JULY 2020 75-WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- VICTORY TO THE JUDGE!

[fostersaccount]

Worlds Saddest Painter​

Brian exhibits his painting to weeping applause.
An overwhelmed woman leaps to her death!

TV News sensationalizes the event and his painting sells for millions.
Haunted by the suicide his artwork grows darker. Dozens more kill themselves.

"Make something happy?" he scoffs "the world isn't happy. I'm an ARTIST and my art is REAL"
Intoxicated by the validation of world fame and fueled by monstrous ego he posts his art online for free.

300,000,000 suicides.

 

[MikeAnderson]

This Is How You Do a Science Fair Volcano!
​

"Yeah, Mr. Pendelton; how uninspired and lazy is my science fair volcano now?"

Mr. Pendelton, Jimmy's science teacher, had no retort. He was too busy running for his life from the magma flow careening down the hall that leveled the cafeteria. Jimmy wasn’t lying when he bragged he was an elementalist on Facebook. His joyful vindication and superior effort, though, was soured by a realization…

The cafeteria was incinerated. And it was taco Tuesday!

 

[Marvin]

A Journey

I’m ready, my gossamer sail spread out above.
Waiting for the slightest breath to sweep me up.

Floating now, on the fickle swirling breeze.
Travelling onward, while far below flames ravish the earth.

My sail now spent; spiralling down I come.
The land is burnt and blackened.
Perfect. All the more space, light and nourishment for me.

Soon to become a brilliant flash of colour against this dark canvas.
But first I need a drink...

 

[johnnyjet]

Earth, Air, Fire, Water

Earth moved.
Air howled.
Fire spat.
Water wept

 

[Sblackwood]

Experimental Teaching​

In the future, humanity lives in 179 Satellites that circle Jupiter. In the gymnasium of Satellite 45, Seth lines up his shot. On the target is a periodic table. He breathes out, aims at oxygen, and fires.

The bullet hits Fluorine. Seth slumps. From the box to his left, he grabs the pill labeled FLUORINE and swallows it. Then, like the others, he vomits.

Mr. Sanderson is disappointed. The new high-stakes learning environment isn’t working.

 

[CarBear]

Subterfuge

I gawked at the cliffs in front of me. They stared back unsympathetically. At high tide, crossing these waters was impossible. Though, being marooned and hungry, I had few options. My last-ditch effort was to try out the water pacification incantation the Nereid had taught me.
Focus, relax…“Taxidi Hydor!”

All at once I found myself standing, unceremoniously disrobed, in front of the twelve Olympians. I knew then I had been double-crossed.

 

[Joshua Jones]

The Fault in Our Star.

This was… different. 1 and 2 burned light, 6 and 8 soothed, but this was shadow in my core.

26. My sisters called it Star Death. No cure. After a melancholy rotation, I considered my children. While my death was inevitable, perhaps their creatures could escape. I sent unheeded warning flares.

Finally, as my core succumbed to shadow, a small ship attempted escape. My heart leaped, then collapsed.

I’m sorry, little ones. It’s too late.

 

[mosaix]

Blown Away

Old man Filch watched from his window as the kid casually broke bits off his fence – again.

He turned to his cat.

“Well, Grimalkin, what do you think? Burying? Burning?”

The cat shook its head.

“No, you're right. A bit extreme.”

“Water then?”

Another shake.

“That only leaves...”

The cat nodded.

The ferocity and odour of his farts took the kid by surprise and would continue to do so for some days to come.

 

[Trollheart]

The Element of Surprise

“Danger! Elements!” blared the alert, and I thought what the blark? Elements?

Serves me right for buying cheap. Hey, surveying jungle planets costs money, you know? Mind you, had I known that warning system had a blarking speech impediment...

So far this year we've been stampeded by “jiriffs”, “ronos” and, yeah, “elements”.

Next budget meeting we gotta address the element in the room.

Ah blark! Now I'm doing it!

 

[Parson]

The MUSE A.I. in 2042​

Today I’m writing a Science Fiction story.

MUSE (sarcastically): “Good luck.”

Don’t need luck. Writing is 99% perspiration.

“No MUSE, means no Inspiration; so, no story.”

It’s about Captain Treadway traveling to Xanadu while fighting with his wife.

MUSE: “Hopeless battle then?”

No, you programmed monstrosity, love conquers all. In the final battle they discover they need and love each other. Happy ending!

“That’s a story?

Well, it has all the elements.

“No, it doesn’t.”

