Welcome to the end of another week in what feels like the longest Twilight Zone episode ever.
Apparently whoever is authoring this episode thought that we were getting complacent and the stakes needed to be upped a bit. As if those earlier murder hornets weren’t enough. Now we have skyrocketing infections plus a new strain of H1N1 on the horizon. A perfect time for my dentist appointment on Monday.
Nothing but good times ahead.
For now, we’re kicking off a holiday weekend here–celebrating our breakup with Mother England. I’m sure everyone will wear their masks, wash their hands, and observe appropriate social distancing as the celebrate.
Oh, who am I kidding.
Well, I at least will do all three as I continue to shelter-in-place here in the Writing Castle, which now has a (mostly) working sprinkler system but is still lacking a repaired retaining wall.
To take my mind off reality and give myself something to do other than worry that one of the idiots shooting off illegal fireworks will set my hillside on fire, I think I’ll give today’s writing prompt and random words at shot.
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 either today’s random words or writing prompt will catch your creative fancy.
Ready?
What if: “Your character is hosting an Armageddon party?
Feel free to interpret the “What” any way you choose (or ignore it completely) and include any (or all) of the following random words:
harmless banana children firecracker
promise mutation flutter battery
cupcake wine sand dolphins
gushing prophetic love biblical
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 
Happy Fourth, Elizabeth! And to everyone else, as well. I’m late, I’m lame, and I’m missing “mutation.” But I’m done!
The Party
“It’s just a harmless firecracker display.” Cressida Smith-Jones sipped her banana daiquiri, the tails of her gossamer beach coverup fluttering in the soft July breeze, and watched the children gorge themselves on cupcakes. “It’s not like we’re stoning dolphins, darling.”
Her husband, Rockwell Smith-Jones IV, paused over the barbecue pit, tongs in hand. He tried, futilely, to scrape the sand from the hamburgers.
“This is a disaster,” he said. “Armageddon. I knew it would be. I was prophetic, that’s what I was. Prophetic.”
“I promise we’ll never do it again,” Cressida said soothingly. “Pour me some wine, would you, love?”
Rockwell, brandishing the tongs, tipped the wine bottle toward her. The wine gushed out into a goblet of biblical proportions, and with years of long practice behind her, Cressida caught every drop.
“And the firecrackers are battery operated,” she said.
Rockwell paused, letting the hamburgers scorch on one side.
“You better explain that to me,” he said.
“Mutation” was not at all missed. I loved the line “It’s not like we’re stoning dolphins, darling.” I’ve been reading golden age mysteries and they are littered with “darling.”
As for those battery operated fireworks, like Rockwell, I’m going to need an explanation. 🙂