Xyster
And so we come to probably the hardest day of the A-to-Z Challenge. Especially if you’re writing 100-word flash fiction stories, and you refuse to use “Ex-” as a way to get around the fact there aren’t many English words starting with “X.” But once again, yesterday’s commenters gave some wonderful suggestions. The most intriguing was Liam‘s, which is the one I ran with. Especially when I looked the word up and found out what it is. Oh the possibilities! But only 100 words. So here it is:
XYSTER
The soft scraping shed dust that fell like fine snow on the table. The craftsman with his surgical tool turned the femur over.
“Animal or human?”
He turned to see Jen watching.
“Human.”
She wasn’t perturbed. “Did you ask?”
“Of course.” He nodded to the table in the corner. Recently-lit red candles encircled a white cloth square. “Did you?”
“I don’t have to.” She smiled. “It’s beautiful.”
“It’s you,” he said, his ego clearly stroked. “Or it will be when I’m finished.”
“What do you need?”
“A tibia.”
“Human?”
“Human.”
Jen pecked her father’s cheek. “I’ll be back before dawn.”
The next-to-last letter is a bit easier. I need some Y-prompts, folks! In the comments, if you please… 🙂
Yurt, Yak, Yeti, Yemen, Yodel, Yoga, Yahrzeit, Yashiki
I’ve really been enjoying these stories. Thanks for sharing them!
Thank you for the prompts, Jill. I’m glad you’re enjoying the stories. You’re very welcome. 🙂
Yikes!
Y is for Yikes! You know who You are. Yellow submarine. Yowza. Weird Al Yankovic. Ypsilanti. And You can really crank out the flash fiction!
Dena
https://denapawling.blogspot.com/
I did consider using Beatles song titles for prompts… but I’m glad I chose this instead. Much more fun… and exciting… and nerve-wracking… 8-}
Great word – and you so did it justice.
Suggestions – yearling, yellowhammer, yoke (in the Irish usage)
A-Zing this year at:
FictionCanBeFun
Normally found at:
DebsDespatches
It is a good word. Thank you, Deb. And thanks for the suggestions! 🙂
I read the story before reading the meaning of xyster. The word looks like oyster but I thought that it might mean something like shyster. I’m glad I didn’t read the meaning first. Your ending had me shudder.
The View from the Top of the Ladder
YES! *Fist pump* I know, it seems mean to relish in someone else’s terror… but I’m very pleased. I kind of hope you perhaps don’t have nightmares about it… maybe… >:-] Thanks, Su-sieee!