Octogenarian
It’s “O” day on the A-to-Z Blogging Challenge, where I’m writing 100-word flash stories every day this month based on commenter prompts. Yesterday you all spoiled me for choice. Such an abundance of O-letter suggestions! In the end, I went with one of AJ Blythe‘s prompt for the theme. But you may find one or two other prompt suggestions in the story…
OCTOGENARIAN
Maybe I shouldn’t have beaten Kitty Mays three times at checkers. Though I suspect something else was in the water that day. Oxytocin, perhaps?
I entered the lounge. The home has lovely soft chairs and a large television. Kitty, George, Edith, and Robert were watching an opera. Kitty glanced at me. The others did likewise.
“She’s 73.”
“Youngster,” George hissed.
“I’ll be 80 in 7 years,” I said with a smile.
“Thinks she’s funny,” Robert growled.
Kitty picked up a walking stick, and shared a look with her friends.
“One of us has to go.”
I left and never returned.
Tomorrow’s letter is “P” so I need a plentitude of prompts for my P-story. I look forward to your suggestions! 🙂
By the way, today’s my wife’s birthday. She’s far from an octogenarian, so I couldn’t incorporate her into the story. But I wanted to wish her a happy birthday anyway! xxx
Happy birthday April. We are celebrating Ally’s birthday today as well😊. She’s coming over with her husband and our granddaughter Chloe Jaine.
Love the story. Very clever. Your brain must be exhausted with so much creativity!
Suggestions for p
Pyromaniac
Problem child
Pansies
Pigs in muck
Thank you, Jane! Hopefully the well will keep producing for a few more weeks, at least! 🙂 I hope you had a wonderful time with Ally and the family. Hopefully April will be in touch with you soon. She’s been meaning to write you for a while.
Today’s my paralegal’s son’s bday too! He’s 4, and sooooooo cute. Happy bday all!
P is for Perchance to dream. Penny for your thoughts. Pain in the asterisk. Pay it forward. Pick your poison. Pushme pullyu. And of course, Pray tell HOW do you write so many flash stories on such short timelines?!
Dena
https://denapawling.blogspot.com/
Happy birthday to your paralegal’s son! Awww!! 🙂 Thanks for the suggestions, and to answer your question: I don’t know. I’m probably sacrificing quality to write *something* so I wouldn’t be too impressed!
Colin, Here’s a short list of P-words to pick from for tomorrow’s post: Perpendicular, Practical, Prance, Pris, Parakeet, & Prinkly. I hope that helps with your short flash piece! 😉 Great theme for this month’s A2Z challenge. Thanks for stopping by to visit my A2Z iPad Art Sketch of a big-eyed OWL.
Thanks for the suggestions, Cathy. I appreciate the help!
Great story! How about pedantic or pendant?
http://melaniecrousesblog.blogspot.com/2018/04/o-is-for-optimal-living-daily.html
Thank you, Melanie! Those are good prompts. I could do something with a pedant–story-wise, I mean. 🙂
Who would think checkers was a violent sport, lol.
Too late to suggest a P word I would think, but just in case you are stuck for inspiration here are some for you… Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers (that was a favourite tongue twister from my childhood *grin*).
Not too late at all, AJ! Thank you for Peter Piper. As for today’s story, it’s not so much the game of checkers that was the problem. The clue to what’s going on is the mention of oxytocin. When Debs suggested that, I looked it up. It’s a hormone, sometimes referred to as the “love hormone” since it is associated with pair bonding. However, it has a negative side in that it’s also associated with group bonding among people who share characteristics to the exclusion of people who aren’t like them. For example, among racists. Or, perhaps, among 80-year-olds who consider someone younger than them an unwelcome presence… 🙂
Oh that makes it very clever indeed. Obviously your brain isn’t worn out yet 😉
Hey, that is my ‘name’ in your story 🙂 🙂 :)!!!! How awesome is that 🙂 🙂 :).
P for putrid plum, poisoned plumber.
Yes it is! You happen to have a screen name that fit with the day’s letter, and fit with the story, so I took the liberty of using it. Thank you! 🙂
Excellent & love the way you’ve incorporated more than one suggestion into your story. Love it. No suggestion as I’m frantically catching up!
A-Zing this year at:
FictionCanBeFun
Normally found at:
DebsDespatches
I love your concept for the challenge! And that users suggest the next word – so cool! I have to go back and start at the beginning.