Lets play a game.
Wherever you’re sat, whatever you’re doing. Scan the vicinity for the nearest document/book/magazine etc you haven’t written. Pick it up.
If it’s a book turn to page 77,
If it’s a magazine or news paper turn to a page containing the number 3 (3, 13, 23 etc)
If it’s anything else turn to page 4.
Take the tenth, thirty-third and the last word, then pick the longest word you can find on the rest of the page.
Write a story or poem in less than 100 words containing all the words. AND I want to know what the words are when you post your story.
If you want to join in, leave your story in the comments or write your own post and use a ping back so I can find it.
Forgive me not having joined in the last few weeks. I am drowning. I will play next week.
Now to last weeks writespiration and your black outs.
First in, Helen, with another tantalising excerpt from Silver and Black
Fear. It thrums through me, cold as Kyle’s kisses, hot as his touch. I can’t see a thing, but I can hear everything. No matter how I curl myself into a ball, hair hanging forward over my ears, it can’t block out the sounds.
I don’t need super hearing to know what they are doing. I can hear Jessie’s moans becoming more rhythmic, rustles and creaking from the bed. I squeeze my eyes shut, hot tears under my scrunched eyelids.
Asshole. Assholes.
Then I hear a sort of snapping sound, and Jessie gasps, high pitched. Is he…? Would he actually dare, while I’m right f*cking here? The pain in me twists and I gasp too, as though the breath has been punched from me.
He is turning her.
I can hear lapping noises, her moans muffled as she sucks from him, the choked groans he makes. I start to cry, then. Remembering.
This betrayal feels the worst of all. I cry for my mother, that I’ll never see her again. For my father, even his distant love. For the disappointment that I am, weak, easily led, endangering them all. For the fact that I’m going to die here, alone.
Next in Jane, with this reallllly terrifying little snippet from a short story of hers.
The boulevard was gridlocked. Panic turned his guts to water. Without a car they’d never get out of the city. If he stayed in the car, he’d never get home. Swearing violently, he eased himself out the door and into the sea of stationary vehicles and deafening klaxons. He ran, as fast as it was possible to run when a million other people were trying to do the same. It wasn’t late, but black clouds that boiled up from the ocean had already blotted out the light. He couldn’t call the baby-sitter to find out whether she’d picked the kids up from school, or just lit out when she heard the news. No signal.
Heart pounding, he ran, pushing and shoving through the faceless crowd. Home. The bridge was chaos. Refusing to stop he ran over the trapped cars, leaping from roof to bonnet to roof, refused to look at the waves rising like Atlantic breakers, beating the parapet, washing over. He ran. Half way across, a roar louder than Niagara shattered the sky, bringing down a torrent of hail. The lights went out, and the screaming began. The last, long night had fallen.
Geoff in next with a twisted ending I did not see coming.
Bert Hammond knew his job important. Without him Jerry would bring a fiery hell on his corner of East London. Everyone else thought Bert a pain and regretted leaving him to obtain the job as air raid warning. The nicest that was said about Bert was that he was officious. Bert was mostly oblivious to these mutterings. To anyone who asked he pointed to the regulations. Blackouts had to be rigorously enforced.
However a section of the community refused to comply with his encouragement to seal their curtains. Nightly Bert had to identify these egregious non compliances and then report them to the constabulary. The self same local constabulary felt about Bert what most citizens felt about tax collectors – necessary evils. Reluctantly they waited on Bert’s inevitable nightly calls and each time dispatched a Constable.
The citizens complained. A spate of burglaries irritated them more that the slight risk that a sliver of light might attract the Luftwaffe. But Bert occupied the moral high ground and every time someone complained about the lack of police support Bert cited the war effort.
People accepted they couldn’t win. Unlike Bert whose family burglary business was morally darker than even the thickest curtain.