 

[scarpelius]

The shaman troll's coming of age

"Now that you gphew up, is time to phove youphself."
The novice nodded and swallowed. The Great Shaman saw that and tried to comfort him.
"No need to be afphaid, you are în your elephaent."
The novice smiled and chanted a spell.
"God phammit, not an elephaent, ELEPHAENT!"
The small elephant in front of him raised the trunk and trumpeted his excitement.
"ELEPHAENT... oph fophget it!"
"You'phe pheady!"

 

[holland]

Table 22. Prevalence of life forms by primary chemical elements they are based on

Boron-based Very common. Dominating life form in the universe. Highly complex and intelligent organisms.	Silicon-based Common. Found across the universe. Around 16 per cent of all life is silicon-based.
Sulphur-based Very rare. Found only in three isolated pockets. Simple organisms.	Carbon-based Extinct.

 

[chrispenycate]

Elements of elegance​

Finishing schools start the process, rather than complete it.

Any of the generally attractive young people graduating from these institutions is graceful enough for catwalks, know the correct silverware for any dish at tables across all continents, dance, judge any artform, always have a conversation subject in any company - they are the cream of the stylish.

But only the Hamelade Institute trains its students lethality in all weapons, from chipped flint to fusion missiles.

 

[Ambrose]

How to annoy the Wife.​

‘There. That’s about it.’ Weary, he straightened up. His pen dropped to the floor, joining the compasses where he had cast them.

‘Dinner’s ready,’ came a voice.

He glanced again at the scroll, then frowned. Something was not quite right. He sighed, and picked up the pen once more. ‘Just a minute,’ he called. ‘Not long.’

‘Eukleidēs. Eukleidēs. Come you and get it now,’ she called. ‘Or it’ll go cold. That’s axiomatic.’

 

[Astro Pen]

Elemental Acceptance​

Outside the cave.
Naked, in the rain, feeling each drop strike my skin.
Why had I spent my life hiding from you?
Now I allow myself to feel you, your dancing silver fingertips and the loving caress of the breeze.
This oneness, this belonging.
I close my eyes, arms extended, almost flying on the hilltop, wind whistling in my ears.
Surrender.
I am yours now, a true child of mother earth.
Cowering no more.

 

[M. Robert Gibson]

Phosphorus Argon Tantalum Yttrium - Oxygen Nitrogen

Hello Bromine, welcome to the party. Let me introduce you to some other guests.

Over there are the Nitrogen twins and Oxygen. Boy, when they get together it's a real gas, a right laugh!

Here's Carbon, a proper diamond geezer under pressure.

And Neon, she really lights up the room.

That's Gold and Silver. They're a bit precious but treasured nonetheless.

Finally, meet Aluminium. I'm sure you'll get on like a test tube on fire.

 

[paranoid marvin]

Life Through A Microscope


The answer to the meaning of life was discovered one Wednesday afternoon, just before teatime. Surprisingly (and quite disappointingly for some) it wasn't a number or an equation or even a deeply philosophical thought; in fact it wasn't even the answer, but rather an answer. Nevertheless it was a missing piece of the jigsaw, mankind's first step on the road to enlightenment. And the answer? The discovery of the most vital element -
Pn : pneuma.

 

[Vince W]

Dry Ground

Billy raised his face to the elements, frowning. Muddy water seeped into his boots as he lay there scanning the valley for the expected Xexik patrol.

The comm unit crackled. “Here they come.”

Billy never remembered the fighting. Afterwards, his sergeant found him wringing out his tunic.

“Any chance the weather boffins will ease up on this rain, sergeant?”

“You can see the sun again after we win this war, trooper.”

Billy continued wringing.

 

[AstroZon]

Asteroid Miners

“Almost home.” Bozz said excitedly. “Four years of chasing asteroids... How much do you think we’ll get Scofi?”

“Not sure. 30 tones of platinum plus a nice haul of rare earth metals. Even with 3 shares, we’ll all soon retire in luxury.”

Their reposure was interrupted by the loud pulse of the collision alarm. Scofi grabbed the mic, “Pirates! All hands to battle stations.” “They’re not getting my share!” Bozz yelled while manning the cannon.

 

[elvet]

The Trouble with Twibbles

The captain frowned as he saw the cat's tail disappear under the ensign's seat.
"No mascots on the bridge! You know the rules, ensign. Fur gets into the cooling vents."

"Twibbles likes being where the action is, cap'n. Just a few minutes... can't see the harm in that," said the ensign, stroking the purring feline.
He reached to adjust the starship's controls.
A spark of static electricity blew the panel. Warning lights flashed red.