one_hundred_words_by

Wednesday, November 18, 2020

Tugging At The Heart Strings

Prompts = Preliminary, Emotion, Puppet

‘G’day. Today I want to talk about how items in your home will tug at the heart strings to prevent you from taking charge.

‘You know the scenario — going through boxes in a storage area and coming across a cherished item. Don’t think for a moment it was random chance you found that old teddy bear — the items are playing to your emotions. You pause, they win.

‘Preliminary results from a study I ran last month show this is a learned behaviour; when one in a neighbourhood starts, the rest start puppeting it within days.

‘Household Item Wrangler, signing off.’

Links to other sites where I publish:
Instagram = https://www.instagram.com/one_hundred_words_by_parz
Facebook = https://www.facebook.com/Parzival-Sattva-427507144484255
Blogger = https://onehundredwordsbyparz.blogspot.com
Medium = https://medium.com/100-word-or-less-stories
YouTube = https://www.youtube.com/user/parzivalsattva

And a link to where my Lovely Lady Love (who also operates the camera) posts her art: https://www.youtube.com/user/recyclinggoddess

Join in on the fun of making a story from the same prompts I do! https://www.facebook.com/groups/565109053911712

Tuesday, November 17, 2020

What's Leaking + A New Chaperone (2 Fer Tuesday)

Prompts = Pack, Elevator, Bleach
Story 1 — What’s Leaking?


Photo by Sven Scheuermeier on UnsplashSomething in the backpack was leaking. John picked up the pace home.
He’d gone to the new store, Pack Yer Own, not knowing what to expect. It was a wholesale depot; nothing was in packaging. Instead, you bought plastic bags and filled them.
He had laundry detergent in a garbage bag and in various sizes of cheaply made ziplocks were salsa, bleach, milk, shampoo, mustard, and bottled water.
With each drop hitting his left calf, he tried to discern what it was. Did it burn? Or smell?
He’d have to avoid his building’s elevator and instead take the back stairs.
*****
Story 2 — A New Chaperone

Photo by Timothy Eberly on Unsplash

‘Wait! You need to sanitize that pan!’ The chaperone started digging in a pack. ‘Where’s the bleach? It’s supposed to be in pack three of six! Where’s my inventory list?’

When he’d been asked to go on a week-long canoe trip, he thought: he’d never been camping before and, what if we need something that no one thought to bring? So he’d bought one of everything.

Granted, without things like elevators and automated walkways moving all that gear was hard but the kids were young and hardy. And hopefully grateful if they need a power drill.

And a link to where my Lovely Lady Love (who also operates the camera) posts her art: https://www.youtube.com/user/recyclinggoddess

Join in on the fun of making a story from the same prompts I do! https://www.facebook.com/groups/565109053911712

Monday, November 16, 2020

Prosperity Is Expensive

Photo by Fábio Lucas on Unsplash

Prompts = Apology, Prosper, Buy

‘Kristin, I owe you an apology.’

‘For what?’

‘Well… you know how you keep saying you don’t have money and that all you need is a helping hand and everything would be ok?’

‘Yeah?’

‘And there’s this Personal Success Coach and all he needs is $300 to start helping you?’

‘Ok?’

‘So for a small investment in yourself, you can buy everything you need to prosper!’

‘Did you sign me up for that? I’ll just delete the confirmation email when it comes.’

‘Yeah… but I used your credit card.’

‘What?’

‘I’m hoping we can share. I want to prosper too.’

And a link to where my Lovely Lady Love (who also operates the camera) posts her art: https://www.youtube.com/user/recyclinggoddess

Join in on the fun of making a story from the same prompts I do! https://www.facebook.com/groups/565109053911712

Sunday, November 15, 2020

Unclear On The Concept

Photo by Dave Dollar on Unsplash

Prompts = Canyon, Defend, Drape

My presentation is on soil erosion.

The loss of arable land is the single greatest threat to farming. While others focus on climate change, I want to highlight the action of waterways and their negative impact.

We all know the Grand Canyon. Did you know it was created by the Colorado River? Had we been able to defend the land, there’d be more farms and ranches in the area.

What I’d like to do is drape protective coverings over the banks of all of our local creeks and streams to prevent that from happening here.

Thank you for listening. Questions?

