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 |  For the 30 Day Image Prompt Contest |
My entries for
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** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** At the reading of the will I had received the same small sum from my uncle as had his other nephews and nieces. But in addition, the lawyer had pulled me aside and given me a small package. "Your uncle wanted you to have this." I waited until I got home, undressed, showered, and ate supper before I set the package on the desk before me. It said "For Steve" on it in my uncle's handwriting. We had exchanged a number of letters over the years. We both loved writing. He was a published author; I was an amateur dabbler. He often encouraged me to make more of an effort, but I guess I am just naturally lazy. Inside the package was a small ring box like jewelers use, but there was no ring inside. Instead, there was a large blue capsule and an inscription: Place capsule in glass of hot water and allow to dissolve. What then? Was I supposed to drink it? Pour it on my head? Feed it to my pets? Water the houseplants with it? It was frustrating that my uncle assumed I would know what to do. With a sigh, I filled a glass with hot water and dropped in the capsule. At least I could follow what directions I did have. The capsule seemed to melt away in the water. There was no color, so the end result was a glass of what looked like plain water. I wondered if I should taste it? I lacked the courage to even put my tongue in the stuff, but I didn't want to throw it out. So I found an empty jar, poured the water into it, labeled it Uncle's Blue Capsule and put it in the refrigerator. Maybe I should send it to a chemistry lab to be analyzed? That night I had strange dreams, all of them about the blue capsule. Sometimes it transformed into a monster, sometimes into a guardian angel. Once it was a genie who granted three wishes. Once it was an elf who guided me through an enchanted wood. When I woke up the next morning I was exhausted. I felt like I had just lived through a lifetime of adventures. Many of the stories were still buzzing around in my head so I sat down and began typing. By that evening I had three stories completed and to me they were some of the best writing I had ever done. The next morning I mailed them off to three different publishers. While I was waiting for a reply, I had an idea for a novel and began working on an outline for it. I also wrote several more short stories and a dozen poems. When the three stories I had already submitted came back accepted, you could have knocked me over with a feather. That was yesterday. So you see, I just had to write you and tell you the news. I am forever grateful for the love and friendship you have given me over the years. Your loving nephew, Steve . . . |
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** The boy who could make his ice cream grow lived on my street. Frankly, I was afraid of him. It was too unnatural what he could do. He had to be possessed by something strange and quite possibly evil. Looking back, I should have been his friend instead of being a scaredy-cat. I could have had lots of ice cream. I like ice cream. But it's too late now. Time passes on. Curious about what became of that boy of thirty years ago, I did a little research, mainly calling old friends and searching on Google. There wasn't much I could discover about Leroy Timbertoe. He moved from my neighborhood when we were both 11 years old. Nobody seemed to know what became of him. And a Google search for "Leroy Timbertoe" gave back "no results found". I wonder what else he could make grow besides ice cream? What if he could turn one coin into a stack of coins? And what if they were gold coins? Leroy may have become fabulously wealthy, rich enough to buy his own disappearance. He might be living on a private island in the pacific with a fine yacht and a harem of beautiful women, using his wealth to keep his identity and location a secret. Or... he might have eaten something that started to grow inside his stomach causing an abdominal explosion. It was sad to think about his life ending that way. I'm going to assume he's on his yacht watching the sun set over the warm Pacific Ocean and eating all the ice cream anyone could ever want to eat. . . . |
