Directions: Write a scene or an entire story of 100 words on the nose (no more, no fewer), inspired by this photograph. No judging. All fun.
Don’t forget to add your Twitter handle & link to your blog, if you like. And a few words on how your week’s going would be nice.
This week’s challenge: Include a superhero.
by Tamzine Johnston, tamzinwhite.wordpress.com
ALL CLIMBED OUT !!
A daily routine sucks! I thought it would come naturally, but no. It seems I must climb. An ant bit me. A bit like Spidy but I don’t see him having to stick to a regime so all demanding.
I don’t sleep, very little anyway. There’s no time. This morning a guy stands by and stares up. What’s he want?
“Morning,” I can’t look down, I have vertigo.
I turn and he’s gone. An alarm goes off. The Bank. It’s Fourth Street.
I pounce, just as doors burst open. Landing on him, I wink, “Thought I was busy did you?”
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Ha!! Love it!!
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very nice much enjoyed x
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That’s great. Love the “ant” twist on Spidey!!! “A bit like Spidey” without the regimen. Hahahahahhaa!
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Lol! Love it.
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Nice!
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Funny!
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I Am Death, Too — The Unauthorized Sequel
She came to the end of the alley. Dead-end. How ironic.
Teary-eyed, she banged against the window glass. “Please help!” she screamed. “Death tried to give me his business card!” But the staff at the Daily Planet saw her, red-eyed in her ex-boyfriend’s wrinkled clothes, and took her for just another drug-addled tramp.
The figure approached her once more. “I am death,” he repeated.
She fell to her knees, sobbing. “I want to live.” Quietly, she folded her hands before her. “I’ve never asked you for anything, but if you’re listening, please save me, Superman.”
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oh my gosh. I am laughing so hard I can’t breathe.
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nice x
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Me, too. Funnier if you know the authorized prequel, but still amusing if you don’t. 😉
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DEATH TRIED TO GIVE ME HIS BUSINESS CARD!!!!! –I’m still gasping. You’re not right in the head.
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HIlarious! The perfect sequel.
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Bwah ha ha, this is great, especially since I’d read Rebekah’s story. Hee hee hee.
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I feel more sorry for the guy in this scenario…I hope Superman can save the day.
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He’s not that far off the ground. you can see some guys face in the window
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Absolutely rolling with the ‘Death tried to give me his business card!”
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NO!!! Don’t you people see how sad that is??? It is awful that she doesn’t understand him. Think of how he feels! To be rejected and not understand because you’re deaf? This is very good fiction to get me so worked up about it, and in 100 words or less! You are a very talented writer; the moral of the story upset me. Not you, but the story. Thank you for writing such a good piece.
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Anti-climaxed
For flip sake this hanging around is a pain in the ass, didn’t even get my clothes of this time. Wish I was bloody spider-man or batman or somebody that would make this scaling the building bit easier. This is how I make my living making lonely housewives and girlfriends happy, when your man is not doing his job I am.
No payment coming my way today as I hear my client moaning in ecstasy. I should be paid danger money, or at least be compensated for this anti-climax, so to speak. Nearly down, no don’t open the window, aaaargh.
#sorry it’s no good
@susanOReilly3
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Maybe time for him to consider a career change….?? LOL
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lol rebekah thanks x
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Lol. Superpowers would definitely make it easier to be a building-scaling gigolo.
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defo thanks mimi x
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The title is amazing.
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thanks holly x
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Oh, this was great 🙂
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ah cheers steph x
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Tamara Shoemaker
@TamaraShoemaker
Word Count: 100 on the nose
Reflections
Mirror, mirror,
What do you see?
Scars and pockets,
When looking at me?
A twisted nose that’s broken twice
Sagging jawline, eyes of ice?
Lips that hide a chipped, black tooth—
One dark loner in a beer-stained booth—
Freckles that dot a sun-burned face,
Flesh and flab and sweat and trace,
Feeble or fat, heavy or thin,
You think you know what lies within.
Your smooth face reflects with glee
Every foible that you see.
All you show is lines of dust,
Black, dark windows covered with rust.
No one sees, not even you,
The superhero that hides from view.
This week: I finished the first book of my second fantasy trilogy and sent it off to test-readers, and now I’m still living off the adrenaline of such an event. Can’t wait to see the book on the market!
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Brilliant poem and what an exciting moment. Good luck with the book.
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Thanks! Yes, such an exciting moment! Who was it who said, “I don’t enjoy writing. I enjoy having written.” I’ve seen the quote attributed to George R.R. Martin, and to others as well. I DO enjoy writing, but there’s nothing quite like the adrenaline spike of finishing the final draft of a massive piece of work and sitting back in satisfaction. Or in my case, opening a box of celebratory chocolate… 😉
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gr8 poem good luck with the book x
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I love this! It’s what’s on the inside that counts, huh? 🙂 ❤ Beautiful.
