Background The band Europe had one big hit: The Final Countdown. It is a pervasive earworm for many, especially the keyboard bit. Anyway, one day, my wife and I were at a restaurant, and it was well after 9PM. Suddenly, a few tables over a baby started crying uncontrollably, and we both got tense from the grating sound. For levity, I sang at her, “It’s the Baby Meltdown.” Then I wrote a verse for the song, too....
Prompt Word: Hive Minervie and Chip 31 Minervie said sternly, “Stop.” Chip froze. Quietly, she said, “Back up towards me slowly.” Chip did as he was told, and Minervie picked him up very carefully, and started backing up herself. At about 10 paces further back, she set him back down, and stayed crouching, and pointed at the side of the tree they’d backed away from, “Do you see that?” “The tree?...
Prompt Word: Incline Penny Collins, Business Manager 5 Penny spiral unwrapped the figure eight of string off of the buttons of the interoffice envelope. The page inside was on the letterhead of the clog shop, and was cryptic. She recognized her own start date with the company, then there were three numbers, two of which were multiplied together. The note on the page simply said, “Your clogs are ready, please pay your due....
Prompt Word: Quail Penny Collins, Business Manager 4 Twilight had cast across the city, as Penny made her way from the factory to a pub named Yakob’s five blocks away. She took a circuitous route, starting her journey in the direction of her own home, and then veering off toward the bar half way. When she arrived, she paused outside the door, and suddenly there was a hand on her shoulder....