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** It was a rainy night in the city. A 23-year-old woman shouldn't be out on such a night wandering around by herself, but there I was. I had just purchased a new jacket that day, guaranteed to be waterproof, and I wanted to give it a little test. Unfortunately, I forgot to wear a hat or bring an umbrella, so wet strands of my hair were clinging to my face, but I was warm and dry where the jacket covered me. I saw him before he saw me. But before I could turn and walk away, he noticed me. Even in the rain I could see the glint in his eye as he headed toward me. I don't know why I just froze in position. It's true he was very handsome in a bad boy way, but that doesn't explain it. When he was close to me he reached out and grabbed my latest purchase by the lapel. "I want that jacket," he said. His breath was hot on my face. Our eyes were locked together. I couldn't move. It was like he was some big cat with hypnotic powers and I was the small animal about to be eaten. I struggled to find something to say. "You can't have it." Somehow that came out as provocative. My voice was too low, too husky. It was like I was daring him to do more. For a moment I thought he would rip the jacket off of me along with the rest of my clothes. But he just laughed, let go of me, and walked away. I took in a long breath. When had I stopped breathing? Then I ran all the way home and double-locked the door. I was trembling so much I had to make a cup of hot tea before I could settle down. I gazed affectionately at the jacket hung over the chair to dry. So, not only are you waterproof, you attract men. A good purchase. A good purchase indeed. . . . |
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** . When Butch, their dog, ate their daughter Flossie's little kitten, Snowball, the man had no trouble forgiving Butch. Butch often ran wild at night, where he must have munched on a few squirrels and rabbits, so in his eyes small animals were meals. Having never seen a cat before, he probably thought Flossie's kitten was just another food item. The man thought the fault was really his own for not introducing Butch to Snowball properly. Be that as it may, Flossie was devastated. The blood, the mangled fur, Butch licking his lips... It was all too much for the little girl. She cried and cried and cried. "I hate Butch!" she said. "He's a murderer!" The man was sad. Butch had been his dog since before Flossie was born and now the dog was a source of sorrow and despair to his beloved daughter. Perhaps he should give Butch away to another family? But Butch had been such a loyal faithful friend. For days the man anguished over the problem while his daughter remained in a funk, but then one day the man looked out the window to see Flossie standing next to Butch, seeming to either be kissing him or whispering something in his ear. Had all been forgiven? A smile blossomed on the man's face. Perhaps time had solved his problem. After all, no little girl can hate forever. Out in the road, Flossie was quietly whispering into Butch's ear in a hoarse, raspy voice. "You are going to die, you evil dog. You will not see it coming. It will be a horrible death. You will be in agony. You will pay for Snowball's death. You will payyyyy...." . . . |
| . ............. ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** . Wings of Fire, my heart's desire; She walks slanted through the night. Her curves have angles, she wears no bangles, I can only have her if I fight. To gain the smallest snuggle requires heroic struggle; She nearly blinds me with her light. Wings of fire, my heart's desire; Tossing cinders at the night. My autumn passion cools her, calms her, almost fools her Into thinking I am Mister Right. But hearing of my Past, with it's cold and wintry cast, My image subtly changes in her sight. My manner now offends her, when I speak it only sends her Into a sulk that saps my strength and might. I sense our evening's finished, I've become too much diminished, Her opinion knocks me down from such a height! The relationship has broken, the breakup is unspoken, It's all come loose that promised to be tight. Wings of Fire, my heart's desire, Sparks still flying as she disappears into the night. . . . |
| . . .......... ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** . The purple flowers beneath the green trees... Make me sneeze. Who the hell planted them there? What? They are wild? What does that mean exactly? "They are wild." Did they escape from a garden and revert to savagery? Look at that one glaring at me! As if I am the offender, not he! Was he once a tame little fellow - nothing to sneeze at? Now he wears a loincloth and a ridiculous hat And produces wild pollen that gets in my nose, In my hair, on my shirt, on my shoes, on my hose. I am dusted in yellow; he has made me a flower! Perhaps I'm invited to share his quiet bower? What a pair we will make, his stem and my knees; He'll sway back and forth while I watch and sneeze. Our relationship will blossom; we'll bear handsome fruit; I'll buy summer shoes and a fine purple suit. The trees will admire us as we walk through the wood: "Best-looking family in our neighborhood!" Ah-choo! What? Where am I? Did I zone out just now? Are those flowers psychedelic? Hippy says, "Wow!" . . . |
| . ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** . . House on fire! House on fire! Fighting fire in the summer makes a fireman perspire. Fireman Sweat in a bottle at your local store, A spray for emergencies like les flammes de l'amour... I once loved an arsonist, she set me on fire; I called 9-1-1, the situation was dire; But then I remembered that jar in my pocket; I popped off the cap, aimed the spray at my rocket... Ah! The cooling relief of old Fireman's Sweat! That's a purchase I will never regret. . . . |
. . ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** . . I've been asked many times about the red ball on the top of the Pier 39 Carousel. To satisfy the curiosity of any future questioners, I compiled this brief account... August, 1977 - PIER 39 breaks ground. Authentic 1910 wood from Piers 34 and 3 are used to erect the new structure. December, 2008 – Arrival of the new, two-story San Francisco Carousel hand-crafted in Italy. 2007, somewhere in Italy.... LUIGI: Yo, Mario! We need the ball to put on the top of the carousel. MARIO: What? There is no ball? Why is there no ball? Who was supposed to make the ball? LUIGI: I think it was ANTONIO. MARIO: Antonio! Come here right now! Do you know there is no ball for the carousel? ANTONIO: Mama mia! Why do you have to shout everything? Of course there is a ball! Do you think I have forgotten to make the ball? Is that what you think? MARIO: I don't know what to think, Antonio. Everytime I look for you, I find you out in the alley smoking cigarettes and laughing with that whore that works at the bowling alley. ANTONIO: Gina is no whore! You take that back or I swear you will regret it! MARIO: Fine, fine. She is no whore. So this ball? Where is it? We need it now! ANTONIO: And you will have it, Mario. And I will tell you something. It is a fine ball and deserves to be at the top of the carousel. LUIGI: When you put your mind to it, Antonio, you do good work. ANTONIO: Well, I did put my mind to it. You will be happy. And they were happy. And now we have a lovely red ball at the top of the carousel. . . . |
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Water: there is regular, heavy, and light. You already know all about regular water. Heavy water is difficult to lift, but easy to drink. Heavy water is so heavy that gravity pulls it right through you. You drink a glass of it and within 30 seconds you have to pee. But heavy water is only found in nuclear power plants. You cannot buy it. Light water is the opposite: easy to lift but impossible to drink. If you try to swallow light water, you find you cannot! A bottle of light water will float to the top of your pantry. But light water is only found in magic shows and children's imaginations. You cannot buy it. So we recommend you purchase regular water. If you don't have much money, do this: Stand outside on a cloudy day and hope some water falls from the sky. I know that sounds fanciful, but it really does happen. Millions of people satisfy their thirst with this mysterious "sky water". In poor countries they collect it in barrels. In advanced countries, large concrete reservoirs are built that can catch enough sky water to provide for an entire city! Water. There is much more I could tell you about it, but I can see by the glazed look in your eyes that you have heard enough for today. . . . |
| ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** A big British key was given to me. Why? I don't know; no locks do I see. Perhaps in my travels I'll encounter a door. I'll try to unlock it -- drop the key on the floor! As I bend to recover it, someone from behind Will bash on my head -- for a moment I'm blind. When a little time passes and again I can see, I'll discover they stole my big British key! For three days I will cry, then regain my composure, Dust off my knees, try to find closure. But the rest of my life, the memory will haunt me Of how I was robbed of my big British key. . . . |
| ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Stick 'em up, beach bums! Reach for the sky! The sun's going down, soon the moon will be high. You have the misfortune to be out here alone Admiring Mother Nature from this jetty of stone. Now She holds you at gunpoint, requests all your cash -- Oh, you young kids who do something brash -- Know you not that cruel Nature of talon and claw Hides Her ferocity with beauty and awe? You're stuck on the jetty, the tide's coming in... Now don't you wish you had learned how to swim? . . . |
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