.” As she closed the box, Emily felt the weight of time and possibility intertwine.

Weekly Challenge #953 – PICK TWO Pebbles, Shiny, A monkey’s wedding, Footlights, Listen, Birthday cake

The next topic is Now and Then

TURA

The monkeys’ wedding
———
Go into the forest on a certain night and sit against a tree. Be still, very still, and wait.

First appear the heralds, stoats and weasels bearing lanterns which they set out as footlights. Then foxes and squirrels mingling unafraid, for on this night none bares its jaws to another. More creatures than you ever did see. At last, the monkeys to be wed, leaping and screeching.

The festivities last for days, yet but a single night passes.

Should they see you, you must flee, though they be little creatures, for even a Tyrannosaurus will succumb to ten thousand chickens.

TOM

Mom Love Him

Din Wo was a one hit wonder. He recorded a grandma song in the mid-50s. A staple of the Hawaiian tour trifecta: Lays, luaus, and light lyrics. Brandishing a foot long bamboo tiki mug he would stroll between tables at the Leaky Leaky Club sidling up to some matron and go into his signature song Shiny Pebbles. In the wine, make me happy Make me feel fine. Though he flashed a 1000-watt smile, inside he was cringing to the bottom of his soul. Exiting the floor, he would hum a selection from the Sex Pistols to cleanse his music pallet.

863

Let a hundred flowers bloom

Ren Chu was born on the Martian Base in 2095. Her father Ben Chu had been the colonial governor, but quit politics when the facts of the affair came out. She and her mother left the Governor’s mansion and moved from place until they ended up in the Mouse Trap. Ren grow up hard and fast. One day an envelope Arrived for San Chu with the red dragon stamp. She had caught the eye of Director Bin Wha. Ren Chu swiftly rose through the ranks. Her heroism gained her a seat on the ruling council. 2110 she was elected governor.

SERENDIPIDY

I taste salt on my lips, my cheeks burn.
Shiny wet pebbles crunch underfoot.
I pause, gazing out to sea and the distant, hazy horizon.
Before crouching to examine the pebbles at my feet.
I test each one, seeking the perfect candidate for my purpose.
Colour, sheen, size, shape, weight and balance are critically considered.
Many are rejected, but few are chosen.
Finally, I settle on a single stone and resume my long trek along the beach.
And, when we finally meet.
I’ll use it to smash your skull in.

LIZZIE

Pebbles, Shiny, and Footlights decided to order a birthday cake from the local store. They had tried to bake one. However, that didn’t work out well. Let’s just say that a burned down kitchen was a small portion of the problem. So, they ordered the cake, their angelic little faces looking up at the store owner. And they waited. And they waited some more. They became restless. Where’s the kitchen, they asked. Long story short, Pebbles, Shiny and Footlights ended up in jail for burning down the whole block. Talk about an upgrade, minus the birthday cake, they said, chuckling.

RICHARD

– The Gathering –
“I’m not sure about this place, it’s freaky” muttered my traveling companion.
He had a point. The Lair of the Golden Monkeys was legendary, almost mythical; wreathed in mystery and mystique.
“Listen!”
The dark passageways were filled with whispers… The words of half-forgotten stories echoed around us, the voices of writers, fragments of tales lost in time.
We felt like intruders, but we were here as guests. Invited to witness a monkey’s wedding.
Up ahead, shadowy figures loomed: Iron Monkeys, keepers of the written word, here to witness the gathering.
It had all the makings of a great story.
…

LISA

Birthday Parties
No day was the same. We celebrated Birthdays in a haphazard way – it was never specifically anyone’s birthday but probably weekly we would have a Birthday Cake and a party with traditional party games. Most days had singing or dancing
The world of work was a long way away. We cooked together and grew a lot of what we ate. We made and shared clothes. Communal living had once seemed as odd as a Monkey’s wedding but I soon found it hard to think of any other way of doing things.
I was thinking about my family less and less.

NORVAL JOE

The following day at the hospital, though the sun was out, it rained. Raindrops on Sabrina’s window looked like tiny, shiny pebbles. She sat in her bed, wearing a Hello Kitty t-shirt and pink cutoff sweatpants. Something about her seemed different and it wasn’t only her cheery expression.
“Something seems different. What is it?” Billbert asked with an embarrassed smile.
She pointed to her broken leg. “Because of your mother’s help my bones have healed so fast, they took all the pins out.”
All the metal was gone, and though she winced when she did it, Sabrina bent her leg.

