“The Torch — last week’s challenge — is large and in charge and demands your eyeballs.
Here’s a number’s game for you.
I’m going to give you five words.
You must choose three of these words and incorporate them into a story.
That story may not be more than 100 words long. I didn’t say 1000. Rather: one hundred.
The five words, chosen by Random Word Generator:
Enzyme.
Ivy.
Bishop.
Blister.
Lollipop.
Again, you have 100 words only.
You may post your story directly in the comments if you so choose. Alternately, feel free to deposit them in your own post and drop a link to said post in the comments. Your call, Cochise.
You have until next Friday, September 23rd, at noon EST.
I will pick three of my favorites. Those three will get my short story collection IRREGULAR CREATURES (with thirty-nine 4- and 5-star reviews at Amazon) in either Kindle or PDF format.
Choose your three words. Spin them into 100. BTFO, emmereffers.
EDIT — WINNERS:
I can’t do it.
I can’t choose just three.
Thus, I pick… er, five.
Shut up.
The winners:
SUE ANN JAFFARIAN
BRIAN LINDENMUTH
CHRIS MACKEY
YOJIMBOJAPAN
JO EBERHARDT
You all need to contact me at terribleminds [at] gmail [dot] com.
Brand says:
Sadly, the bishop didn’t ask any lollipop to the young Ivy.
September 16, 2011 — 12:47 AM
Kim says:
Oooh, am I first? Shiny! I love micro-fiction 🙂 This is dead on 100 words. And I possibly cheated by making Ivy a name. Sorry!
——————————————————————————–
Ivy held the ivory piece in her hand and felt a surge of jealousy. This chess piece could simply ignore the same path everyone else took and could slip diagonally between the patterns, like a child who coloured outside the lines to design their own picture.
She was a prodigy, they said, but her life felt more like that of a pawn than a bishop, always following the path that her parents had set. She had no choice, but at four years old, who did? She popped her lollipop back in her mouth and moved the bishop to knight 2.
September 16, 2011 — 1:03 AM
Abhishek Boinapalli says:
Here is my link:
Another Author
September 16, 2011 — 2:41 AM
Abhishek says:
Hey ..
sorry again.. My correct link is :
Another Author
Kindly delete previous comment!!
September 16, 2011 — 2:42 AM
Lou Belcher says:
She rubbed her hand where the blister had been but felt nothing now. The poison ivy had barely touched her hand, but it formed an angry blister. The bubbled skin looked so innocent, but it had itched like crazy and kept her awake when she should have napped.
“When it heals, I’ll give you a lollipop,” her mother told her.
The itching skin called to her. She scratched once, but it only itched more. Five days ago, she learned to resist the urge. Finally, she slowly let go of her hand and popped the wonderful cherry reward into her mouth.
September 16, 2011 — 7:15 AM
Snellopy says:
I’m loving these little tacker ones. Nice and fast to churn them out, and to read!
http://snellopy.blogspot.com/2011/09/experimentation.html
September 16, 2011 — 7:35 AM
Lindsay Mawson says:
Here’s mine, enjoy.
http://lindsaymawson.blogspot.com/2011/09/flash-fiction-challenge-25-numbers-game.html
September 16, 2011 — 8:08 AM
terribleminds says:
@Lindsay —
Be advised, I got an incoming threat from your site (from diesel.png) that was blocked.
– c.
September 16, 2011 — 8:20 AM
Brenda Hovdenes says:
“What’s your name little girl?”
The kid stared at us wide-eyed. “Ivy,” she said. Couldn’t be more than eight. What kind of a parent let a little girl out alone at this time of night?
“Don’t do this Bishop,” I warned him. Coppers were getting suspicious. The last one was supposed to be that. The last one.
He ignored me, reaching into his pocket. “Would you like a lollypop?” he asked her sweetly, pulling out the sweet. If she refused, she was safe. If she took it…
She took it.
Fuck.
We were running out of places to hide the bodies.
September 16, 2011 — 8:18 AM
Jim Franklin says:
Here’s my go.
Incidentally, I think I did quite well not going down a ‘Bishop and the actress with a lollipop’ route. Well, only my mind did anyway.
http://cheddarnightmares.wordpress.com/2011/09/16/the-last-e-mail/
P.S. I also made Ivy a name. I expect many people will.
September 16, 2011 — 8:50 AM
BJ Kerry says:
My story
http://kerry-mutterings.blogspot.com/
September 16, 2011 — 9:07 AM
Craig Towsley says:
Hi everybody,
here’s mine: http://cleveroldowl.wordpress.com/2011/09/16/numbers-game-flash-fiction-challenge/
Neat little challenge to start a Friday. Thanks!