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Thanks, Alissa! So true, right? So many superheroes all around us that get skipped over because they don’t look like Superman… 🙂
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Love this 🙂 superheros all 🙂
Lots good luck with your book.
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Thanks muchly! Sure appreciate it! 🙂 Hope to see you back again.
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This is beautiful. I’ve always believed that heroes are everywhere, we just don’t notice because they seem so ordinary. Good luck with your book! How exciting!
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Pretty poem. Congrats on your book!
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Oh, Mz. Tams, to have your writing abilities. You got mad skillz, grrl.
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Grrl, you ain’t riiite. 😉 Lol! Shanksh!
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Nice take. Congrats on finishing your book.
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Katie Morford
@KLMorford
100 words
Playing superhero seemed easier when I was 5. I look down. First mistake. My sweaty fingers slide on grit, threatening to spatter me on the sidewalk like the egg congealing in my frying pan.
“Okay, honey?”
My girlfriend’s worried voice resembles Minnie Mouse. I wiggle the stuck window latch again. Fail.
“Push harder!”
That’s her brother. Why isn’t he clinging to a building like a chubby orangutan? Because I’m the boyfriend playing Spiderman. I summon my manly indignation and the catch springs free.
I grin down, sweat dripping off my nose, and she beams. “I knew you could do it.”
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Aw! The things we do for love. 🙂 Love the details and imagery. Great job!
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lol nice x
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Haha I know, right? Thanks, glad you enjoyed!
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I laughed at “clinging to a building like a chubby orangutan.” What a great image!
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Pretty sure that’s what I would look like clinging to the side of a building…lol
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Aw 🙂
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Found this quite sweet.
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Thanks! I had fun going with the romantic twist on the superhero idea…fitting for February!
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Paycheck
“Metropolis Sewage.”
“That’s not bad. Doesn’t your guy fly?”
“Sure. But his arch-nemesis dug out a whole mega-mansion beneath the city.”
“Oh. Bummer.”
“Yeah. Took us like five thousand tons of dirt from across the tri-state region to build it back up again. When it rains, sometimes green sludge still oozes out the manholes.”
“That stinks.”
“Yeah, literally. Ever smell moldy kryptonite? I’d rather bathe in skunk juice.”
“Disgusting.”
“Seriously. Found a diamond necklace, once, though, which was cool.”
“Nice.”
“So, I clearly win, right?”
“Well…”
“Aw, c’mon. How bad can your job be?”
“Guano collector.”
“Where?”
“Gotham.”
“Never mind.”
@postupak, 100 fully authorized words
I’m working on a 2,000 word story today–a bit freakish for me as I’m so accustomed to flash. What does one DO with all those extra words?! 500 words of story, 1500 words of scenery???
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Perhaps it’s a toss-up? They both seem pretty bad to me! Hehehehehehe! Somebody’s gotta do it, I guess.
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nice enjoyed x
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Bwah ha ha!
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Lol! I don’t want either of their jobs, but guano collector in Gotham just sounds so much more disgusting.
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I don’t want either of those jobs!
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When in doubt, more scenery and sensory details! lol I always felt like that writing my college papers…a 500-word paper…and I said what needed to be said in 200. lol
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WELL WOULD YOU LOOK AT THAT PINK AND BLUE, NO GREEN, HEY, MAYBE IT’S ACTUALLY A SOFT LIGHT GENTLE HILLY PURPLE NOW THAT I THINK OF IT… dragon.
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That’s an employment aspect I’d never considered before!
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Everybody wants to be the superhero; nobody wants to clean up after.
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I mean, seriously. Did Emily Elizabeth never consider this when adopting Clifford as a pet???
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Hilarious! Guano collector in Gotham 😀
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Haha – sounds like a busy man!
You should write a 500 word flash fiction, then write a sequel, then a treequel, then pop a prequel in there. Presto – 2000 words! 😉
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Caught in the Act
“What precisely are you doing up there?”
Aaron froze. Of course the headmistress had caught him, she had some sort of sixth sense regarding misbehaving students, but he had hoped to make it a little higher before she arrived. Below him, Nick was wearing his best innocent bystander impression, despite the fact that this whole plan had been his idea. Above him, Jamie had vanished from sight. And he was left grasping for a sensible reason why he was currently clinging to Mr Nicholson’s window. With a sigh he began his descent.
“Would you believe I was sleepwalking?” He improvised.
(I haven’t written fiction in a long time, so hope this isn’t too awful.)
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Welcome back to the glorious world of fiction! was your first foray fun?? Like riding a bike, right…??