Allie up next with a feel good story
The zip line stretched out across the field. The kids from down the street watched from the safety of the earth as I grasped the handle in my sweaty palms. No turning back now, I told myself. I had been just a little kid when I volunteered to take a turn. Climbing back down would be admitting the truth in the names they’d called me when they thought I couldn’t hear. I bit my lip as I jumped from the platform.
The rollers on the line whirled as trees on the other side of the field rapidly filled my vision. Then my hand slipped from the grip and I was falling. The ground met my back first, slapping the air out of my body as my vision went black. When the light returned the faces of the other kids surrounded me. One of the eldest extended her hand. “I can’t believe you did that. I chickened out three times before you guys got here. Are you okay?”
I took a deep breath enjoying the sensation of my lungs returning to normal function. “That was awesome! Again!”
This time instead of falling, I flew, and while I might still be the little kid from down the street, I knew those other names would never again catch me.
Ritu up next, with some tales of her personal black outs
I have a habit of blacking out. ..
Something to do with low blood sugar…
It is scary but can be kinda humorous too, in a strange way!
Take this one time. .. dancing in a club. I was hot so went for a drink… I opened my eyes and I was lying on a pile of our jackets that had been helpfully left in a fire exit! Huh?! Thing is, none of my friends had realised.
Another time, in the great US of A. A group of us from my university course were in Washington on an exchange visit. We had been invited to a drama production, and in the interval standing in the foyer, I felt a familiar cold sweat and the next thing I know I was on the floor, in a rather snug halterneck dress might I add, my tutor had my head in her lap, calling to me “Tindi, get up, Tindi!” My first name, Ratinder … lovingly shortened! Then there was this almighty shriek from a worried US native “Oh My God! Call 911! Call 911!” No, 911 weren’t called, not necessary!
We visited The White House and I posed for a pretend faint picture outside there too, for posterity!
Another time, in a bar, this time, I knew what was coming… I said to my best friend that I felt a bit funny… she turned around to see if I was ok. I wasn’t there. I was on the floor again… it was the height of summer but for some unknown reason another friend of mine family had a great big bomber jacket with her. I awoke to that as my pillow and a rather dippy lad checking my pulse… on the wrong side of my wrist!!! Such a medical whizz! My best mate has a brother who is a top cardiologist and works in the NHS herself…she rolled her eyes and told this guy to disappear, just as my Hubby Dearest arrived to whisk me home, like my knight in shining armour!
So see, I’m no stranger to the odd blackout… I just make sure I always have something sweet in my bag… just in case!
Next in Hugh with yet again a story with another cracking twist:
Ethan Evans was dead.
There was nothing in front of him but blackness and silence. Ethan Evans had come to the end of his life. No sounds, no movement, nothing but stillness and a thick treacle of black now faced him.
It must be like being in the deepest regions of space, but how could that be? At least, in space, although there were no sounds you did, at least, have the stars. Those shards of light were life. Those shards of light were hope that life somewhere was still very much in evidence.
Ethan Evans searched for those shards of light but found none. Ethan Evans was dead. But, what was that? Was that a sound?
“Hello.”
Ethan Evans felt movement. At first, tiny particles of light appeared before his eyes. Then, without any warning, a large bright light appeared behind the face of an angel.
“Am I in heaven?” asked Ethan.
“Heaven, darling? No, you’re at the Ideal Home Exhibition in London. I told you I’d get the electric potato peeler off the shelf for you. Are you Okay? That bump on your head looks nasty.”
Ethan Evans was alive.
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ellenbest24 says
Now i apologise up front this is awful… My book was Tasting Tuscanny, the words were Grafaganana, San, the and Florentine.
The Dragons love song.
He woke Garfaganana
To sing him a song.
A dreamy one of love
That he knew all along.
A melodic tune named simply “san”
It was crooned in Florentine hills.
By lovers sunning themselves
on padded window sills.
Romanced, he swooped her
Through a portal to his lair
Where he crooned his love
While brushing her hair.
Sacha Black says
Ha, well I thought it was brilliant. AWESOME name too, and I love that you made it rhyme, I can never rhyme!
ellenbest24 says
Well if I find a challenge I can never pass it bye, far too competitive. ?
