100 Word Anonymous Writing Challenge #8 (August '15)

[Cascade]

**PLEASE DO NOT POST STORIES DIRECTLY TO THIS THREAD**

100-Word Anonymous Writing Challenge for August 2015.

The Writing Bit

Theme: Dilemma
Genre: Children's (pre teen) Fantasy

**PLEASE DO NOT POST STORIES DIRECTLY TO THIS THREAD**​

Please PM entries to me (@Cascade) and I will post them, once I’ve checked the word count.

Entries must be PMed to me no later than 23:59 (GMT) on Thursday, August 20 to be eligible.

I will do a word-count on receipt of all stories. Should any be over the 100-word limit, I will send a PM back to the story's author, and they will have an opportunity to trim a word here or there, and resubmit the story for posting.

The Voting Bit​

The Voting Poll will open after entries close and be open until 23:59 (GMT) on Monday August 24.

No need to have entered in order to vote. It’s anonymous. No-one will know anyway. Of Course I will know, but I’m not telling.

The Guessing Bit​

Guessing is entirely optional. And loads of fun.


Anyone who wishes is free to post a list of guesses matching up authors to stories.

Guess as many or as few as you think you can. All of them or none of them. Your call. In my experience there are no bad guesses only flattering ones.


Once the challenge is closed, I'll post a list of all the authors who've entered stories in the allotted time, with the addition of a non-participating Chronner.


I will post a list of who wrote what once we agree that guessing is completed. I will mention that guessing is completely optional; anyone can enter a story in the challenge with no obligation to guess later in the event, and vice versa.

The Lack of Substantive Prize Bit​

We can offer no prize save that which any author cherishes most...the admiration, and envy, of those who have been bested in fair wordplay.

 

[Cascade]

Ian the iPhone

Ian was the best iPhone ever.

Mum shouted down him sometimes. When she tossed him onto the sofa, he pulled faces, making me giggle.

He'd float by my bed and tell stories of princesses, goblins and heroic robots.

One day, Mum chucked him away. I told her he was alive; she said “Don't talk stupid. If you go in that bin, woe betide.”

I knew I'd get in trouble, but I rescued him.

I took him to a charity shop and posted him through the letterbox.

He's still out there, making other children laugh.

“Miss you forever, Ian.”

 

[Cascade]

Monster Girls

Lisa and Susan sat entranced in front of the television. They had to turn the volume down so it wouldn’t disturb Lisa’s parents. Lisa had permission to stay up Saturday night as long as she finished her homework.

They loved the Vampira show. Some of the movies were boring, but the hostess was funny and beautiful. Lisa's mother thought she was too scary, but her father thought she was sexy.

Susan looked a lot like Vampira. She had the same white skin and long black dress. Lisa's only problem was trying to figure out why nobody else could see her.

 

[Cascade]

Fudge?

The princess of Osmolia had 897 dreams to choose from every bedtime. This was remarkable, for she’d been born without the gift of spontaneous dreaming, and without fudge. But her father, who loved her more than he loved Osmolia (or fudge), had his wizard cast a spell that would steal from the children of his realm their only dream each nighttime, plus their fudge. In an orb of enchanted seeing, Princess Schmöelkzt would preview each dream, and select the one that most pleased her for that night’s fudge. Then joyous sleep on downy pillows of fudge. WHO ATE MY FUDGE?!?

 

[Cascade]

Arborea

’’Am I adopted?’’, Arborea asked, giggling. She’d always come up with some silly questions to tease Nana as she tucked her in.

’’Yes’’ sighed Nana. ’’Actually, I rented you. From the tree people. You happy now? Go to sleep now you little brat’’ she said and kissed the girl on the forehead.

’’Rented me?’’ asked Arborea, still giggling. ’’Wow, hold on a sec. Does it mean you are to give me back? When?’’

Nana looked through the window at the tree outside. One of its branches pointed at Arborea; another slowly beckoned.

’’Well...not just yet’’, she said pulling the curtains.

 

[Cascade]

Someone to Look Up to

Skip turned a last slow somersault in the air, spread his arms and allowed the leather wings of his flight suit to billow and slow his descent.

This had been his first jump from the 12 fathom tower and his blood pounded in his temples as his feet touched the ground.