Love the concept–and a very funny clincher. Mischievous boys!
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great x
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Great last line! I thought your story was well done and enjoyed your take on the prompt.
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Hah! Great ending.
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Sounds like the sort of thing kids I work with would get up to! Made me chuckle.
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‘You think you are special? I was leaping tall buildings before you were even born’ Kent shouts.
Silence from above as the city grinds and wheels its way through the day.
‘I SAID, think you are special?’
The figure turns ‘You can see me?’
‘Of course I can see you – you, you WANNABE!’
High above the figure turns further, squints down into the canyon of the street below, sees the irate Kent clearly looking at him. Mutters ‘Oh no’ as he inches higher.
‘My cloak of invisibility must have’ breathes heavily, reaches higher, misses his footing, grabs too late.
‘Slippppppppppppppppppped.’
Twitter: @feclarkart
Blog: http://www.feclarkart.com/blog
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HILARIOUS. “My cloak of invisibility must have…. Slippppppppppppppppped.” So funny. As is the image of a mad, jealous Superman. Who knew!
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Hi Rebekah – thanks 🙂 Yup even Superman got the green-beastie-eyes! This was fun – thanks very much, hope to be back.
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lol x
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LOL!!!! Love this. I can’t find MY cloak of invisibility. It keeps disappearing on me… 😉
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Thanks Tamara 🙂 oh for a cloak of invisibility!
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I was going to wear my camouflage trousers today but I couldn’t find them…
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I love the image of old-timer Superman feeling a little threatened by some young upstart! Too funny.
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Hello Mimi – thank you 🙂 even superheros are human (?) 🙂
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I can hear his voice getting quieter as he’s falling, hehe.
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Lol – thanks for commenting Holly – this was fun 🙂
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What? Jealous superhero – funny. I like the ‘you, you WANNABE!’
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giggles – this was fun. Loved the slippppppppppppppppppppppppppppped!
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He’s not a superhero, he’s a very naught boy
He is a pain in the posterior. No, really. He says he’s a superhero but he’s a deaf wassock. Ok he has the T shirt and the tights and he’s in the papers, not that I believe that guff. The pictures? Photoshopped probably. I heard his cape is sponsored.
Every time I say, ‘I’m here to clean the windows’ he just picks me up and puts me on the pavement with a breezy ‘You’re safe now, sir.’
‘What about my kit?’
But he’s gone, saving some kiddy. Once again I’m left to play at being Spider-Man.
A total prannock.
@geofflepard
geofflepard.com
100 words, give or take none
This week it’s the final edit of second book before it goes to the real editor to scour for typos, nonsense etc.
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Cracking up: “What about my kit?” LOL! Brilliant. Congrats yourself on closing in on the end of your book! So exciting!! 🙂
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gr8 x
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“He says he’s a superhero but he’s a deaf wassock.” HYSTERICAL. That needs to be on a bumper sticker.
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thanks Rebekah; it’s at the printers
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I really enjoyed this. The line about his cape being sponsored cracked me up. Well done.
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thanks Reg!https://widgets.wp.com/notifications/1660096059#
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“He’s not a superhero, he’s a very naught boy”
Andy Parsons was a window cleaner before he became a stand-up comedian. Who knew?!
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I suppose that’s why he gets such a shine on his pate…
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Love it.
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Thank you Holly
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Oh I love the idea of the being ‘saved’ when you’re only trying to do your job. Some wonderful phrases in this piece. Haven’t heard the term ‘wassock’ for a long time -grew up in the Midlands where I remember hearing it, but they don’t seem to use it down south.
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Thanks Steph. Funny what phrases come to you, isn’t it? It’s James Blunt’s recent rant that reminded me of it.
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Commitment Issues
by Alissa Leonard
@lissajean7
100 words (It started at 228…that was brutal.)
“Sasha! I’m not finished –”
“I can’t have this conversation, Cade.”
“You can’t climb a building every time I bring it up.”
“I can.”
“I could snap a picture right now – sell it to the newspapers.”
“Empty threat.”
True. “Fine. Then I’m coming after you this time.”
“Get back in the room! You’ll kill yourself!”
“No. I have something to say, and you’re going to listen.”
“We’re not having this conversation.”
“Yes we are!”
Slip.
Catch.
He smiles. “I love you.”
“You almost killed yourself.”
“You could’ve let me fall.”
“No. I couldn’t.”
“Why?”
She grimaces. “….I love you too.”
This week: Juggling ALL THE STORIES!!! I’m working on my third edit of my YA fantasy novel, making planning breakthroughs on my MG fantasy novel, editing a first chapter to send to a free professional edit that I won, and working on an application for a grant. 🙂
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LOVE that last line!!!!! love and a grimace. HAHAHAHAHA! so great.
and WOW, what a huge writerly week you’ve got. Congrats on the edit win, and huge best wishes on the grant!
