100 word assignments – WEEK 55

Stuffed

David seethed patiently as Susan screamed into her drive.

“There. Divorce papers. Signed. Like you wanted. You really didn’t need to poison Chester.”

Susan smiled sweetly. “Your flea-ridden mutt must’ve gobbled your vindaloo leftovers. Again.” The documents disappeared. “But, then, he’s none too bright. Like his owner.”

She paused on her threshold, considering.

“And don’t think you’ll capture Ginger. We both know he’s Jellicle-smart.”

David shrugged. “Yeah, he’s such a Rum Tum Tugger!”

Susan smirked and slammed the door.

David turned to leave when he recognized the scream.
Grinning, he samba’d nonchalantly to his car without looking back.

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100 word assignments – WEEK 54

Asylum

The Oval Office, 1947
“They want asylum, Mr President, …”

Truman interrupted his Secretary of Defence.
“And I want a meeting of the Joint Chiefs, Louis – they’re demanding integration!”

“Just one town in New Mexico. They have the technology to further Manhatten.”

Truman frowned. Louis ventured further. ”Harry, what’s decided here will be your legacy. Would you rather they talked to the Russians?”

Truman’s furrow deepened.
“Louis, do you ever wonder why they chose Earth? Or who they’re running from?”

The President paused to clean his bifocals.
“I fear my legacy to America may already be determined.”

He looked up. ”Ignorance.”

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100 word assignments – WEEK 53

Mexican Nights

Eight men. One dream. And a waggon full of dollars.

The raid had been an astounding success, despite losing Juan and Miguel.
Pedro shrugged. Two less to share.

Elated, he fisted his companion.
“Hey, Blondie, how you gonna spend your dinero?”

The bounty killer didn’t answer. His colt was clean and his eyes impassive but a thin smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. Ironic. The gang was worth so much more than the loot and Reno was only ten miles to the west.

He gazed around the fire. Would seven prove to be too much? He didn’t think so.

They’d all forgotten to reload.

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ps Ok, Ok “prove to be too many”, but I was rushed!

100 word assignments – WEEK 52

Judgement

He was beautiful. Serene. So flawless that his face denied perfection.

His trial was almost over.

Celestial light and thunder blazed around him.
“Enough! I am omnipotent. Yet, I am merciful. Repent.”

Morningstar was unimpressed. “What of the cities you destroyed? The plagues and floods? Where was your mercy then?”

A satisfying pause. “I am as just as I am loving. Will you not love me in return?”

“No.” Then, the immortal line. The Host shifted uncomfortably.

Morningstar included his brethren. “We’ll embrace together the flames. But your world will burn with us.”

Unconcerned, the Lord smiled towards his only Son.

“We shall see.”

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100 word assignments – WEEK 51

Showdown

Never underestimate your source. Dead dicks do.

Even so, I barely make the scene. Gotham’s finest have chalked the stiff already – the line was drawn flat across the neck. Hilarious. I guess he collects them.  I nod to a badge who owes me.

Questions pour down like the rain. This case is riddled with possibilities. But first, I have to see if he was right.

I unzip the bag. The costumes yellow green against the red and the truth hits me like a .45 slug.

Someone’s gunning for masks and made it personal.

He not only wants to hurt the Bat. He wants to fight him.

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100 word assignments – WEEK 50

American Gothic 

He came just before the harvest.

The sun kissed corn was ripe and the neighbours ranches had all the hands they needed. He was just another drifter with a twinkle in his eye but father knew at once he would be trouble. Yet he could not work alone and the winter would not wait. So he hung his pride and hired him while mother bit her lip.

That winter, the rain turned the road into a river and we never saw him again.
But the barn is full and, though the township spurn us, we eat.

And I dream.

This time, I’ll tell my parents that my son will have a brother.

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100 word assignment – WEEK 49

Conspiracy

“Look, I’ll show you. Murray was just about to serve for the Championship when it happens.” Agent Bagitt froze the playback. A lance of brilliant light stabbed towards the Scot in a single frame.

“Subsequently, Murray forfeit, complaining of blurred vision. But this was found in the aisles.” He tossed a compact silver tube on the table. “A strobe gun, an improved version of the one we used in Paris.”

The Chief eye’s flickered. “But I never authorized this.”

Bagitt made to leave. “I’ll find out who did. Murray lost to keep us hungry. And distracted.”

The Chief contemplated the closed door before picking up the phone.
“Sir, we have a problem.”

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100 word assignment – WEEK 48

Humanity

Billy stole towards the ruins, the meat and linen weighing heavy. They were wrong; the flashes, the gunfire, the screams, days old, but still too close to be ignored.

“You going somewhere, son?”

His father materialized from the gloom. Billy froze.

“You think we wouldn’t miss these supplies? We need them too.” He shook his head. “To think, I blamed it on the dog.”

A dry, sickly cough made him turn. The wounded man had crawled from rubble, his uniform, a tattered rag. A long breath rattled in his chest and he was still.

Billy tugged his dad’s limp fingers, eyes shining.
“Please, don’t go. He has friends.”

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100 word assignment – WEEK 47

Such wonderful magic …

The goblins stopped working and admired their creation. A red and yellow taxi hooted cheekily behind them.

“This wasn’t here yesterday,” Noddy observed. “Have you got permission?” Self righteous and irritating, but very naive. Pefect. Sly held onto his temper.

“Are you buying or spying?”, he enquired innocently, ignoring Gobbo’s inane giggle. “Only the finest Earl Grey for Toytown cars.”

Foolishly, Noddy relented. “But I’m still telling PC Plod …..”

Abruptly, the car accelerated to the horizon, Noddy’s scream trailing in its wake. A plume of smoke drifted lazily skywards.

Impressed, Sly chuckled to Gobbo. “Petrol. I told you, humans use such wonderful magic!”

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100 word assignment – WEEK 46

Duality

Its happening again.

He’s there, his rabid presence gnawing at the edges of my reason.
My temples throb with fractured sight. In anguish, I steal myself to drink the last of Jekyll’s stolen potions but it’s all that stands before the Reaper and the storm. I swallow, in guilty, blessed, luxury, till sanity returns.

Yet, locked in the dark recess of my mind, where the creature howls in vengeance, I touch the patient madness yet to come. And weep. God grant me courage, let Mary be the last!

I take the pistol from the drawer.

I cannot wake, exhausted, to the whisper of his name.

“Jack”

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