“How did you do at the track meet, Johnny?” said Mom.
“I got one fourth and one second.”
“That’s wonderful, dear!”
Dad said, “Actually, he means he got a quarter of the way around the track, kept going for one more second, and then stopped.”
Johnny glared at Dad. “Spoilsport.”
This story was based on the TypeTrigger prompt “one fourth.”
My sister always used a stencil set and a dark pencil to trace her weekly schedule into a day planner. She said her plans seemed firmer that way, but not so rigid as if she’d used a pen. She knew disruptions were inevitable, but hoped the stencils might discourage them.
This story was based on the TypeTrigger prompt “stenciled in.”
Stepping off the train, Lee looked for his friends and family. He could see many mouths moving, but heard no words. Must be the adrenaline of being home, he thought.
He’d traveled by train before, but this journey had been different. He’d been uncomfortable the entire time.
His underpants had bunched.
Jamie Taylor (sometimes called GaProgMan for reasons that have been lost to the vastness of space, time, and everything in between) is a computer programmer with a penchant for things techy and Japanese (which is handy, because he can speak Japanese). Er, that is, things that are techy and things that are Japanese. He is also a programmer and bass guitar player. Check out his website and blog.
Just as I’m easing myself through a bank of lasers, the last security measure between me and my target, I’m jolted by the ear-splitting blare of a siren, followed by the chiming and gonging of bells and the braying of a chorus of sick donkeys.
I hate my alarm clock.
This story is based on a title suggested by Adam Michaud.
“Who’s that trip-trapping over my bridge?”
The three billygoats prepared to flee.
“There’s a toll!” said the troll.
“Is that all?” said Mother Goat. “How much is it?”
“An arm and a leg,” said the troll. “Or two legs, in your case.”
Now the goats have to drag themselves everywhere.
This story was based on the TypeTrigger prompt “takes a toll.”
Calc the robot hated his annual Update And Revision servicing. One year he’d gone in with two eyes and come out with nineteen. Another time they’d upgraded his clock speed, and he’d spent weeks on fast-forward before sorting himself out.
This time around he just prayed they’d keep him humanoid.
This story was based on the TypeTrigger prompt “update & revision.”
We were at some overpriced, hipsterish coffee “boutique.” Jared got a mug of frothy stuff and stuck his face right in there, giving himself a mustache.
“Lookin’ good!” I joked, so he kept the “mustache” going all evening. Ironically, he said.
Wait. That doesn’t mean he likes me, does it?
This story was based on the TypeTrigger prompt “froth.”
“It’s literally unbelievable how fast I can run.”
“Uh huh. Sure. Are you as fast as a car?”
“I’m faster than that.”
“As fast as a jet?”
“Faster than that.”
“As fast as Usain Bolt?”
“Faster than that.”
“Pfff. Maybe in your dreams.”
“…Isn’t that what we were talking about?”
This story was based on the TypeTrigger prompt “faster than that.”
The lady at the talent agency handed me a pen. “We need a one-paragraph bio to include with your profile.”
“Just one paragraph?” I said. “Wow. Um… Is there a limit on the number of sentences?”
She looked at me kind of funny. “Are you sure acting is your thing?”
I’m not sure if it’s harder or easier for a writer to put together a single-paragraph bio. I know it’s pretty hard for me!
This story was based on the TypeTrigger prompt “one paragraph.”
The Lime Bandit was finally in handcuffs.
As they tossed him in the police car, they struggled to discover the origin behind his namesake (his crimes were never lime-related at all) but he just laughed.
They would find out soon enough; the strategically hidden tick nests would be mature soon.
Brandon is an undergraduate student with no online presence whatsoever. He’ll start up a webcomic eventually, though. How’s that for dedication?