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Thanks!!! I had fun with the last line. It took a while to get there though. The grimace wasn’t in the original…but it should’ve been!
And hopefully I’ll make progress on the writerly stuff. I set my gaze high…and get to much less than I want. 🙂
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But it’s the whole, aim at the ground and you’ll hit it every time, right?? LOL Love that you’re aiming so high. Can’t wait for you to have that grant acceptance letter in your hands.
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Aw, that was sweet. Sounds like you’re having a busy week!
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Untitled. The picture and challenge remind me of my daughter, whose story I’ve tried to write before only to discover I can’t find the right words. Today’s prompt helped me find words I like, even if they aren’t perfect. 🙂
@twinkieconfit
99 words
Look at her. She’s just a little girl, a spray of freckles across her button nose and round cheeks. She flits across the grass. Her laughter fills the air. She is lovely and joyful in the way of all children.
But look closer. She walks on knives, and her knees shriek in protest as she moves. The small hands tossing that ball burn with constant aching. Unrelenting pain is her constant companion and nemesis.
And yet, she smiles. Every day she scales cliffs, defying her disease to embrace life. Nothing holds her back. She’s small, but she’s a superhero.
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Oh, Mimi. What a beautiful, painful, wonderful story. So very good.
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Thank you!
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absolutely gorgeous x
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This is beautiful. Painfully beautiful. Thank you for sharing it.
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Thank you!
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Poignant but inspiring. Thank you for sharing this with us, Mimi. I’m sure your daughter will continue to strive against adversity with such loving support. God bless you both.
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Thank you! I’m also sure she’ll do fine. She’s an amazing kid, and she’s taught me so much about acceptance, perseverance in the face of adversity, and courage.
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Ooooh – I do love this, and so true 🙂
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Bittersweet, lovely story.
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Beautiful, tear-inspiring story!
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Thank you!
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This was wonderful, just the right mix of little details and inspiration. You painted a vivid picture in 100 words, she sounds like a superstar 🙂
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Thank you!
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In A Lather.
@CliveNewnham
That’s the trouble with multidimensional universes. You walk through one door and – kabam! – you’re hanging by your fingertips from a one-way mirror with a forest of green nails way below… perspective’s all wrong too. And worse, I ain’t dressed for this; left my briefs and cloak washing in the laundrette the other side of this glass. No way can I fly from this.
I should have guessed it was a trap; should never have walked out for a dime for the drier.
My beat-‘em-up powers are in a spin and I am defenceless against my old adversary, Supersuds.
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Is this related to the Issue of Socks and Zippy the Pinhead’s assertion that laundry is the fourth dimension?
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Great ending!
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ah beautiful x
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Free Running Commentary
“…once again Peter Jenkins’ position as ‘New York Free Runner of the Year’ proves unassailable as he finishes his phenomenal display with a 150 meter vertical climb up the marble face of the Daily Bugle Building. Small wonder that this guy’s adoring fans have nicknamed him “Peter Parkour”! How does he manage to maintain his grip on such a sheer…”
The TV commentator’s paean of praise, playing in his head, is cut short by a reverberating tirade.
“Jenkins-ins-ins! This is your last warning-ing-ing. Quit playing Spider-Man-an-an! Pick up those recycled windows-ows-ows and stack ’em against the loading bay wall-all-all. NOW-OW-OW!!”
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My week is going, one day at a time.
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Sorry! Forgot Twitter handle… @GeoffHolme
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I know it’s not a contest but may I change the last para, please, Dragon Lady?
“Jenkins-ins-ins! This is your last warning-ing-ing. Quit playing Spider-Man-an-an! Pick up those recycled windows-ows-ows and stack ’em against the loading bay wall-all-all. NOW-OW-OW!!”
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Done!
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Thanks, guys. I was beginning to think that nobody understood the references! 😉
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Peter Parkour! Lol!! I can just hear the boss, exasperated, yelling at Jenkins. Love it.
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Hah! This is great!
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#LikeAGirl – 100 words
Margaret Locke (@Margaret_Locke or margaretlocke.com)
He’d always wanted to be a superhero.
At four, he’d worn his Batman mask for days, sheet tied around his neck. At eight, he’d pretended if he ran fast enough, he could beat The Flash. At fourteen, he’d longed to transform into The Hulk, just to show all those jackasses at school.
At thirty, he’d sat in the hospital room, holding his wife’s hand, smoothing her brow, encouraging her to breathe, and push. Breathe, and push.