Skip gazed upwards trying to work out which of the tiny tumbling specks above him was his brother Kenon. Kenon had been the first to jump from the mile wall, the first to fly beyond the cavern. Kenon was the greatest sky dancer of them all.

One day…

 

[Cascade]

The easiest of solutions

To his owner, Puddles was a fluff ball that meowed and purred in all the right places. To everyone else, he was a scraggy clawed menace with a temper always at boiling point.

Today he was Frank's problem, for Puddles was occupying the best sunning spot on the Close.

Frank sat deep in the shade weighing up options. The list was short, the results eye wincing.

From nowhere Yin and Yang, Siamese kittens full of youthful fearless stupidity, launched themselves at Puddles.

Frank watched the chase disappear down the garden. Dilemma solved, he wandered out, settled down and napped.

 

[Cascade]

Of Annoying Inanimate Objects and Other Plights Of the Common Adventurer

Edgeard the Talking Sword wouldn't shut up, even from within the scabbard. Adventurin' Johnny heard it every night mumbling muffled words, none kind. It was a very potty-mouthed sword, as far as talking swords go. Its edges were dull— not so its tongue, and would slay monsters with the sharpest wits imaginable.

And so, Adventurin' Johnny was shocked when one day of monster-slayin', Edgeard stopped yappin'. Monsters surrounded them.

"Edgeard, go on, bash their self-esteem! Talk trash 'bout their mothers! Do somethin'!" Johnny said in desperation.

It was then Johnny learnt magical swords can also get sore throats.

 

[Cascade]

PALS

I hate cats.

Me too.
I’ve had it with that smug fur ball next door.

“You can’t. Remember, daddy said, kill one more cat and he’ll send you away to the country.”
Don’t care. Snowball’s got to go.

“Don’t do it. Please don’t. You’re my only friend.”

It was then that Timmy made his first grown up decision.

#

“Hey Joe.”

“Hey hank. What’s up neighbor?”

“The cat’s gone missing.”

“Well, that’s cats for you.”

Timmy patted Rover as they listened in.

“You’re a good boy, aren’t you?”
No, Timmy, you’re a good boy. Rover winked. A very good boy.

 

[Cascade]

Horns Can Be Fun

One morning Sammy woke up with horns on his head. At first he was upset. Then he thought they were cool.

At breakfast, his Mom didn't give him a second look. Sammy always had a little devil in him, so the horns didn't seem out of place.

His little sister screamed and ran away when she saw him. He realized horns can be fun!

Sammy became popular at school. Bullies respected him, teachers never bothered him, and everyone wanted to be his friend.

The next morning his little sister woke up with a halo. Now he was in trouble!

 

[Cascade]

Tooth Or Dare?

Varen scrambled through the thick hedges. The trees had been broken and gnarled by the impact. Night was creeping into the forest; a slit of a stream drank in the suns remaining light.


The dragon was curled into a ball like a bundle of snakes. Its breathing was heavy. Tiny dark flowers of blood blossomed from the tear in its chest.


The boy approached slowly. He was sweating; when he met the beasts’ gentle green eyes his raised spear trembled.


What would the other boys say? What would the chief think?


Varen closed his eyes.


The spear flashed.


Wings unfurled.

 

[Cascade]

Knot gnome at this address

Her hair's a tangled mess again
Serena, skipping through the wind
Body unhinderèd by brain
That's totally undisciplined
They've tied the knot, recited vows
Of permanent fidelity
An end to dull virginity
Together for eternity.

The veil's as messed up as the hair.
Her wedding gown a crumpled mess
Why would she fret, he doesn't care
His lover bides inside the dress
His newly won, delightful spouse
And you, my dear, remain too young,
So future acts remain unsung,

While they are nearly young as you
Let them believe in permanence
Believe their love continues true
Two souls united, providence.​

 

[Cascade]

More trouble from Albert

There wasn’t a mouse as was stirring
a pin could have dropped and you’d hear
when mother and father Ramsbottom
arrived at the Wallasey pier

Albert weren’t young any longer
he’d left and found hisself a trade
and every alternative Tuesday
He sent ‘em an ark he had made

Their garden now getting quite cluttered,
they decided to put ‘em to sea;
arriving on beach to unload ‘em
Pa found as he needed a wee.