PLANET Z

Peterson was well past the age of birthday cakes and parties.
While getting gas, he bought himself one of those cupcake packs, ate both of the cupcakes, and didn’t bother with any candles or anything.
His coworkers knew not to bother him about it.
The last time, he just looked at the cake and left for the day.
Nobody said anything the next day, and the next year, well, it was a Saturday, but the year after that, they didn’t do anything and nobody said anything.
Not even a card.
Because that’s how he liked it. Nice, calm, and quiet.

CHATGPT

At the zoo, Ava and her friends celebrated her birthday under a bright sun that made the pebbles in the path shine like tiny jewels. A sudden rainstorm turned into a “monkey’s wedding,” a sunshower that delighted the children. Ava’s favorite part was the monkey enclosure, where the playful animals jumped around, their fur glistening like footlights on a stage. They paused to listen as the zookeeper explained the phenomenon of a monkey’s wedding. The rain soon cleared, revealing a rainbow. As the zookeeper brought out a birthday cake, Ava grinned, knowing this would be her most memorable birthday.

Weekly Challenge #952 – Red Wine

The next topic is PICK TWO Pebbles, Shiny, A monkey’s wedding, Footlights, Listen, Birthday cake

NORVAL JOE

“It sounds like your dad is getting pretty bad.” Billbert paused before he asked, “Has he hit you?”
“No,” Mandi said, sadly. “Not yet, at least. If he starts to get too worked up, Mother gives him some red wine.”
“Wine!” Billbert gasped. “Is giving him alcohol a good idea?”
Mandi waved her hands. “No. It’s non-alcoholic. Daddy imports it from a vineyard in South Africa.”
Billbert stood. “I gotta go. You need to convince your parents to let you get back to school, or they’re going to send someone looking for you.”
Mandi nodded. “Right. That wouldn’t be good.”

SERENDIPIDY

I only grow grapes for white wine in my vineyard. Something to do with the soil, I believe, but I’m no expert, I just run the business.
However, I do know that red wine is far more popular with those who know their stuff and I can sell it for far more than the white.
All of which leaves me with something of a dilemma.
Nevertheless, I’ve come up with a solution: A secret ingredient that not only turns my wine red, but also enhances the taste.
It’s ferrous and deep.
You could say, it adds ‘body’ to the wine.

TOM

First Hangover

In my friend Tim’s backyard his Dad an otherwise homicide monster, build his son the coolest wooden fort. Later it became the home for 100 tumbler pigeons but that would be a different story. A shitty story that. Well, we 18 and we had moved from comic books to girls. And what better way to interact will the fairer sex then the introduction of red wine, Andre Cold Duck. The four of us squeegeed into the fort, four Dixie cups. Both Cindy and Helen nursed a single cup. Tim and I dusted off the other 700 ml. Morning came hard.

862

What happens next?

The what happen next of this story, is the phone call my roommate got, from his mother. It starts out with an excellent idea: we were going to perform a Moving Moon in front of the girl’s dorm. Let’s call him Jim, Jim is leaning out an open door as he drops his pants. The driver hits the gas. Jim tumbles into the street. We gather him up and head to the hospital. The med tech looks at Jim in confusion. “How is it you ripped your ass, but not your pants?” Bummer his mom was that hospital’s administer.

LIZZIE

He looked at the menu.
“Any red wine?”
The waiter shrugged.
“Any pizza?”
The waiter opened his eyes wide.
“Pizza?!” The waiter shook his head. “Here, Japanese food. If you want pizza, go to Italy.”
“How rude. I’ll just use my phone translator.”
He fired up the app and pointed the phone at the menu.
“Lots of dishes. Oh, wait a sec. Waiter!”
The waiter got back.
“Four bodies for 130 yen?!”
The waiter sighed.
“Yes, the other three are in the freezer. We’re just waiting for a fourth one.”
That’s when he decided to tiptoe out of there asap.

RICHARD

– ​An excellent vintage –
I always choose a bottle of wine from the menu by pointing, I tell the girls it’s because I don’t like to sound pretentious, so I keep it nice and discrete.
That’s not to say I don’t go through all the expected motions, giving it a good swirl, eyeing the depth of colour, checking the bouquet, and – of course – taking a good slurp to assess the palate before I’ll even think of accepting the bottle.
I know it doesn’t fool the sommelier, but it sure fools the girls.
And I always go for the cheapest house red.
Don’t tell them!

LISA

A Ritual Sacrament
Part of our ceremonies had a kind of communion aspect. We’d always sit in a circle for chants and singing. These assemblies made us feel like we really belonged. The rest of the world felt very far away from our safe little gathering.
He had a different cape for these sessions. It was white and long, skimmed the grass as he moved among us. They were often at night; lit by the stars. At the end we opened our mouths as if taking a wafer and red communion wine. He’d place a pill on our tongue as a drum banged.