When the first wails of his daughter echoed around that chamber and straight into his heart, he knew at last what true heroism was.
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Oh. My week? Well, I was sick yesterday, and very sadly missed our once-a-month critique group meeting. Still have a headache, but the week can only get better, right?
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so cute i used 2 pretend 2 b the bionic woman showin my aGE lol x
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How true this is!!! Love the idea of a superhero Daddy/Husband. Hope you get to feeling better soon. We sure missed your fun personality last night at the critique group!
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Or was the superhero the Mummy/Wife? Either way, a heartwarming tale, Margaret.
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Good point, Geoff. I’m getting vibes of Mr. Incredible and Elastogirl. Must run in the family… 😉
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Ha. I guess he is a superhero, but I was also going for him seeing his WIFE as a superhero for bringing life into the world. 🙂
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Awww. Shoot. ❤
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Awww, I love this. Hope you feel better soon.
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Adorable.
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Love this one! Daddy IS a superhero!
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The Reluctant Hero
Ryan’s heart skipped a beat when he lost his footing for a second. He didn’t want to be hanging off the side of the side of the building, but there was no other choice. Somebody had to be a hero.
He’d been eating dinner when he heard the crash and saw the rubble fall past his window. When it was safe, he poked his head out the window and looked up.
Ryan sighed when he saw legs protruding from the side of his building
“Dammit Superman,” he yelled. “You really need to be wearing your glasses when you’re flying around!”
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Clark Kent needs new prescription glasses… 😉 Lol! Nicely done.
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lol nice x
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“X-ray Specs” Har! Har! Nice take, Reg!
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“Dammit Superman,” — I think I need to adopt this as something to just say randomly around the house.
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Totally another bumper sticker!!!! though maybe for planes this time?
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Thanks everyone! Maybe we can get a deal on bumper stickers if we can get enough content. Although bumper stuckers for a plane might be kind of big and expensive to have made.
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Lol! What a hilarious image. Nicely done.
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Awesome.
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So the question is, can Superman have LASIK?
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100 words (duh)
@betsystreeter
“You’re gonna fall.”
“There’s not enough of a handhold. You can’t do that.”
“Are you crazy? That will never work.”
“What are you doing that for?”
“Who do you think you are, Spider-Man?”
“You’re gonna fall.”
You’re right. I’m gonna fall. Lots of times. I’m gonna fall, and then I’m gonna get up. And then I’m gonna fall again.
I will probably hurt myself, more than once. I might have to take a break sometimes. Clear my head. Heal up.
But then I will be back.
And you will be standing there, spitting useless words. While I leave you behind.
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This week I’m watching advance reviews coming in for “Silverwood” which is nerve-wracking and exciting at the same time – gaaaaa!
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Why the worry? you paid everybody already, right????
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Love the last line.
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Defender
Yeah, like the Superman is going to save me. I must protect my family.
There was that ominous knock on the door, but I don’t get paid till next week. Taking stairs is out of the question, so I climb this thin pipe secured to the building by flimsy clamps. I can hear the baby wailing in his crib. Maggie looks at me with hope-filled eyes. “Quick, make it to the roof! The fire-ladder should be there.” I must evade the usurer’s flaming words and ember in his eyes.
He won’t hurt the baby or a woman. I must believe.
100 words
@needanidplease
This week, I am trying to finish a poem and work on my web site.
https://theliterarynest.wordpress.com/
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I love the way this flows.
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The Great Escape
Tightly gripping the drain pipe, James looked around for a way out. The only option was to pull a Spiderman, climbing to the roof to escape. It was risky, but one thing was certain.
He was far safer out here than in there.
He had barely escaped the inferno raging inside the apartment. Heat had seared his ears as he dashed through the apartment, trying to find a way out. But there was none, except the window.
Climbing higher, James thought to himself; “next time, I have to remember to put the seat down when I’m finished in the bathroom.”
I’m not sure if there’s a limit to two stories as with Fridays. I apologize if we are only supposed to post one story for warm-up Wednesdays.
How’s my week? It’s ok, nothing great, nothing terrible, just looking forward to Friday because it’s payday and a long weekend. (Although I did score a bunch of goals at ball hockey last night, so I do feel kind of “superheroish,” LOL) Hopefully I’ll get ahead on some other writing projects I’m working on and have some fun this weekend.
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No limits at all! submit as many as you’d like. –and that is an AWESOME finish there. Can I get an Amen….
Congrats on the goals last night. “A bunch” sounds EXACTLY like a superhero.
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Thanks Rebekah! I needed to make up for my lack of goals while playing ice hockey last weekend, so I took advantage of a rookie goalie at ball hockey, so maybe it was more “supervillianish” when i actually think about it.
