After we had grass rolled out on our front yard, I would let our cats out to roll around and play and stock out there. I got an Apple AirTag on a collar in case they would run off. They roll on the grass and the sun beams. They claw the trees. They look so happy. I let them in the backyard as well and they explore. I had to put planks of wood on either side of the shed to keep them from burrowing under there. It’s time to come in. I pick them up and they complain loudly.
Seagulls
I live near the bay, and when I go to the beach, I see pelicans and eagles and other birds hunting for fish on the water. I like to watch them striding along the shore or flying above, ducking their head under the water and pulling out a fish or swooping down. It’s just so graceful and peaceful to watch. It’s certainly more enjoyable than when I bring some snacks to the beach and I get mobbed by seagulls. One time I brought a burger and fries and I got set up on the moment I opened the paper bag.
Receding water
It hasn’t rained here in Pleasant Valley for a while. The stream that goes under the old library bridge is dry. The pond in the park, you can tell from how the bank is exposed from the receding water. The almanac said that this year would be wetter than usual, but nobody believes it. Sundays, Pastor Smith leads the congregation to pray for rain, but it doesn’t rain. And then one day the skies went dark, the winds blew hard, and we were in the middle of a hurricane. Not all at once Lord, said Pastor Smith, and he laughed.
Cross
When I walk through the park that used to be a golf course, there are a lot of houses with their backyards facing the former cart paths and fairways and greens. I’d try not to snoop, but some people put decorations out just for the benefit of people walking and cycling and playing the frisbee golf course. And then there’s a house with the 7 foot crucifix and some solar powered spotlights that light it up at night. Whether it’s a symbol of their faith and devotion or a thinly veiled threat to trespassers, I’m not willing to find out.
Shared Fear
Jake and Molly carved their initials in the grand oak in Somerville Park. The sheriff talked to their parents. They agreed on a punishment. The magistrate waved his hand in front of Jake’s eyes, and then he waved it in front of Molly‘s. And then he left. Is that it? said Jake. The sheriff nodded and he left. Jake shrugged and said let’s go to the park, Molly. She agreed and they walked hand-in-hand. But when they got to the park entrance, they stopped both were overcome by dark fear. Trembling, they turned around and walked back home.
Crossing Turtles
During my daily walks, I see various creatures. Squirrels and birds and rabbits and turtles. This morning, I saw a turtle by the side of the road. And even though it’s Saturday morning, there’s a few cars going by. I pondered whether to pick up the turtle and carry it to the other side. But then, what if the turtle is just looking and doesn’t wanna go to the other side. And if I carry that turtle over, it will need to walk back across the road. If only this were a chicken, I’d make a joke out of it.
Weekly Challenge #1043 – An empty deodorant can
- Lizzie
- Richard
- Tom
- Serendipidy
- Norval Joe
- Planet Z
The next topic is PICK TWO
Fever
Shoulder
Torpid
Hairbrush
A dead plant
LIZZIE
Beach towel, sunglasses. An empty deodorant can? She’d stopped using spray deodorants ages ago, when being environmentally friendly was a thing. Suddenly, the can beeped. She quickly tossed it away, but her guilty made her pick it up again. Then, a red dot appeared exactly when her ex walked up. “Hello!” For some reason, he took the can from her and… vanished. To her amazement, the can spoke. “Thank you for helping us capture a human specimen of the stupid kind. We’ll research him thoroughly.” Perhaps she could help again. She knew a few more specimens of the stupid kind.
RICHARD
Warning
If there’s one thing I really can’t stand, it’s the nanny state.
Politicians, public bodies and corporations ‘looking after’ our interests and keeping us safe from harm.
Let’s cut to the chase… I’m perfectly capable of exercising viewer discretion, without being advised to do it by some well-meaning TV announcer.
I don’t need a warning telling me the contents of my apple pie or coffee cup may be hot, I can figure that out by myself, thank you very much!
As for this warning on my deodorant can: ‘Do not pierce, even when empty’… well, we’ll see about that!
TOM
Got No Title, Kids
As a rule, I’m pretty fluid with topics here at the Challenge. I can say only a handful of prompts have left me staring blankly into space. This is one. So, I asked AI is there any thing interesting about empty deodorant cans. This is what it spit out: Empty deodorant containers are widely available for purchase online for DIY projects, ranging in price from roughly $1 to $3 per unit depending on quantity and material (plastic or cardboard). Is there an infinity retention of value for all manufactured items? Wait! Who these people buying this stuff? Get a life.
SERENDIPIDY
A chair, bolted to the floor.
Cable ties and duct tape.
An empty deodorant can and a cigarette lighter, lying together, discarded carelessly on the floor.
A cryptic puzzle, silently begging you to put the pieces together.
What happened here? Can you guess? Can you work it out?
Or perhaps you need something more obvious to reconstruct recent events?
The moaning, coming from the corner of the room should be an obvious clue.
But, if you still haven’t got it, then maybe you should take a closer look.
His melted face is a bit of a giveaway, don’t you think?
NORVAL JOE
Billbert took Mandi’s hand and they flew to her bedroom window. She pushed it open and waved Billbert in.
Once inside, she pointed to her bed. “Have a seat. I’ll be right back.”
He didn’t think it appropriate for a boy to sit on a girl’s bed but as there were no other chairs in the room he gave up and sat.
She brought in an old deodorant can that rattled when she shook it.
“Hold out your hand,” she said as she twisted the bottom from the can.
Obediently, Billbert did and Mandi shoved a ring onto his finger.
PLANET Z
It was time to clean out the cupboards in the bathroom.
Old pills, crusted-over bottles of cough medicine.
It all went in the trash.
We found some dead bugs back there.
Bandages that fell out of the pack.
Cotton swabs, too.
Burnt-out light bulbs… we checked them, sure enough.
I guess we replaced a few in the vanity and never threw out the dead ones.
Some tooth brushes left over from when we went electric.
A spent can of deodorant spray.
Not sure why that wasn’t thrown out.
Empty the bin into the trash can, and close the lid tight.
George walks
George was a pirate, but he wasn’t a very good pirate. During his downtime, he liked to walk around the neighborhood. Which wasn’t very difficult when the ship was out at sea since ships are small and walking around a ship isn’t difficult to do. Sometimes he’d walk around twice, sometimes even walking one end of the gang plank and then the other. Sometimes the shipmates wish he would just go all the way over the plank. When they were in dock, he’d walk around the taverns and houses and warehouses. Then he’d sit down on a bench and nap.
Twin masks
Molly and Mindy were identical.
Except that Molly wore a tragedy mask everywhere while Mindy wore a comedy mask.
Anyone who got to know them… really got to know them, they knew that Molly was the happy one while Mindy was the serious one.
But if you really got to know them, you knew not to bring this up with them.
Molly and Mindy each kept a razor in their left boot.
And if you brought up the thing with the masks, they’d draw their razors and cut your throat.
As you bleed out, each whispering in your ear… nothing.
Jumping
I remember the last time I met Death.
We were on the ledge of a very tall building.
People on the street below.
Cars passing by.
And we were up here.
He didn’t have a scythe.
A pale horse.
Or a chessboard.
Just a man in a suit.
Checking his silver pocketwatch.
“Going to jump?” he asked me.
I thought it over.
“Not this time,” I said.
He snapped his watch shut, put it in his pocket, and went back to the void.
I sat there for a while, looking at the street below.
I thought about jumping.
Next time.