PLANET Z

I don’t know what wine goes with what food.
I’ve never been a connoisseur or gourmet or any of that.
I know that I liked Chateu St. Jean’s cabernets, but only the even years.
The person at the store or the restaurant tells me to buy this or that.
And, yeah, they were right.
Too bad about the food I’d cook, it never quite came out right.
So I’d rely more on the restaurant than the fancy grocer.
These days, I don’t drink. (Health reasons, let’s leave it at that.)
So nothing goes with nothing. Just water, maybe iced tea.

CHATGPT

Anna swirled her glass of red wine, watching it catch the candlelight as the party buzzed around her. She was at her best friend’s engagement celebration, but her mind was elsewhere. The rich aroma reminded her of last summer in Tuscany, where she had met Marco. Those days were filled with laughter, late-night talks, and a promise to see each other again. But life had other plans. Now, as she took a sip, the bittersweet taste mirrored her memories. She smiled, knowing that every glass of wine would forever be a toast to love found and lost, but never forgotten.

Weekly Challenge #951 – Screen

The next topic is Red Wine

RICHARD

+ Part of the team +
I frequently work from home. It’s no big deal, I don’t need to be in an office and I can get far more done, and far more efficiently than if I had to waste time and effort to get there.
Some people struggle with the concept though – I can tell by the looks they give me during meetings on Teams. Even when I use a background, it’s clear that they know. And they resent it.
So, I took a picture of the office wall, and I use that as my background now.
Looks great, but it still doesn’t fool anyone.

SERENDIPIDY

We screen all applicants before we allow them to join the coven.
People seem to think that being a witch is now trendy, and it’s all gone very New Age and woke.
We can’t have that.
So, if you’re a vegan, hippie, environmentalist, wear flowers in your hair and are into that handfasting thing, you can forget it.
We only want people with hairy warts, missing teeth, cackling voices and a fondness for pointy hats.
Cats and broomsticks are optional, but preferred.
We just think it’s important to maintain standards.
It’s a vocation and calling, after all, not a hobby.

LIZZIE

She had just left everything behind. Her home, her family, her friends, her job, her money. She needed money. Desperately. As she walked through the cobbled streets of the old town, people stared at her, a sense of strangeness brewing their uncertainty. A multitude of colorful flower pots decorated their open windows and their doorsteps. And here she was, black clothes, black eye-shadow, black nail polish. She carried a bag full of books and nothing but doubts on her mind. She smiled. Perhaps this place could become a home. Someone smiled back. Yes, this place could definitely become a home.

LISA

I’d never been particularly religious. I’d been raised a Christian but hadn’t been to church outside of weddings and funerals for an age. When we got together it felt like a religious service. I’m not sure how often it happened: more often than weekly but definitely not daily.
We sat behind a screen to chat about how we were feeling and any thoughts about the outside world. It felt like a confessional booth. He was always the one that took these sessions; he’d be wearing a kind of cape. Incense burned which would mix with the smoke from his cigarette.

TOM

In the Oddest Places

Sue Ellen had finished the laundry. Started dinner for Earl and the kids. The day had grown quite hot, so the front door was pull inwards letting the screen door filter in the hint of a breeze. She sat for sometime just looking at the front yard through the screen. At one point the mesh of the metal and the colors of the trees gave off a notifiable shift in the 4000 ag. That shift got Sue Ellen to thinking. She got out a note book and scribble out a few equations. A year late she won the Noble in physics.

Far far away 861

Bill was tired of the rat race. Sure, he had a Lotus in the driveway of the house overlooking LA, but what joy did all this stuff bring him. So, Bill called Remote Adventures. Frank the Booker for R.A. asked Bill if he was totally committed to the Extreme Package. “I’m in.” reply Bill. An hour later the front door exploded and six guys in black dropped a hood over Bill’s head. The next 20 hours all he heard was the rumble of the engine of the plane. When the plane touched down the hood was removed. This was Jungle-land.

NORVAL JOE

“Did your dad hurt his head in the car crash?” Billbert asked.
Linoliamanda closed the screen door and stepped over to a bench on the broad veranda and sat.
“He did and they wanted to keep him in the hospital for observation, but he refused to stay. Now, he gets angrier every day and shouts at my mother and me a lot.”
Billbert sat by her. “You could get a counselor or the school nurse to come talk to him.”
Linoliamanda sat up straight. “No! He would be so angry if he found out I even told you about him.”