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Tomato/tomahto…
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Safer out there, indeed. 🙂
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Love the ending! I think that one of Supermans weekend jobs should be flying around putting all the toilet seats down in the blink of an eye, to protect men everywhere from their poor aim and forgetful tendencies 😉
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Another amen! Can we make a motion at the next Superhero convention?
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Nimbly, like only a shape-shifter could, she scrambled up the side of the building. Fingers grabbed at red-cream stone, feet kicking, climbing towards highest window. Sand-filled wind clutched-grabbed at her russet clothes. The only way she could reach the Khalne faster, would be to fly. But people tend to watch the sky when there is talk of dragons. As soon as there is a new enemy to fear, people seem to forget they feared others who are different as well. She opened the window and slipped inside. To the one inside she handed the knife that could spill dragon blood.
Though not exactly superheroes, there are shape-shifters in my one WIP, called the Tellerassar. The week has not been as productive as I would like, but included writing an article about power cuts for a client by candlelight during loadshedding! We were not amused. I’m also making some progress with the WIP I started during Nanowrimo last year and, of course, getting ready for Friday’s writing prompt…
@CarinMarais http://www.hersenskim.blogspot.com
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Game Over
@colin_d_smith
http://www.colindsmith.com/blog
“This is awesome, dude!”
I could hear Michael’s voice in my headset.
“This virtual reality is… so real. Genius! I’m Spiderman!”
Yes you are.
I flicked the switch to mute the microphone.
“How long will the hypnosis last?” I asked Peter. He seemed pleased with his accomplishment, and the wad of bills in his back pocket. If this works, it will be worth every penny.
“Until you say the key phrase: ‘Game Over.’”
I nodded and watched the man who just got away with raping my best friend’s girl scale higher and higher.
The twentieth floor should do the trick.
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Great story, I really liked your take on the prompt. Love the key phrase!
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Thanks, Reg! 🙂
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O, Victory; The Roof
@hollygeely
Victory is like a wall. Once you reach the top you’ve made it and no one can stop you.
Unless they push you over the edge. Then you’d die. That’s what defeat is like – remember that, Wall Boy. Write it down. “Defeat is like being pushed off a roof.”
What do you mean, what’s my point?
As my sidekick you’re going to do a lot of climbing. No, not metaphorically. I conduct most of my fighting on rooftops. “Rooftop Woman” wouldn’t be a good name, otherwise.
One last piece of advice before we start:
Don’t let anyone push you off.
*
My blog is the Holly Geely link you see there next to my pretty holly-berry-face. As for my week – so far it’s splendid. I’ve been trying to write a (really rough) short story a day and so far I’m 3 for 3 (thanks to this little drabble).
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What a fun and challenging goal!!! What made you decide to write a story a day? Is it indefinitely, or for a set period of time?
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Indefinitely, as long as I can…though I will probably skip weekends as I can get busy. I find that I write better if I write continuously, but after finishing one novel (and having nowhere to put it) I decided short stories are the way to go!
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gr8 x
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Like it. Feeling a bit inadequate at present as everyone seems to be achieving all their ‘writerly’ goals; family, work and exhaustion seriously affecting what little time I have 😦
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Sometimes life gets in the way, there’s no help for it. Batteries need charging and all that. I’ve been meeting my goal, sure, but I also truly believe that there’s no harm in taking a break…I don’t like doing it if it isn’t fun.
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Oh, dear Steph, join the club!!! I love flash and am writing that fairly regularly, but my novel’s a DISASTER, and I’m frustrated about it every single day. So for now I’m just trying to do a little writerly bit a day, no matter what it is. The journey of a thousand miles and all that…. Anyway, you are definitely NOT alone. Rest your heart. The writing will come.
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That’s partly what I’m using the flash comps for, it makes me feel I’m keeping my hand in whilst juggling everything else – and I do see a bit of light. I work in a school and it’s half-term soon so that’ll give me a week to do something a bit longer. 🙂
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Nice twist! I enjoyed the take on the photo.
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Eternal
100 words
@ el_Stevie
No windows open on my twin-souled self
As I climb to the surface, peer out at a world
That cannot see behind my mask.
My strength lies in what I hide,
Pride impounded in a metal shell,
An Iron Man, unyielding force at war
With gathering hordes who crawl
Across an innocent landscape
Forever fighting that old fight
First found in Eden.
A creeping darkness, seeping
Into hearts and minds,
Finding its foothold in weakness,
Its followers in ignorance,
Its sustenance in greed.
And a breeding enemy against which
I seek to redress the balance
Is reborn a million times.
Haven’t concentrated much on writing poetry in recent times which was how I got into writing in the first place so thought I’d give it a go. I’d forgotten how much I enjoyed playing with words and ideas in this format. 🙂
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The Bet
“Are you sure about this Bruce?”