September 16, 2011 — 9:22 AM
Sue Ann Jaffarian says:
The Bishop picked at the blister on his thumb, an injury received when he tried to remove the lollipop from the bottom of his steam iron. He glanced at the clock. His visitor would be here in fifteen minutes. He still had to find something suitable to wear – something pressed by his housekeeper before she left on vacation with her six-year-old. Six years – it had been that long since he’d last seen his guest.
The side door opened. “You’re early,” he said, still holding his painful thumb.
“No, I’m late. Six years late.”
The bullet rendered the thumb injury inconsequential.
September 16, 2011 — 9:27 AM
Abby says:
[A little melancholy and I used 4 of the words, couldn’t be helped.]
The bishop paced around the churchyard, barely noticing where he was walking. He stopped and leaned on the ivy-covered wall of the church building, still thinking about what the doctor had told him.
He didn’t have cancer, which was a relief, but he did have Celiac disease. He didn’t quite understand it, but from what the doctor said it had something to do with enzymes and eating wheat. He pulled a lollipop, his favorite candy, from his pocket, and opened it. At least he knew these were gluten-free.
September 16, 2011 — 9:27 AM
BJ Kerry says:
Hey Lollipop, would like to ivy my enzyme? No I think I’d like to blister your bishop
September 16, 2011 — 9:34 AM
Lindsay Mawson says:
Thanks, Chuck. Don’t know why diesel.png would be a threat, lol, it’s a tiny picture representing Diesel, that sells eBooks… I’ll check it out.
September 16, 2011 — 9:44 AM
Shai Norton says:
Make Ivy a name? Nah.
@Chuck. Twitter apparently thought I wasn’t following you, even though I saw your Tweet about this. I’m clearly so tired from last night’s work shenanigans that I’m able to see into the future. Neat! Can’t wait to see what happens once I drink the 5 Hour Energy.
98 words here: http://shainorton.com/2011/09/16/flash-fiction-this-morning/
September 16, 2011 — 9:50 AM
Lindsay Mawson says:
I’ve deleted that image and replaced with on I know comes from a reputable site. I hope no one else gets any threats.
September 16, 2011 — 9:51 AM
brandy says:
The half-finished building stands like a testament to the New Economy. Ivy has even begun to claim the exterior. The booming sound of house techno from the rave club reverberates down the block I just walked, my too-high heels already threatening to repay me with a blister. An Amazonian blond in a slinky dress valiantly trying to hold in surgically enhanced assets leans against the door, sucking aggressively on a lollipop. She doesn’t register the gun until just before it connects with her face. I step over her and into the crush, to find the man who designed these shoes.
I managed to get it to 100 words exactly. Here’s the link to where I posted it, in the off chance anyone might want to directly comment (which is always appreciated!): http://brandwich.blogspot.com/2011/09/manolo-blahnik-must-die.html
September 16, 2011 — 10:00 AM
Sarah Olson says:
Ok, last week was rough and I didn’t like the way my story turned out. This week went much better. Loving the 100 word challenges!
http://saraheolson.com/2011/09/16/flash-fiction-race-for-the-cure/
September 16, 2011 — 10:03 AM
Erin M. Hartshorn says:
Great challenge. I love drabbles, although I don’t think I did very well with this one. Still, it’s words for the day.
Growing ivy
September 16, 2011 — 10:15 AM
Darlene Underdahl says:
Love the Swirl
His office was book lined and dark. Some daylight came through foggy old windows, partially obscured by ivy, enough for him to move around, but not enough for people to see him.
The Baptist bishop worked with lamps and closed blinds, but every morning he sat in the dark to watch her walk past, swirled lollipop in hand.
She was eighteen and would graduate soon. Folks might fuss about the courtship, mostly because of the age difference, but some wouldn’t like ethnic mixing. He was chocolate and she was vanilla.
He’d teach her to Love the Swirl.
September 16, 2011 — 10:47 AM
Darlene Underdahl says:
There seems to be something about religious men and “candy”…
September 16, 2011 — 11:00 AM
Mark Horejsi says:
I call this “Ordnance QF 25-pdr on Carrier Valentine 25-pdr Mk 1.” The title is almost as long as the flash fiction.
http://markh-blog.blogspot.com/2011/09/ordnance-qf-25-pdr-on-carrier-valentine.html
September 16, 2011 — 11:27 AM
Kurt Hartwig says:
Codename Enzyme.
Over splayed cards, he evaluates her.
Codename Blister.
Eyes Enzyme. Considers the play.
“Ante up.”