And a link to where my Lovely Lady Love (who also operates the camera) posts her art: https://www.youtube.com/user/recyclinggoddess

Join in on the fun of making a story from the same prompts I do! https://www.facebook.com/groups/565109053911712

Saturday, November 14, 2020

I Can't Wait!

Photo by Alexandra on Unsplash

Prompts = Gorgeous, Conversation, Weekend

I come home everyday to an empty house, sounds of rambunctious first graders ringing in my head. Before I start prepping dinner, I make a big red “X” on the calendar; another day done and one square closer to the red circle around the weekend at the end of the month. I’m looking forward to it.

A writer’s conference: adult conversation, gorgeous people, interesting topics rich with substance and gravitas. Words with more than five letters!

The stack of math homework I need to grade sits on my counter, ignored, as I stare at the red…no — crimson — circle longingly.

And a link to where my Lovely Lady Love (who also operates the camera) posts her art: https://www.youtube.com/user/recyclinggoddess

Join in on the fun of making a story from the same prompts I do! https://www.facebook.com/groups/565109053911712

Friday, November 13, 2020

How Does This Make Sense?

Photo by Henk Mul on Unsplash

Prompts = Steady, Steel, Momentum

Does anyone remember Steve Austin, the Six Million Dollar Man? It never made sense.

Don’t get me wrong — I was really into the bionic eye and how it could get crystal clear images of nefarious activities from miles away. Given that I was pretty near-sighted, it makes sense.

He could run as fast as a car with his bionic legs. Could his hips take that strain?

But the bionic arm… that always bugged me. Steve would pick up a truck and I’d be wondering why his back didn’t break.

Internally consistent fact patterns are far more enjoyable than fantasy.

And a link to where my Lovely Lady Love (who also operates the camera) posts her art: https://www.youtube.com/user/recyclinggoddess

Join in on the fun of making a story from the same prompts I do! https://www.facebook.com/groups/565109053911712

Thursday, November 12, 2020

What's Burning + untitled (Throwback Thursday)

Julie sat off camera, composing herself before going live. It was something she’d learned to do after her disastrous first episode.

The smell of burning eggs was something she’d forever associate with it. She’d lost track of the frying pan and failed to hear the transformation of gentle sizzle to ignition. Seeing flames, she’d grabbed the hot handle and immediately dropped it; the clank and splat of pan and eggs going everywhere. It’d gone downhill from there, a total flop.

Fast forward to now, 132 episodes and the number one show on the public access network.

One last deep breath…

Story old — untitled

Photo by Alex Motoc on Unsplash

*Sizzle*

The project to leapfrog supercomputer calculations from terra flops to mega splats per second (a bazillion times faster) had been hit by delay after delay. Lightning strike fried circuit breakers and sensitive components. A rogue rat chewed cabling. And now? Fruit fly infestation buggering up the electronics.

Despite visits by scientists, researchers, security consultants, asset protection managers, rodent extermination experts, and exorcists, the project continued to face extraordinary challenges. What was trying to stand in the way of progress?

Was it the case, like a few people were saying, that it was Mother Earth herself standing in the way?

And a link to where my Lovely Lady Love (who also operates the camera) posts her art: https://www.youtube.com/user/recyclinggoddess

Join in on the fun of making a story from the same prompts I do! https://www.facebook.com/groups/565109053911712

Wednesday, November 11, 2020

Stakeout + Have A Nice Day

Prompts = Facial, Anomaly, Subterfuge
Story 1 — Stakeout



Photo by Zoltan Tasi on UnsplashA gang of thieves had perfected a method to steal expensive bikes with high-security locks in seconds.
Frank Cappuccino, Bicycle Patrol 51, decided to employ subterfuge: he put a plainclothes bicycle, wired with cameras and GPS, chained to a streetlight, while he hid in nearby bushes.
He didn’t have to wait long. Within minutes, the bike was in a white panel van. While the facial recognition software was unable to recognize anyone or anything (a smudge on the camera lens caused visual anomalies), the GPS guided police to the thieves’ headquarters.
Frank surreptitiously followed the truck for fifteen kilometres.
*****
Story 2 — Have A Nice Day

Photo by Bernard Hermant on Unsplash

Dr. Hedley strode down the last hallway before the final security check. He often wondered if it was all needed. Fingerprint, retina, badge, and facial recognition scans, and — the secret password check. How much subterfuge could a spy manage to get to this point, let alone beyond it?