“Yeah, do it like Spiderman would.”
Robin shook his head and started climbing to the rooftop. Swear rolled off his forehead and splattered on the pavement far below.
“Is this really necessary?”
“Yes!”
As Robin inched his way up the drain pipe, he muttered under his breath. He lost it for a second when his foot slipped and he dangled off the pipe.
“You know, this is why we use grappling hooks!”
“You lost the bet, no grappling hooks allowed!”
Laughter echoed through the city streets.
Batman could be such an asshole at times.
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Love that last line! It’s too much fun to ‘humanize’ our heros 😀
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Superhero Blues
100 words on da nose
personalvapes@gmail.com
You think you’ve got a rough life? Let me tell you…
I fight crime. I’m good at it. Phenomenal, if I do say so myself. It’s a gift from something mysterious…I’d tell you more, but I’d compromise my secret identity. You understand, don’t you?
Sooooo – I’m scaling this wall.
Why? Do you ask the chicken why he crosses the road?
So, up this wall I go…and out of nowhere, this kid comes slinging a hard rubber ball. Smack! Hits me right in the small of the back.
My chiropractor isn’t covered by insurance. It’s no joy havin’ the Superhero blues.
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There really should be a few more spaces between the last line of the story, and the little diddy of how the day is going. Mistress Dragon…can you delete the last line? I’ll drop it down here to separate.
Can you tell I’m in a goofy mood today? I just got notice that I’m officially buying a house!
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AND by the way–congrats on the house!!!!! wow!! that’s a superpower of its own these days.
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Much appreciated, Rebekah!
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Ha! Great humor, I can picture the character getting hit by the ball! Awesome last line too.
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Thanks Reg!
This one started out as a blusey song – but I couldn’t get my rhyme on. Saved the last line, started anew.
I can still hear the dan-DAN-dan-dan-DA of the horns wailing thorugh my head.
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Buzz off
I hate that spider man. He get’s all the press and the girls, but no-one ever talks about how he’s always stalking me, doing his best to string me up and eat me. Even now all the kids are pointing up at the building and taking his photo. They think he’s climbing up here to help a damsel in distress, but he’s not, it’s because he found out this is where I’ve been hiding. I’m not hurting anyone, all I’ve ever asked for is a big pile of warm dung to call my own. It’s not easy being Fly Guy!
@todayschapter
https://www.facebook.com/CraigAndersonAuthor
We just moved house so every night involves some kind of treasure hunt to find essential items, last night it took me 25 minutes to find the potato masher. It was in the box with all the dishcloths, because of course that’s the logical place for it to be! I wonder what exciting adventure awaits me when I get home tonight? Let the quest for the steak knives begin 🙂
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Nice, I like how you looked at Spiderman from a different perspective. I feel for you being in a state of slight disorder due to moving, I hate that part of getting settled in a new house. Perhaps your quest should be centered on finding the phone book and ordering in? Good luck with getting settled, hoipefully it won’t take long.
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Thanks Reg. A big part of it is remembering the new homes for everything. Takeaway sounds like a good idea!
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By the way, you have a really great facebook page (I had to check it out).
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Lost potato masher? Sounds like a job for… Inspector Gadget!
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“Darr the Dark”
Inching upward, David calculated every step—he could not make a mistake. He imagined that millions of viewers sat crouched hovering over their hot motherboards forgoing dinner with family—to watch him.
Today, “Darr the Dark” would leap from one window sill to the next—unaided—from the hundredth floor of the Statue of Liberty. He dubbed the stunt “The Liberator.”
Dumping a million dollars into prying old secrets from poisonous crypts and clown schools had left him with three dollars to his name. He had to make it count.
Five! Four! Three! Two! One!
Airborne—
Brown chalk, no signal.
@blurosemd
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“eX-Man”
by Michael Seese
100 words
I hate my job. Crawling up buildings. Hopping across rooftops. And for what? To rid this city of pests.
Things sure changed around here when Peter and Mary Jane got married. You’d think, for obvious reasons, that they couldn’t have kids. They sure proved the entomologists wrong. And, unfortunately, the spider that bit Peter Parker was a from the Argiope family. They can have up to 1,500 eggs.
At least it keeps me employed.
I had just settled down to watch a movie when I heard a scream.
OK, I’ll say it. This looks like a job for eXterminator Man.
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Saviour
If I can hang on a bit longer, he’ll come. He always comes to save people. He’ll come to save me.
I bet he’ll come with style too. He’ll fly in, not a strand of hair out of place, cape fluttering on muscular shoulders.
He’ll hover for a moment and offer some idiotic line before plucking me off the side of the building.