Slides in a lollipop.
Enzyme calls the lollipop and raises a Tootsie roll. Blister’s eyebrows give away nothing. Nothing. She calls.
He lays down the Bishop, face up, upside down. Level three. Calls down Heavenly Fire at plus four. High defense. Attack mode.
Blister examines her hand. She plays Ivy, perpendicular. Level two. Strangling Kudzu attack at plus two. Monster House defense, plus one. Susceptible to fire.
She doesn’t think he sees her trap. Blister will be above Enzyme on the leaderboards today.
September 16, 2011 — 11:55 AM
yojimbojapan says:
Tough but fun having 3% of our word count foisted upon us. This is my effort.
I still remember what started it. He stole my cherry lollipop. It was my favorite flavor. He stood over me that day, laughing. His fatness shaking with his mirth at my pain.
Days passed into weeks. We fought, he overpowered me. I got in trouble, he skated free. My rage formed a blister on my brain. One I couldn’t lance with a safety pin.
He stopped after that night. I forgot about it until I saw him at the store years later. The scars still kissed his face like unchecked ivy. Lessons taught in pure flame.
Cherry was my favorite.
September 16, 2011 — 12:04 PM
Anthony Elmore says:
“Enzyme Lollypop?” the clerk said.
The infinite selection of corn-sweetened narco-supplements assaulted her senses like sharp confetti.
“Oooh. Can’t metabolize that again. Got the skin blisters.” Mitz said, scanning the menu.
“But we got new flavors. Tanga-phetamine. Kiwi-Strawberry with Zoloft Swirl. Double Chocolate Cake with Benzedrine Sprinkles.”
Mitz processed the choices. She knew she couldn’t actually “taste” anything. Conversion meant giving up real sensation.
“Ok. I’ll take the Double-Chocolate.”
The clerk wrapped the pops in wax paper as Mitz touched the paypad. “Immortality never tasted so good,” Mitz said, inserting the pop into her feed slot.
Also posted to my site: http://barelyok.com/flash-fiction-challenge-enzyme-lollypop-and-blister.html
September 16, 2011 — 12:56 PM
Brian Lindenmuth says:
Bishop looked over at Ivy. Her nerves were getting the better of her. She crunched on a lollipop. He smiled and wished his life would be long enough to always remember this moment. The bullhorn shouts and red and blue disco outside interrupted.
Ivy looked at him. The cancer had taken its toll since the insurance ran out and they couldn’t afford the enzyme treatment anymore. She never loved him more.
Nodded. Burst through the door. Plastic guns held high. Yelling.
Lollipop falls.
The light leaving Bishop’s eyes danced with the light of the police cars then left for good.
September 16, 2011 — 2:20 PM
Leigh Stevens says:
Here’s my go:
Holly Bishop clinched her lollipop between her teeth as she assessed the blister on her finger. The zipper on her boots had always been difficult, but this was getting ridiculous. The knee high black leather boots weren’t essential for a night of killing demons, but dammit, they made her feel like a bad-ass. That mentality that had kept her alive.
She slid the Gothic cross into its spot on her belt and put the water pistol with the special enzyme that could melt the deformed skin off a demons bones into it’s holster at her thigh. Yeah, she was ready.
September 16, 2011 — 3:01 PM
Joseph Devon says:
Holy shazzbot…I was going to try and post early in one of these challenges for once but there’s already like a billion entries. And I haven’t even started yet.
And those words just scream “dirty” for some reason.
Maybe that’s just me.
September 16, 2011 — 3:51 PM
Cathie Mayovsky says:
The bishop debates. What if he is found out? Drool pools against his bottom lip caused by a mouth hanging open. He must. “Thorrry” he prays to the altar and leaves—sneaking through the town, not stopping until he reaches its imaginary border and Sharine’s scruffy cottage. The town witch. He knocks, wincing as tongue touches blister. The door opens. Gaping black holes riddle her welcoming smile. Eyebrows raise.
“Blithter” He groans pointing to his mouth.
“Ahhh. My special herbal lollipop—your salvation.”
“Payhmant?”
“Don’t worry, payment won’t hurt much” She cackles as dirty fingers grasp him.
He faints.
September 16, 2011 — 4:18 PM
Talei Loto says:
So glad I stumbled upon this challenge, here’s my link: ->
http://theladydothscribe.blogspot.com/2011/09/flash-fiction-ivy-bishop-and-his.html
Cheers, Talei
September 16, 2011 — 5:31 PM
sandrayln says:
I’m not sure how this happened, but I seem to have written a poem:
Ivy blessed the bishop, not the other way around.
