#dailypost

Nightmare Alley – 100 words

They say there are ghosts and goblins in Nightmare Alley, but I know different. Nightmare Alley is empty. Devoid of sound and light; even the walls are hard to find. But smell? Oh, there’s a lot of that going on. Dead things and garbage, feces and urine, all of it thinly masked by the sweet scent of mint.

Nightmare Alley is the place where men who have regrets go to die. It’s a dreamscape for the innocent who are eternally paying for their past lives. It’s the plague of the insomniac. It’s purgatory for the guilty who walk there forever.

One Bad Step

You may be wondering why I’ve gathered you all here today. Please, settle down–yes, you in the back! Calm down!–and allow me to explain.

No matter the length of the journey, whether it be an epic one or a trip to the corner store, each begins with a single step. As did mine. My epic journey began like any other. I awoke, brushed my teeth, and set out. I made it all the way to the car before I realized I had forgotten my car keys!

You in the back! I’m not going to tell you again! So I went back into the house for the keys, but the phone was ringing. I went to answer it in case it was important. Because you know, I was heading out on an epic, year-long journey! It turned out to be someone selling time-shares. Imagine that! So I hung up and off I went again.

I waited the proper time at the airport – got a coffee, that sort of thing. It wasn’t until it was time to head to the gate that I realized I’d put my plane ticket down when I ran to answer the phone!

So that is why I’m here, talking to you a mere three hours and forty-five minutes after I embarked on my epic year-long journey. I shall attempt to go again next month, and when I get to the secret location to which I’m going, I will purchase your gold, with the money you have entrusted to me, and return with it a year from the time I leave. Yes I know! The man in the back would like his money returned to him now, but I’m afraid…

What do you mean, you all want your money back? Hey! Get off me! I… ahh!!!

Spelling Matters, a Limerick

There once was a young man named Rand
Who thought his desert rather bland
He yelled at the waiter
Who just wouldn’t cater
When Rand asked he take back the sand

Find The Daily Post prompt here.

Concentration through Glass

This post is a combination of the Stream of Consciousness Saturday prompt, Concentration, and the Daily Post prompt, Glass.

If I watch a raindrop upon my window, as it runs down causing a rivulet of light and shadow, in it I see the world in inverse. Is it that rain turns the world upside down? Or is the contrast of the dry inside and the wet on the outside so opposite that it flips my mind on its head… so to speak?

Mind blown.

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A False Lie

Tension filled the courtroom. Both prosecutor and defense stood when the jury walked solemnly back in.

As the crowd held its collective breath, the foreman spoke: “We, the jury, find the accused to be guilty of spreading false lies.”

The prosecutor and the defense turned to the head of the court for confirmation. The judge banged his gavel. “The defendant has been exonerated by virtue of double negative. Case dismissed!”

The Daily Post prompt today is False.

Island (Humorous Fiction) – Daily Post

They say no man is an island, yet here I stand, surrounded by the flood that has taken over my basement. My sump pump stopped working three days ago, and all the stuff my wife said we needed to keep has disappeared under the skunky water that’s now up to my waist. Oh wait! Is that a toaster I see floating over in the corner? If it is, it’s toast now. It ain’t no island like I am.

Yeah, my wife – sitting upstairs at the kitchen table, sobbing over all the junk she’s lost. I should never have encouraged her to go to all those garage sales in the first place. We’ll start fresh now though. No more bargains, no more…

“Yes, honey? No, I haven’t found the Royal Albert china yet!”

I’m sure it’ll be fine.

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The Daily Post today is Island. Check it out!

Give and Take – 100 word fiction – Daily Post

It is my pleasure to take from you all you have to give. And you give it willingly, you do. But for a price, of course.

You know I shall enjoy my pleasure, and you indulge me each time I ask. We have that sort of relationship, you and I. Of mutual benefit, do you not think?

The pleasures you give are sweet, they are sumptuous. They linger on the lips like the taste of a kiss, they do. And what is it I give back to you?

About a hundred bucks a day. Chocolate is not cheap, is it?

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Find the Daily Post here, where today the prompt is Pleasure.

open ~ muse

i close my eyes
above me you hover
breath upon my face
soft and fragrant
not a mere mortal;
you are the muse
my music
my art
the filter through which
my compassion comes
and love
ah love
and all i need do
is open my soul
and write you

The Daily Post – Open

Coming Out – 100-word Story

The doctor said it’s natural. It was a difficult appointment, but I feel slightly better now. I suppose I’ll have to tell my family. I wonder how that will go…

Mom, Dad, are you sitting down? I have this thing growing inside me. The doctor said it will come out by itself… No, it’s not a tapeworm.

Mom? Dad? Have you ever seen the movie, Alien?

Wait? Why are you backing away from me? No! Don’t run! You’ll make it come out n– Ahhhh!!!

Yeah. Probably best to just tell them I’m pregnant and get it over and done with.

This is part of The Daily Post prompt – the word of the day is Natural.

#SoCS – there’s one in every neighbourhood

the easy answer
is you’re nasty –
your tasty little
comments above
meaningful murmurs
that on the surface are
humorous, but if
they could hear you
they’d be unim-
pressed by the
quality of your quips

you’re the epitome of
vulgarity

but wouldn’t it be nice
if you could be just
a little bit more
accepting and
excepting the standards
to which you hold
yourself up there is
nothing to show me
that you’re any
better than
anyone
else

you could be the
epitome of,
well,
someone like me

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This post is part of Stream of Consciousness Saturday where the word of the week is “press.” Click the link to see how you can join in. It’s fun! https://lindaghill.com/2016/05/27/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-may-2816/

And this post is also in response to The Daily Post where the word of the day is Epitome.