He’ll be vulnerable, I’ll finally get close enough to strike. I’ve got a piece of kryptonite with his name on it.
That’ll fix him for stealing Lois from me.
That red caped, underwear wearing, girlfriend stealing bastard.
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Life is a Great Big Bang Up
“It’s him, I tell you.”
“No, it’s just some guy who’s gonna get himself killed.”
“But look at him. I tell you, that’s Spiderman.”
“Where’s his suit?”
“I dunno. At the cleaners?”
“Wouldn’t he have a spare? Besides, he couldn’t take his suit to the cleaners.”
“Why not?”
“Well, he’d have to give his name, wouldn’t he? Then, the dry cleaner would know his secret identity.”
“What difference would that—Uh, oh.”
“Oh man. Should we call 9-1-1?”
“Buddy, you okay?”
[Groan]
“Who did you think you were? Spiderman?”
[Groan] “I am Spiderman.”
“Yeah, right.”
“My suit’s at the cleaners.”
@unspywriter (Maggie Duncan)
unexpectedpaths.com
You probably don’t want to know how my week is going. It started off with a friend’s sudden death on Sunday and continued with a neighbor who lost her fetus one month away from delivery. I’d like to have a 2015-thus-far do-over.
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I’m sorry to hear that 2015 got off to such a bad start for you. I hope that things only get better for you as the year goes on. However I reaqlly enjoyed your story. I really appreciated the humor and thought that the way you used dialogue to tell it was well done.
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Thank you! I love doing dialogue stories.
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Ditto what Reg said; an absolutely horrifying time, and I am so very sorry for your pain. Sending you hugs across the (too many) miles.
And your story is awesome.
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Thanks. For the hugs, too.
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“Tighty whities do not make you a superhero,” Irena said, refusing to turn around.
“They do if I wear them like a cape…” Baldur announced, his voice suddenly much deeper than usual.
“Nope…” Irena said, averting her eyes and exiting stage left, which is to say, she went into the kitchen. She was determined to ignore him. Anything else, he’d take as encouragement. Actually, ignoring him he took as not only encouragement, but as a cue to work harder.
She heard him humming “Ride of the Valkyries.”
Then it stopped.
She went back to the foyer.
It was too late.
~*~
OK…so more inspired by the ‘superhero’ part than the picture, but it’s all in fun lol!
@USNessie
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And here’s yet ANOTHER phrase we need on a bumper sticker!!! “Tighty whities do not make you a superhero.” HAHAHAHHAAHHAHAA! that was awesome.
–and yes, nobody’s tighty whities are in knots here; it’s all in fun, and I can’t really think of anything that would DQ a story unless, I dunno, somebody dared go on an anti-dragon rant or something. But I’m SURE such a thing would never happen. –How’s your week going? So great to see you here!
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Busy week! I’m almost done with Revision 02 of a duology. The ending was the most tangled part. I have one more scene to untangle tomorrow, then it’s off to beta readers!
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How big are these tighty whities thatt they can be worn as a cape? lol, The other question I have is: if you wear your tighty whities over a brightly colored skin tight jumpsuit, does that make you a superhero?
All tighty whitey jokes aside, I really enjoyed your piece and got a chuckle out of it.
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Who says he’s wearing the tighty whities OVER anything? ;P
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Mateo, get down from there this instant!
I don’t care. We don’t scale structures like that. You’re going to break your fool neck.
Don’t “Oh, Mom” me. Another trip to the ER and CPS will drag you away. A foster family’s not going to tolerate your wall-scrambling shenanigans. And I guarantee you won’t like their cooking.
But you’re not Spiderman.
Honey, you don’t need to pretend. You’re amazing without being Spiderman.
Please don’t make me use “because I said so”. I vowed I’d never be that mom.
Thank you.
Now, watch carefully. This is how we scale a building facade…
@rowdy_phantom
http://necwrites.wordpress.com
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TOTALLY AWESOME clincher, turned the story on its head. Love, love.
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A Tangled Web
Jim simultaneously fell off the bed and slipped on his pants when he heard Mark’s voice echoing from the front door. Maria’s husband was home an hour early. A little like Spidey, Jim gracefully climbed out, clinging to the window frame. There his webbed fingers felt super glued. Inside, Maria’s panic raised Mark’s suspicions. When he saw a stray crew sock, he ran out the door shouting obscenities. For Jim, suspended for five minutes seemed like hours. An ache began from his fingernails to his toes. Knowingly doomed, he prepared a strategic plan to jump when he saw Mark’s reflection.
@juliejensen14
Julie Jensen
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HA! I wondered if anyone would use that reflection!!! LOVE that kind of out-of-the-box thinking. Awesome.
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