Sacha Black says
Well, that’s a good thing for me then! 🙂 <3
Jane Dougherty says
Mad and lovable 🙂
ellenbest24 says
Shucks…
ellenbest24 says
Did you like my American speak Jane? Pretty nifty for a first try, even if I say so myself . *smiles*
Jane Dougherty says
It fooled me 🙂 I should leave it to the natives though. They do it best 🙂
ellenbest24 says
Oh, i will take your word for it. And mosey on *chortle* ?
Jane Dougherty says
I don’t think they talk like Gary Cooper and James Stewart any more. Pity.
ellenbest24 says
Really? So if I say “Get off yer hoss an drink yer milk” exactly as John would, I still couldn’t impress you… second thoughts don’t answer it’s better if I pretend. ?
Jane Dougherty says
Actually, saying that phrase to myself, what I hear in my head is more like John Cleese doing an imitation of John Wayne…
Jane Dougherty says
More shits than giggles in this one. The first three words were unbelievably ‘easy’ but the longest one is a real bummer. I have to say this particularly bloody word crops up twice on the same page. What kind of crappy editing is that?
Sacha Black says
Ha oh dear well I knew it could result in a yawn fest of ‘The’ ‘a’ and ‘that’ but I hoped that at least by using the longest word it would make it a little challenge! ?
Jane Dougherty says
If you can think of a way of slipping ‘disadvantageous’ into a phrase without it turning round and biting you, I’d love to hear it.
Sacha Black says
Erm…. A pompous character might say it?! That is a hard one! What were you reading?
Jane Dougherty says
I wasn’t. It was the nearest book to hand on the shelf behind me—Tom Jones.
Erika Kind says
That is such an awesome idea, Sacha! You are so creative!
Sacha Black says
Ha! Thanks Erika ???
Erika Kind says
You are very welcome, Sacha ?
denmaniacs4 says
Moments
I look ahead and MY world
seems destined to dissolve
into tiny fragments,
shards of unexamined lives,
comfortable experiences
I will not enjoy,
lips, untouched,
skin, sweet skin,
wine left wanting.
I look back,
nostalgic, of course,
and vaguely disappointed
at myself,
at the hurried loss
of the decades,
my times,
which I let aimlessly let slip by
like grains of sand,
why,
always,
grains of sand?
Why?
I am stilled
by an inertia,
of moments
yet to be,
never to be
for me.
Moments!
Bill Engleson
http://www.engleson.ca
The book, just to my left
No Regrets
by Larry Gambone
the words on pg. 77
Decades
Tiny
My
Disappointed (although mimeographed was also 12 letters)
Sacha Black says
Gosh, how emotive and sad Bill, what a beautiful poem, thank you so much for joining in 🙂
denmaniacs4 says
Thank you. Oddly, I am a reasonably happy fellow.
Sacha Black says
HA! Well, happy or not, it’s still a stunning poem. 😀
ellenbest24 says
sad but lovely. nice work. Den
Sacha Black says
Agreed beautiful poem
Jane Dougherty says
Beautiful poem Bill. Those grains of sand are so horribly evocative of time slipping away.
Helen Jones says
I’ve enjoyed the other entries here, Sacha – lots of good stuff! 🙂 And now I have my four words (cool idea!) and a dance class where I get to sit outside for forty five minutes, so I know what I’ll be doing with my time… 😉
Sacha Black says
haha, hope you got some juicy words 😀
Helen Jones says
Pretty boring words, actually – human, on, have and whispering. Have written two pieces and not entirely happy with either, so will keep going…
Sacha Black says
Boring, maybe… but magically connected to Silver and Black! what with ‘human’ and whispering! #YoungLove !! :p
Helen Jones says
Ha ha! Yes – I thought of Silver and Black too, but then a whole other story that seemed to be set in Venice appeared, and I can’t get the ending right. Anyway, will press on 😀
Sacha Black says
Venice? ooh, have you been? amazing, looking forward to it 😀
Helen Jones says
I went years and years ago, and it was just beautiful. Maybe I’ll go there on one of my Wednesday Wanders – although I’d love to go back for real.