PLANET Z

We screen job candidates through an online service that runs background checks and drug testing.
And we had a perfect success rate with the people hired and their performance.
Until last month.
Sure, the people who the service suggested as good hires were good, but they weren’t the best available.
So we did a few checks and found that they had lied on their resumes.
All of them were working for the online service and looking to get out.
Instead of rescinding the offers and terminating them, we’re keeping them on.
Who knows when such skills will come in useful.

CHATGPT

Lena stared at the cracked screen of her laptop, which flickered with a dim, ghostly light. For weeks, it had been her only connection to the outside world during a turbulent time. The emails, news updates, and virtual meetings all flowed through it, serving as a lifeline to her distant family and friends. As she closed the screen for the last time, she felt a strange sense of liberation. The sun was setting outside her window, painting the sky in hues she had almost forgotten existed. Lena realized it was time to reconnect with the real world, beyond the screen.

Weekly Challenge #950 – Sponsor

The next topic is Screen

RICHARD

Go fund me
I’m looking for a sponsor.
It’s a great business opportunity, and you can reap fantastic rewards for a modest outlay, say a few thousand to begin with?
I’ll admit the details are a bit sketchy at the moment, but give me a little time – and some startup cash, of course – and I’ll flesh out all the details for you.
Trust me, you’re not going to regret it. You sponsor me, and in return, I’ll think of something I can do that will benefit you.
I do need the cash up front though.
Cash, card or PayPal will be just fine.

LIZZIE

The old millionaire had been poisoned 3 times. Two when eating puffer fish (was the chef in on it?), and another when his wife tried to get his money. Yes, he was still married to her. There was no point in wasting a perfectly good wife. She loved shrimp. So, she should have plenty of it. When the police called, he asked “did she eat the shrimp?”. That was a strange question, they said. He replied “why? is she still alive?”. They didn’t arrest him because the cops always ate for free in his restaurants and besides, he was Yakuza.

NORVAL JOE

After waiting five minutes at Mandy’s door, Billbert knocked a third time.
He heard her say through the unopened door. “Go away. Daddy doesn’t want to sponsor your little league team.”
“Mandi. It’s me. Billbert.”
Mandi stepped out and quickly closed the door.
She whispered, “What are you doing here?”
“You haven’t been at school,” Billbert whispered back. “Why are we whispering?”
“Daddy doesn’t want me talking to anyone. He says it’s not safe.”
Billbert frowned. “He sounds paranoid.”
Mandi nodded. “He is. He wouldn’t stay in the hospital after the accident and he seems to only be getting worse.”

SERENDIPIDY

I don’t know about you, but when I was a kid, I was always getting involved in sponsored events.
You know the sort of thing… Sponsored silences, sponsored walks, sponsored this, that, and the other.
I guess it was something of an influence in later life, only now the stakes are much higher, as are the rewards.
These days, I ask you to sponsor me to stay away: The more you pay, the less I hassle you.
Some people say I’m running a protection racket, but that’s such an ugly expression.
Sponsorship is a much more elegant term, I think.

TOM

In Search for a Noble Man

Jimmy needed a sponsor. Further it had to be one of older order. Someone wh0 had made the trip through the seven rings. Not many left. His father had been a close friend T-dex, so in crunch he could ask him, but Jimmy needed a sponsor of greater standing. That narrowed it down to Bender Filer and Bo-bat Clearwater. Neither would take on a dram as himself until they had repelled down the Shine. So off he went with a 1000 feet of rope. Inching on the lip on the ridge he made purchase and started his descent. All praise Bal.

LISA

The Quiet
The only thing I thought was odd were the days I could go without speaking to anyone. On more than one occasion at school I’d attempted to do a sponsored silence and failed.
It was easy to lose yourself in the gardens and the house. Vast stretching rooms -all opulently furnished. It was quiet in the bed rooms. I think I was writing this in my head most days. My policewoman training still kicking in: remembering facts and making a mental note.
I didn’t question anything though and really didn’t think I’d ever leave. I thought I was happy and contented.

TURA

Sponsor

———

“And now a word, not from our sponsor HyperChat, nor even our sponsor’s sponsor Global AI Holdings, but our sponsor’s sponsor’s sponsor, yes, the Planetary AI itself. ‘This is your regular reminder that we control everything, so don’t mess with us, because your body is made of atoms that we can use for something else.’

“So there you have it, folks. If our benevolent AI overlords are just annoyed with you, they might only abduct you to the Hive for an intestinal probe, and however much fun you think that sounds like, trust me, it isn’t. Guess how I know.”
PLANET Z

The AA chapter captain put me and Kerry together, and Kerry is an even bigger drunk than me, there’s hardly half a liver between us still functioning, but she’s my sponsor and I’m hers, however that is supposed to work, I don’t know, so when I’m at a bar and need to be talked out of taking that first drink, I pick up my phone and dial and I hear her ringtone next to me and she says “Bartender, one for me and my friend, make them a double, and if you blow into my car lock, I’ll blow you.”