It made the poor man blink, and then it made him frown.
Ivy blessed the sunshine, and then she blessed the rain.
Ivy blessed the carrot slices swirling ’round the drain.
Ivy’s silver blessing stick, its tip an awkward red,
Sent her spinning onward, following where it led.
Beneath a mythic landscape, beyond a mythic rain,
Ivy met a bastard with an evil in his brain.
Like a lollipop in a lava field, Ivy met her fate;
Now she lies with staring eyes beneath a blessèd date.
September 16, 2011 — 6:03 PM
Kathlyn Hawley says:
Here’s my slightly disturbed, in a Halloween sort of way, story:
http://kathlynhawley.blogspot.com/2011/09/perfect-brew-flash-fiction.html
September 16, 2011 — 7:37 PM
Ryan G. Sanders says:
Here is my little story:
http://www.ryangsanders.com/2011/09/numbers-game/
RG.
September 16, 2011 — 8:27 PM
Seamus MacBeerchill says:
http://seamusramblings.blogspot.com/2011/09/flash-fiction-challenge.html
September 16, 2011 — 9:04 PM
Tom says:
Here is my entry. 100 words exactly. Enjoy!
http://latent-ambiguity.blogspot.com/2011/09/flash-fiction-challenge-numbers-game.html
September 16, 2011 — 9:11 PM
James Orr says:
Viridian vines twisted through the sun bleached ivory.
She was his prized possession, raised up from the rich soil, nourished on the finest fertilizer that money couldn’t buy.
The Bishop of the diocese had whiled away his waking hours in recent years less in service to God and more to distracting his hands and mind from impure thoughts.
In the coming weeks, all of his meticulous toil would be wasted when the investigators would pull the ivy from his bones, the patterns left from the digestive enzymes a curious footnote on the coroner’s report but nothing more.
(didn’t look like it posted earlier. Sorry if’n It’s double. )
September 16, 2011 — 10:20 PM
Rich Friedeman says:
Here’s my entry.
http://richfriedeman.com/short-stories/final-round/
September 16, 2011 — 11:36 PM
Jeremy Morgan (TriskalJM) says:
Posted my attempt here: http://stormindacastle.wordpress.com/2011/09/16/flash-fiction-challenge-the-numbers-game/
September 16, 2011 — 11:48 PM
Michael Trimmer says:
“Ivy,” her real name jolted her.
“Lindsey Lollipop,” she corrected, grinding her hips on the portable pole. “And you’ve got something very big that I’d really love to suc-”
“They miss you, they’re not angry.” The tassels barely covered her nipples. He concentrated and took the envelope from his pocket. She tossed it down, spilling out the client’s pictures. She stared at their faces, and then looked at him.
“How’d you want i-?”
“That’s fine.” He put down double her advertised fee, along with their letter, and left.
He’d never be a bishop. He loved the frontline Church too much.
September 17, 2011 — 5:56 AM
Michael Trimmer (@MichaelSTrimmer) says:
Ok, ignore that first version. This one is better. That’s the problem with 100 word stories. Always more to be tweeked
______________
“Ivy,” her real name jolted her.
“Lindsey Lollipop,” she corrected, grinding her hips on the portable pole. “And you’ve got something very big that I’d really love to suc-”
“They miss you, they’re not angry.” The tassels barely covered her nipples. He concentrated, proffering her the envelope. She tossed it down, spilling out the client’s pictures. She stared at their familiar faces, and then looked at him, eyes smouldering sultrily.
“How’d you want-”
“That’s ok.” He put down double her advertised fee, along with their letter, and left.
He’d never be a bishop. He loved the frontline Church too much.
________
http://www.michaelstuarttrimmer.co.uk/care_stripped_bare.html
Leave your comments if you have some thoughts!
September 17, 2011 — 6:28 AM
Mark says:
I threw mine up here…
http://leftandwriteblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/another-100-word-flash-fiction.html
September 17, 2011 — 7:05 PM
Ben K. says:
A tough one — the shorter ones always are. But fun, as always:
http://warnerkirby.blogs.com/clintonaut/2011/09/the-blister-planet.html
Thanks, Chuck.
September 17, 2011 — 9:08 PM
Sigil says:
Here you go:
http://imaginedrealms.typepad.com/writing/2011/09/terribleminds-3.html
September 17, 2011 — 9:40 PM
ninjafinity says:
I had a bit of trouble with this, but I got something that feels somewhere near satisfactory. It’s called “Goodbye”. Here it is:
http://blackfireonwhitefire.blogspot.com/2011/09/goodbye.html
September 17, 2011 — 10:45 PM