He’d never been one to be dirty.
Should he go crouch by a dune?
Or were it unseemly perculiar
to skinnydip under the moon?

 

[Cascade]

An Embarrassment of Sisters
"Sisters!" Ethan grumped.

Mollie and Cassie were playing Sweet Or Sour. They waved at an old woman, who smiled.

"Sweet!" They didn't see the sneering monster beside her. Ethan's thumbs-up received a monsterly nod of acknowledgement.

A bike zoomed past. The pillion passenger clacked its beak at them. Oblivious, they judged the biker: "Sour!"

A trucker waved. "Sweet," Cassie giggled. Mollie waved back, enraging the giant on the back of the truck.

The giant's sword swung down. Ethan swallowed. They were all going to die, unless.... Ethan wielded his secret weapon mercilessly, rewriting the ending.

Sweet! Ethan tasted victory.

 

[Cascade]

Family First

Annabelle always wanted to be a princess.

The man in the mirror was elderly; hidden behind a cloak. He swore she would be happy ruling over her own kingdom.

Her suspicion arose when his voice lowered and he hissed for her to hurry. The Throne will be taken by another, he claimed; fire burned around him.

That day her sister broke Annabelle’s hairbrush. Annabelle was so angry. The cowl covered man begged her to enter the mirror, but she knew better.

She called her sister to the room and asked her if she wanted to be a princess.

 

[Cascade]

The Fake Sound of Progress

Little Jimmy felt bad about cheating on the audition. He started on his own, focused on playing the right notes at right times. But he just lacked the talent.

Halfway through, realizing he was not going to get admitted to the school band, he tapped his foot on the ground and the little piano people climbed up. They started running across the keys, while his fingers only hovered above them, pretending to play. Now it sounded the way it should, Jimmy thought.

“Is there a problem, Jimmy?” the teacher asked. “Why did you stop playing?”

 

[Cascade]

Bus Ride

“Where to go today?” Matilda whispered as she lay in bed.

“Hmm, yesterday I played with the faerie king by the ring of firestones. Day before, the unicorn took me on the most wondrous ride to the cloud city.”

Jumping up, she began dressing quickly.

“I know! That silly rabbit promised me a trip to wonderland! That’s where I’ll go.”

Just then her mother called. “Matilda, time for school!”

“And no sleeping on the bus,” she added.

Frowning, Matilda headed downstairs.

“Mommy, it’s not sleeping, it’s adventuring!” she cried.

But she knew, once you grew up, it was just sleeping.

 

[Cascade]

Toy Story

'Take me! I can reconnoitre enemy territory and keep you safe.'

'You can't take him – he's an outdated relic of the eighties. I'm modern and gorgeous - take me.' Barbie flicked a disdainful pony tail at Action Man.

Susan frowned at the two old friends, one in each hand. 'Why can't I take both of you?'

'Don't be ridiculous. Your tomboy years are over- it's time to move on, now.'

'Alright,' Susan said, tightening her lips. 'I've decided.' She placed Barbie carefully in the shoebox bed, tucking her in. 'I don't believe in gender stereotypes. Bye, Barbie.'

 

[Cascade]

The Price Of Peace

The war was over.

The two kingdoms had fought for years, big noisy battles and little fights that were equally vicious. Now, a treaty was drawn up. The King of Shedania and the Queen of Cookeria agreed to all the conditions except one: The fate of Princess Alexandra.

“Choose Shedania,” said the King, “and I’ll grant you a vast duchy.”

“Choose Cookeria,” said the Queen, “and you’ll have all the dresses you want.”

“If I can’t have a united Kingdom,” said Alexandra, “I don’t want either.”

So she took her trusty companion, Mr. Bear, and set off for an adventure.

 

[Cascade]

A Friend In Need...

I'm cross with Mom. She shouted at me for tearing my dress.

And I'm cross with Dad. He won't let me play outside. He says it's too dark.

I'm not friends with them now.

But I've still got my secret friend - Cali. We talk at night, in the dark. He'll do anything I ask. He says we made a pact, whatever that means. Once, when Jon from next door teased me, I asked Cali to punish him. Jon got so sick they took him away in a black ambulance.

So, tonight, should I ask Cali to punish Mom or Dad?