The topic of the next weekly challenge is Stand
RICHARD
Alan
Alan always had to be right.
What do you want to go to the rainforest for? You won’t enjoy it?’
That’s putting it mildly: I’d hated every second of the trip.
You’ll almost certainly get lost!’
Right, again. I’d never been more lost in my life.
You probably won’t make it back.’
Unfortunately, that was certainly beginning to look like a real possibility.
It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity that’ll kill you.’
Almost right. The moisture that filled the air, made it hard to breathe; but, it wouldn’t kill me.
However the snake bite would.
Not always right, Alan!
LISA
A Thermos Flask Borrowed off Nanna
It’s 1982. The car journey from Leicester to Dad’s mate’s caravan in Cornwall takes roughly 400 years. We go every year. My younger brother is exploring the moist contents of his nostrils, and on the other side of me the older one is reading a well illustrated book about insects.
At the services we stare at a poster for iced coke while a cup of tea, that tastes more of plastic cup than tea, is passed around. A big lorry rumbles past and the thermos falls off the dashboard and smashes.
It proves to be the highlight of the holiday.
LIZZIE
Plants need a lot of moisture. So, he bought an industrial moisturizing machine for his greenhouse. The plants were happy. Their growth was impressive, he had to admit. At some point, he thought about removing the moisturizer but he went on vacation and forgot about it completely. When he got back, the roof of the greenhouse had burst open. Everything was of an industrial size, the plants, some birds that flew inside, even the ants. He should’ve suspected. That’s why the damn moisturizer was so cheap. It was all over the news. Industrial contamination was turning everything into giants, people included.
SERENDIPIDY
The car might have been abandoned, but the ticking of the engine as it cooled, and the occasional, almost imperceptible rocking on its suspension told me it was just parked up.
Not many cars made it this deep into the forest.
I approached cautiously.
A film of moisture obscured the inside of the windows; they were clearly enjoying themselves, and were completely oblivious to my presence.
Hand, resting lightly on the door handle, I wondered if they’d plead for mercy, or run for their lives.
Either way, it would be good sport.
And I was the one holding the shotgun.
TOM
Not Happy
If you come from Chicago or New York, you think your pretty much humidity badass. Heat – wet got that covered. Power through, get the job done, wring out your shirt, flip on the AC. I had no idea there was a place on earth that excelled in full impact Moisture. In Florida I met my match. It’s bad enough your body is coat 24 -7 multiple layers of perpetual film, but every centimeter of your lungs are drowning in wet. Actually, film would be a kind description, goo would be more accurate. Give me phoenix where moisture work in your favor.
NORVAL JOE
Billbert took a hand of each of the girl’s in his and jumped into the air. None of them went anywhere and the teenage knights were running their direction. Moisture breaking out across his forehead, he tried again. And again, they remained firmly on the spongy forest soil.
Linoliamanda dropped Billbert’s hand. “Take Sabrina. They don’t really want me. I’ll be okay.”
Sabrina’s eyes lit up. “You heard the girl. Let’s go.”
“No!” To Sabrina’s shock, he shook off her grip and then grasped Linoliamanda’s hand again.
Sabrina looked like she would cry, until Billbert said, “Now, take Linoliamanda’s hand.”
PLANET Z
It rained last night.
I’d gotten my car washed.
The guy with the sticker scanner asked about the paint scrape on the left side.
Where I’d hit the pole at the electric charger.
“We can buff that out,” he said.
The scrape was down to the primer, no way they could do that.
Needed to go to the dealer for a new panel.
I didn’t respond, I just drove up to the car wash track, put it in neutral.
After the wash, I drove home and parked out in the lot.
No cover. No trees.
And it rained last night.