The computer-generated female voice asked her question, ‘Password, Dr. Smithston’.

‘You mean Dr. Hedley.’

Red lights flashed and klaxons sounded. ‘Anomaly detected. Security alerted.’

So much for getting anything done today, he thought.

After a minute, the clamour stopped and the computer said, ‘April Fools, Dr. Hedley. Have a nice day.’

And a link to where my Lovely Lady Love (who also operates the camera) posts her art: https://www.youtube.com/user/recyclinggoddess

Join in on the fun of making a story from the same prompts I do! https://www.facebook.com/groups/565109053911712

Tuesday, November 10, 2020

Swan Lake (1 Fer Tuesday)

Photo by Ricardo Moura on Unsplash

Prompts = Ballerina, Gosh, See

Birthday wrapping paper was carefully opened, seven-year-old fingers running along edges and carefully snapping open clear tape, to reveal a music box.

Opening the box, a tune played, a miniature ballerina pirouetted, eyes glowed in delight.

‘Fahima, do you recognize the song?’ Her father smiled at her obvious delight.

‘Of course! It’s Swan Lake!’

‘Of course you know. I have one more present for you. It’s in here.’ He pulled out an envelope.

‘Let me see!’ She bounced in excitement. She opened it. ‘Tickets to Swan Lake? You got them! Oh gosh oh gosh thank you thank you!!!’

And a link to where my Lovely Lady Love (who also operates the camera) posts her art: https://www.youtube.com/user/recyclinggoddess

Join in on the fun of making a story from the same prompts I do! https://www.facebook.com/groups/565109053911712

Monday, November 9, 2020

Crime And Gum

Photo by Ameer Basheer on Unsplash

Prompts = Gum, Crime, Interrupt

Percy chewed gum to pass time while waiting to talk to a bank teller. ’I’m next. Finally’, he thought. Before he started for the open wicket, someone raced up and handed the cashier a note while tapping his pocket impatiently. Did the cashier turn pale? A crime was in progress! Could he interrupt it safely?

Amazed at his remarkable courage, he approached the robber. ‘Want a piece?’, asked Percy, holding out the pack.

‘No. Just getting change for the parking meter. Can’t afford another ticket.’

‘No problemo.’

Meanwhile, in his imagination, Percy was a hero for defusing a dangerous situation.

And a link to where my Lovely Lady Love (who also operates the camera) posts her art: https://www.youtube.com/user/recyclinggoddess

Join in on the fun of making a story from the same prompts I do! https://www.facebook.com/groups/565109053911712

Sunday, November 8, 2020

I'm Just Turned Around

Photo by Izzy Majcher on Unsplash

Prompts = Father, Eighty, Wilderness

‘I’m not lost. I’m just turned around.’

To be clear, we like the Scoutmaster. He’s great. It’s just that he’s, to put it kindly, directionally challenged, which is not a virtue when you’re deep in the wilderness. I should note he always has his topographical maps with him but right now they aren’t helping much.

I can hear Sebastian, one of our more fearful Scouts, muttering something about “Heavenly Father” and “please help us.”

‘Ah! Here we go!’

As we start heading back to camp, I think to myself that if I live to eighty, I’ll never forget this moment.

And a link to where my Lovely Lady Love (who also operates the camera) posts her art: https://www.youtube.com/user/recyclinggoddess

Join in on the fun of making a story from the same prompts I do! https://www.facebook.com/groups/565109053911712

one_hundred_words_by_Parz

Other places to find my stories

Wednesday, November 18, 2020

Tugging At The Heart Strings

Tuesday, November 17, 2020

What's Leaking + A New Chaperone (2 Fer Tuesday)

Monday, November 16, 2020

Prosperity Is Expensive

Sunday, November 15, 2020

Unclear On The Concept

Saturday, November 14, 2020

I Can't Wait!

Friday, November 13, 2020

How Does This Make Sense?

Thursday, November 12, 2020

What's Burning + untitled (Throwback Thursday)

Wednesday, November 11, 2020

Stakeout + Have A Nice Day

Tuesday, November 10, 2020

Swan Lake (1 Fer Tuesday)

Monday, November 9, 2020

Crime And Gum

Sunday, November 8, 2020

I'm Just Turned Around