A Twist in a Routine

Kerri's daily walks were around the school campus.

Today was something weird.

The playground wore a deserted look. The air was still and heavy. The leaves were motionless, and not a single bird in sight.

"Where is everybody" she muttered in distress.

Peeked into several classrooms. Some were dark while some showed signs of movement.

Curious she knocked on one door and waited patiently until a lady answered.

"Quick, get in here!" she motioned,"There is a gunman on loose, and we need to take shelter."

That stunned Kerri; she froze but was pulled into the dark room.

--------
In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story about an empty playground. Is it abandoned or are the children in school?

Bathroom Singer

"Mom!" he shouts from his bathroom.


She inquires with an anxious emphasis.

"No running water" he declares in an annoying tone.

She rushes to the water storage and opens its tap.

From a distance, she can hear the water spurt from the faucet. At first, the flow is irregular giving out a spate of explosions as if announcing its arrival, and after such repeated events, there was fury and momentum in its flow.

That was followed by a soft hum that gave way to a pitch that was loud enough to make the neighbor's bang her front door.

=========

In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story that includes the sense of sound. 

No Accidents!

"Tisha, I Dare you!" Mom glared into her toddler's eyes while rapidly washing her hands.

The toddler at first lowered her gaze and tried to distract herself with the toy nearby. But that urge was too strong. She twisted her mouth indicating she needed to let go. 

Mom could feel her strong desire. She kept talking comforting words. 

Finally, she leads her towards the toilet seat, after a quick pull of her training pants and placement on the seat, the relief on letting go brought a smile on Tisha's lips while Mom was elated over no accidents!


--------
 In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story that changes with a smile.
Join in the fun at CarrotRanch

Achoo!

"Achoo!" Patricia gave out a couple of continues sternutations, and it made everyone in the audience silent.

She was embarrassed.


Apologized!

While wiping her nose and fidgeting with her slides she speculated over her decision of taking a spoonful of honey made from the local bees for the last few months or popping in the anti-histamine each day to avoid this moment.

"Jeez! it sure is not an easy decision when one chooses to go the alternate route to fight pollen allergies, huh!" she snickered with a sniff and watery eyes while commenting over her act of sneezing.

------

In 99 words (no more, no less) include insects in a story. Periwinkles, bees laden with pollen, ants building hills. What can insects add to a story?

Bullet Dancing

Angie was miffed at the bank clerk, 'Sign this, Sign that. Crazy laws and regulations. What does she think of herself!' she could not stop cursing while stepping out of the bank. 

'Now I will make her dance to my tunes once she steps out'  she said while revolving her finger around the trigger guard back and forth in her right hand. With her cowboy hat crooked as it blocked the rays of the sun, she stood on the corner and waited for the clock to strike 5 pm to avenge her thirst of being laughed at over her clumsiness. 


--------
 In 99 words (no more, no less) write dance into your story. Twirl your characters round and round or stomp your plot onto the page. Use dance in any way that comes to mind. Be specific or free, tango or disco.
Join in the fun at CarrotRanch.

Café Noir

Tamara gulped many times but to no luck. The saliva refused to ingest. The excitement was making her sweat as she circled around the cafe.
"Tammy" 
She froze, blinked a couple of times to register, and picked her Latte. 
Stared at it
Walked holding it with both hands.
'I missed you' she whispered as she took a small slow sip and savored it with closed eyes while giving out a tremble.
'Duty took me away from you. The war was full of turmoil and vitality that caffeine was not needed. Glad to be back!' she muttered to the cup.
-------

In 99 words (no more, no less) write about a place of comfort that is a refuge. Have fun with it, like a pillow fight between best friends at a slumber party or newlyweds in search of the perfect mattress. Or you can go dark and write about unusual comforts, like a bad habit or a padded cell. Play with the idea of comfort and refuge.

Join in the fun at CarrotRanch

NaNoWriMo

Tara was whisking through the aisle of her home while vigorously rubbing the temples of her head, 'Sheesh! I need to get Victor moving!' she mumbled.

'Creativity...where thy gone?' she shouted in frustration while plopping on the chair and staring at her computer screen.

'Nanowrimo you are putting me on the edge!' she moaned in agitation.

Finally! She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. 

Gradually she could feel herself relax and in a few minutes vigorous tapping of the keyboard could be heard from a distance. Her mind thy tool could get the antidote for Victor. 


-------
In 99 words (no more, no less) include a tool in a story. How can it enhance the character, tension or meaning? It can also be a story about a tool or a character’s obsession for tools.  Join in the fun at CarrotRanch

A Mixed Bag

Every morning seeds are poured into the bird feeder. There is an assortment of seeds thus, attracting birds of all sizes. 

Through their constant chirps, I can get a feel of their happiness, and good spirits as a result pigeons, sparrows, blue jays and crows are pecking upon at the same time. Contentment is never in their charts. Thus, they continue to feast upon and not get frenzied by the human company until I tripped over a sparrow, thus making the flock fly away.


I carefully picked up that feeble bird and decided to nurse it back to health.

--------

In 99 words (no more, no less) write the common premise: “I ran over a deer (or other animal) and have decided to nurse it back to health.”

Join in the fun at CarrotRanch.

Beat the Drought

The weather may be getting hotter, but the Californians are exceeding the state government’s expectations by conserving a record amount of water.

The State Water Resources Control Board reported that consumers cut their usage by 29% in May, one-upping the government’s request for a 25% reduction by the end of June.

Dozens of communities across the Golden State have risen to the occasion by shortening showers, using water-efficient appliances, and turning lawns into drought-resistant gardens, cutting their use upwards of 30% in some cases.

The mantra, "United we stand, Divided we fall" holds true for all aspects!


---------
In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story that is ripped from the headlines.
Join in the fun at CarrotRanch

A nerd

"Move it, fellas!" Torri was shouting and pushing past people in the mall without apologies, and that made people either turn towards her with eyebrows crossed or accuse her of the wrongdoing. 

Torri was unperturbed!

Her goal was to be there before the store opened. Be amongst the first few customers to avail of the discount and still be able to grab the latest technology in her hand. 

Her weakness towards most recent gadgets sure was putting a hole in her pocket, but the lust and passion were overriding her mind and intelligence, thus avoiding her to think straight. 

------
 In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story that includes a vice. Join CarrotRanch for fun!

The Mailman

Looking through the window, she stares at the path wondering if it will arrive as mentioned in the UPS tracking information.

Her feeble eyes look at the volume of the bottle, and she is in a dilemma  if she should take the last dose or leave it for a time that is crucial?

Ever since the insurance peaked up the prices for the drugs that she had been taking on a regular basis, she has been relying on the mailman.

Just then the doorbell rang, and that prompted her first to take her scheduled dose before receiving her package.

------

 In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story that has an expectation met or missed.
Join in the fun at CarrotRanch!