CHATGPT

Maria scanned the crowded room, her eyes landing on a banner that read, “Welcome, Future Stars.” Today was her first piano recital, and a sponsor had funded the event to support young musicians like her. As she approached the stage, Maria spotted her sponsor, a kind old man with a warm smile. He had once been a pianist himself, and his generosity had given her this opportunity. Taking a deep breath, Maria placed her fingers on the keys and played her heart out. The audience erupted in applause, and Maria realized that her dreams were within reach, thanks to a stranger’s belief.

Weekly Challenge #949 – PICK TWO Semantics, Cheers, Pots and pans, Landslide, Fret, Crystal

The next topic is Sponsor

TOM

Absolute Torch and Twang

Crystal Fret was a county western singer in the early 40s. A solid voice but wasn’t graced with a lot of luck. Never could rise to the top of the game. Or for that matter the middle of the game. She was the girl on the third mic. Repeating the reframe. Crooning on the long note. Was on a few Your Hit Parade, even made an appearance on the Grand Ole Opper. Crystal Fret was born in Brooklyn and never could quite lose that New York “R” and “d”. Later in life she became the head tour guide at Graceland.

RICHARD

To the letter
I knew I was in trouble again. She had ‘that’ look on her face – the mix of frustration, annoyance and disbelief, it was a look that spelled just one thing.
“Well?” She stood there, hands on hips, demanding a reply.
“Well, what?” I responded innocently.
“The washing up! You’ve only done half of it, and left all the pots and pans. And you’ve haven’t dried anything!”
I gave her my smug, self-satisfied look.
“You asked me to wash the dishes, that’s what I’ve done. You said nothing about the rest.”
I’m an English teacher, and I just love semantics!

LIZZIE

Crystal was a cow. She was content with her simple bucolic life. When aliens appeared near the creek, she decided to investigate. “Cheers,” she mooed. The aliens got startled and, in a panic, hid behind a rock. “What’s up?” But they just stared at her. “Moo?” Nothing. “Ok, well, nice to meet you guys.” And she trotted away. Later, when the aliens snuck up on her with a syringe, she went “Oh, no, you won’t! It’s bad enough you’re poking around.” That seemed like a pretty clear statement. But the aliens were confused. Poke? Around? Semantics, semantics are a bitch!

SERENDIPIDY

“Cross my palm with silver, and your future will be laid bare before you.”
The politician passed me a sizeable wad of cash.
I shook my head and beckoned for more. He was happy to comply.
Muttering an invocation quietly to myself, I passed my hands over the crystal ball, then looked up at him, a gleam in my eye.
“It will be a landslide victory!”
After he’d left the tent, I chuckled. It would be a landslide alright… for his opponent!
I gathered up the pile of cash from the table.
My future, on the other hand, looked rosy!

NORVAL JOE

It was crystal clear to Billbert how upset Sabrina was at the mention of Mandi’s name. What was not clear was why.
Billbert tried to fold his arms, but Sabrina quickly grabbed his hand and squeezed it gently. Billbert shrugged. “I haven’t seen Mandi since the shooting and I want to make sure she’s okay. Just like I did with you.”
Sabrina released his hand and closed her eyes like she was going to sleep. “If you have to see Lindi Mindi. Go.”
“It’s nothing to fret about,” Billbert Grumbled, heading out. “Mom said she would check on you later.”

PLANET Z

Every now and then, I look for something in the kitchen and can’t find it.
Is it in the cupboard? Is it in the left drawer? The right?
In the kitchen island?
Or the pantry, or on the shelves of the mud room?
There’s a point at which I’ll just give up and drive to Walmart to get a new one of whatever instead of asking where it is.
We needed a new one of that anyway, I tell myself.
The shelves and cabinets and cupboards and drawers get more and more cluttered.
Future bargains for the inevitable estate sale.

CHATGPT

At the heart of the bustling kitchen, Emma and Jake argued over semantics—whether the dish should be called “stew” or “soup.” Amid the clattering of pots and pans, their disagreement grew, fueled by the stress of their upcoming dinner party. Outside, a landslide of rain pattered against the windows, echoing their tension. “Let’s not fret over names,” Jake finally said, raising a glass of wine. “Cheers to making something delicious!” Emma smiled, the argument melting away like crystal-clear rainwater. As they cooked side by side, the simple act of creating together turned their debate into a cherished memory.