Gaze averted, her eye catches something engraved in the brimstone.
A beast indebted offers servitude,
A stitch of time and don’t be rude.
Welcome to Five Word Weekly. Each Monday, five words will magically appear on Greg’s Blog at 5:00am Eastern Time (Canada/United States). Your task is to craft prose or poetry using any or all of the word prompts. How you participate is entirely up to you. Your work(s) can be a single piece, a series of stand-alone projects, or an epic serial. Let the words be the inspiration that takes you wherever your imagination leads.
periodic | beta | outreach | cauliflower | copper
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“Looks like we are in the syrup this time, Alveolus.”
“Yep, it’s a real sticky situation,” Al replied.
“Stop buttering me on both sides,” Dimples shot back, “…and think us a way out of this gooey mess.”
But Alveolus couldn’t move. His edges had melted into the sugary maple and were stuck to the plate like glue. There was no escape this time. He and Dimples had managed to go undetected at the bottom of the icebox for so long that they had almost forgotten the monster existed.
The notorious monster known as Nathaniel the Devourer had returned. It had been chomping down grid-iron goodness in pairs with some regularity. In fact, the six companions they’d been travelling with, including Dimples sisters, Nooks and Cranny, had all met the same gruesome end at the paws of the beast. Alveolus and Dimples were the only survivors.
Nathaniel had grown tired of devouring the same prey for breakfast, day in and day out. It had turned to scrambling eggs, drowning cereal flakes, or attacking stacks of pancakes. Still, Dimples felt that twinge every time the freezer door popped open. Al could almost feel her discomfort when the hand of Mom began rummaging down through the icebox’s contents. Although he’d never let Dimples see, the truth is it made him feel a little bit uneasy too.
All they could do was hope freezer burn would spoil them enough that they’d be set free. Sent on a journey to municipal waste heaven before the monsters return. They both lived with the understanding and fear that the day could come when Nathaniel’s fancy turned to dreams of syrup-filled pockets again.
Alveolus and Dimples promised to stay strong for each other, but as they waited on the plate it was difficult not to waffle. The pair wore smiles as they melted into one final embrace. Alveolus kissed Dimples and whispered “I love you” one last time before the monster was on them.
The following piece of fiction is being reposted for Fandango’s Flashback Friday series. “New Hope” was originally published on December 9th, 2021 for Sonya’s Three Line Tales challenge which would seemingly disappear without a trace at the end of that month. Sonya’s weekly prompt was the first writing prompt I’d ever replied to on my blog and really was a turning point in the direction my blog would take. That first #TLT response was called “Forgotten“. I am happy to report that Sonya’s Three Line Tales has recently returned with new challenges. The current challenge can be found here. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this blast from the past…
Adam awoke from cryostasis; Eva and their children had not survived the journey.
Eight centuries and sixty-seven years had passed since New Hope catapulted into the cold vacuum of space, towards a new home.
Humanity lost, Adam walked to the edge of Canis Major, the Great Dog Sea, and undeniably knew what it meant to be alone.
Originally written for Week 306 of Sonya’s Three Line Tales challenge.
Photo credit: Joshua Earle via Unsplash.
Copyright 2021 Greg Glazebrook, All Rights Reserved.
I hope you have enjoyed this walk down memory lane.
The earth now turned and barren,
The bounty of harvest done,
Except a row of parsnips,
Sweet for frosts first kiss.
Bright Sun trekking ‘cross the sky,
Pale Moon chasing from behind,
Slave to Earth’s eternal grasp,
Sun to Moon, kiss my…
Dulled by the trolley’s rhythm,
I drift through fragmented memories
of past summers in Canada.
Lazy days spent at the lake.
Endless trees, evergreen garlands,
strung between water and blue clear skies.
Sunday snoozing in the back pew.
Choir hymns rippling through
waves of vanilla scented candles.
Those who have flocked here,
Explorers, seeking truths
for which there are no answers.
If ever there was a place to believe!
Even for the briefest of moments
before the colours turn.
Fading through the back window…
Leaving only our ghosts to greet
the chalk white snows of winter.
A weathered and worn windsock,
taut on the peak above.
An unheeded warning
to the hazy milieu below.
––
Conflated is the vapour
that escapes your cruel grasp,
devoid of oxygen we once shared.
Sharp wit and candor weigh ––
heavy like the suffocating
crush induced by the snake’s coil.
––
Panic bells chime within,
beckoning my getaway
before the coming storm, but
I cannot leave her behind.
Welcome to T-Shirt Wisdom Tuesday. It’s exactly what it sounds like. Every other Tuesday I will post a quote that I’ve seen printed on a T-Shirt or think should have been.
Someone is always willing to give their two cents worth even if you haven’t asked.
Check back weekly and see what witty, funny, or plain old ridiculous T-Shirts wisdom I’ve been able to find or come up with. Suggestions are always welcome.
“Hey lad, you look like a smart fella. You see that bridge?” the stranger asked. “When it was built it was a marvel of modern engineering. A bridge suspended from cables above. Unlike other types of bridges, it was designed to sway in the event of an earthquake. I reckon when the big one hits us it’ll be the only thing left standing.”
“Talk about full-blown tour guide, mister. Are you trying to sell me the thing, you sound like a salesman for Christ’s sake.”
“No, but while we are on the topic of sales, I do have some oceanfront property in Arizona. From my front porch, you can see the sea. If you buy that from me, I’ll throw the Golden Gate in for free!”
“Must be some property if you’re putting golden gates in? How much do you want for it.” The lad asked.
“Whatever you got…” the man said wearing a grin from ear to ear.
Securing the beast’s loyalty would be a momentous feat, she thought as she entered its lair, but weeks of ruminating over every detail wouldn’t matter if she couldn’t choke back her screams…
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