Right, will try and sort out this ending and post soon 🙂
Sacha Black says
that would be cool – its on my bucket list 😀
ladyleemanila says
thanks for the challenge, Sacha 🙂
https://ladyleemanila.wordpress.com/2016/03/23/kellys-project/
Writings Of A Single Girl says
I just came across this, how awesome 🙂 I had the newspaper and used an ad for PC world ha! My words were ‘free,laptop,company & contribution’. Went a bt over the 100 but I hope you enjoy!
https://writingsofasinglegirl.wordpress.com/2016/03/23/writespiration-84
Sacha Black says
thanks for joining in Bré have hopped over and left you a comment.
Pat Cummings says
Leave to Dance
I ought to know better. When I had the silly whim to join in the line dance at my son’s senior prom, I knew there would be fallout. Chaperones were not supposed to dance, just stay near the doors in case of uninvited guests, or at the punch bowl to prevent any… amendments.
But that song is my favorite, and Max knows it. He saw my foot start tapping, and the aborted movement toward the line that was building.
He shook his head, then gave me leave to dance when I saw no scowl in his expression, but understanding.
C.S. Lewis’ The Great Divorce, page 77:
Word 10: ought
Word 23: silly
Last Word: But
Longest Word: understanding
99 words, with the chosen words in the same order…
Sacha Black says
Aloha Pat – lovely to see you over here, and what a brilliant flash, oddly it reminded me of back to the future when Michael J Fox sees his parents in the 50’s or whatever era it was. Brilliant piece, I love your entries to Charli’s weekly challenge too so its an honour to have you join here.
Jane Dougherty says
Well, I did it.
https://janedougherty.wordpress.com/2016/03/26/microfiction-lawn-maintenance/
ellenbest24 says
Sorry… Bill I seen denmaniacs and thought I would chance Den as your name, very amis of me.
Sarah Brentyn says
Okay. Wow. Tough one. Closest book was weird so I wrote two.
First from a children’s book of the Periodic Table of Elements. (5-7-5 haiku)
Classification:
Unknown. New life form. Composed
of gold and pewter
Words:
And
Pewter
Form
Longest word: Classification
Second from Sophie’s World by Jostein Gaarder.
Fears plagued me throughout the night, clawing their way into my subconscious.
I often woke screaming.
He bought me a dreamcatcher, feathers dangling from a woven web meant to trap the nightmares.
Sweet dreams, he claimed, would be filtered from the bad and drip down to me.
The dreamcatcher was broken.
Or I was.
I still screamed. Until May. That’s when they arrived. The Guards. They didn’t speak but I knew they would protect me. Allow me to sleep.
It was November by the time I could make it through a night. It was November when the Guards disappeared.
Words:
Guards
To
Sleep
Longest word: Disappeared
Sacha Black says
Ohhhhhhhhhh WHAT??? As if you ended it there, what happened to her? why couldn’t she sleep???? Who were the guards, where did they go?
Also – well impressed on the Haiku, I have tried them many a time and can’t do them!
kim881 says
I enjoy this kind of challenge because you don’t know what you’re going to work with! Thank you, Sacha!
http://writinginnorthnorfolk.com/2016/03/27/disappointed/
Judy Martin says
What a fun idea Sacha! I had forgotten to pingback last week but have edited it now. I took a bit of a liberty this week as well as you will see, by writing two limericks to get the words in! 🙂
Sacha Black says
my bad – I should have picked it up. Will include both this week 😀
Judy Martin says
No, it was mine! I didn’t link it. I have done it with a few different things lately….must be my age! 🙂
Sacha Black says
I didn’t know 21 year olds were susceptible to memory problems
Judy Martin says
Ha HA! I can certainly remember who my friends are anyway! xx
Sacha Black says
:p