Happy Friday and welcome to the end of another fun-filled week. Well, perhaps fun-filled isn’t quite the word I was looking for.
It has certainly been a busy news week, what with the primary presidential elections here at home and and COVID-19 around the world. It’s hard to tell at this point which one is having the bigger impact on the economy.
I can say that the virus is making itself felt at the day job – not because anyone is sick (knock on wood) but because we’ve all been “grounded” and several conferences have been cancelled. I’m okay with the grounding, since it got me out of having to go to a big conference in Las Vegas, and hope my co-workers continue to remain healthy.
The stock market definitely seems to be upset about everything that is going on though, judging by the wild up-and-down swings of the past week or so. Here’s hoping things settle down soon and we are all able to get back to our regularly scheduled lives.
While waiting for “normal”, I think I’ll take a break from following the news and give today’s writing prompt and random words a go.
Care to join me?
For those of you working away on a story (whether a first draft or a polished version on its way to publication), if you’re not feeling random, we’d love to hear a bit – whether it’s a scene, a paragraph, or even a phrase that you are especially pleased with and would like to share.
If you don’t have a story in progress, or just want to work on something new, I hope today’s random words and writing prompt will catch your creative fancy.
Ready?
What if: “Your character is quarantined?
Feel free to interpret the “What if” any way you choose (or ignore it completely) and include any (or all) of the following random words:
disbeliever time daydream mad
emotional grim young horizontal
bittersweet absurd pulse elevator
boredom getaway airport game
I look forward to seeing your stories in the comments. If you’re not feeling in the writing mood today, or don’t have time, feel free to post suggestions you might have for future “what-if” prompts. Ideas are always welcome.
Happy writing to all!
Eight Ladies Writing 
I’m feeling a little bit quarantined myself these days, with this horrible cold I have. Good work getting out of a conference, Elizabeth! I hope you and your coworkers (and everyone out there) stay healthy, warm, and dry. Like Flavia…
Flavia Radish’s Big Adventure
Flavia Radish glanced around the airport terminal as the young health worker took her pulse.
“Elevated,” she told Flavia, making a note on her chart before taking the thermometer out of Flavia’s mouth.
What kind of airport was this? They weren’t supposed to be using those old mercury thermometers. They were supposed to be using those forehead-touching ones. What else didn’t it have? Wine bars. Passport control. Baggage porters. Baggage carousels, for heaven’s sake. This airport was so small, it didn’t even have an elevator.
And now it looked like she was stuck here. What was supposed to have been a quick, tropical getaway to alleviate the boredom of a Minnesota winter had turned into a grim game for absurdist madmen.
“I expect it’s elevated because I’m excited to be headed to the beach,” Flavia said, brightly. “Snow’s here, time to head out!”
“I’m afraid not,” the health worker said.
An emotional Flavia lugged her suitcase back to her car as the latest winter blizzard intensified, driving snow and sleet in horizontal sheets across the parking lot. She’d wanted to go so badly. She believed in public health and safety, she really did, and she didn’t disbelieve what the health worker had said. But she felt fine. She was fine. But now that she’d been turned away, all her hopes and dreams of a warm and welcoming getaway would just be… daydreams. Fantasies.
She started the car and headed for the exit. As she left the lot, her suitcase shifted in the back seat, and she thought, wait.
Her bathing suit and snorkel gear was packed. She had a full tank of gas. Nobody said she couldn’t drive to Florida.
All it took was a right turn at the light. She was on her way.
Great job, Kay. I love what you did with the prompt and “Absurdist Madmen” sounds like a great name for a band. 🙂
Sorry to hear you’ve been in your own personal quarantine. I hope you and your cold are able to part ways ASAP!.
I’ve decided to invoke executive privilege and fire the cold. It’s shown me way too much loyalty! Time to get rid of the creep. 🙂