Inlandia Workshop 111810

Prompt--
Journalism style: write about your day.
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There was a noise. I know it was a noise.
I opened my eyes to sunlight, and groaned. I got up to the endless popping noise in the corner, and tended the seven young quail I kept in the three clear totes. All brown feathered now, they looked at me without fear as I gave them more food and ample water. Soon after, they quietened down, just pecking the plastic instead of flapping straight up at the white lid. That crashing bam sound is likely what woke me..
I went outside.
The sun shined brighter still on the sidewalk. I glanced at the plants of my garden, and noting the quality of the leaves, decided they needed no water. I then reached inside the clear plastic bag I kept on my stove and withdrew a bit of the fish pellets. Two of them went to the small blue bucket filled with water below the box of tomatoes; the rest to the bigger pond with the ivy in the black basket pot.
No fish were floating on top in either water feature, so I decided that they were still hiding from view. I did see some tiny guppies under the ivy.
I went back inside and changed into something that wasn't sweats, and grabbed my keys, wallet and phone. Intending on going to the store. The time on the clock in dash read 930. It was 3 hours too soon to buy or drop off the cat food at my parent's place.
'After two days without the poor critter will think he's starving'. I sighed, and turned the key anyway. 'Damn birds...where to breakfast.' I said.
---OOOOO----
Prompt--
Fond baking memory.
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Like Magic. It was there in an email. There was no way it was this easy.

She well remembered all the healthy snacks mother made instead of the usual sweets of childhood. Stuffed tomatoes. Stuffed celery. Carrots. Even toast and cheese. Never. Ever. A single cake.

She cackled evilly, sounding much like a mad scientist, as she stirred the measured mixture of coco, flour, a bit something from a red can. She reached for an egg, poured some oil. Then skipped to the freezer, the ONLY PLACE ONE CAN KEEP CHOCOLATE!!! in ant infested Riverside.

Oh.. Sugar. Yes need lots of that. She spooned the bit in and stirred. Then took out a coffee mug.. The only coffee mug, and transferred the brown mixture in. Three minutes in the microwave later, she then took the mug out of the microwave.

It worked!! It worked Ha ha! Heck with the weird diets of mom! I can have chocolate cake whenever I want!!

-----ooooo----
Prompt---
A thanksgiving story.
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She looked in the hole, barely a crack really, dug beneath the chicken coop. She stretched her hand out as she squatted in the dust. In her hand: a single piece of lettuce.
The ancient thing, looking like a large down-turned bowl, sat unmoved in hallow.
"Come on Grumpy. Aren't you hungry?" She called.
"Leave him alone, he'll come out if he's hungry."
"He didn't yesterday. I just want to see him."
The girl dropped the lettuce to the ground and took a few steps back. Patience wasn't an easy thing for a nine year old.
"Maybe he's sleeping. They do that you know."
"Maybe he's sick."
"He's not sick." Her cousin said.
"Hey..he's moving."
As she watched the shadows, out poked an ancient, scaled head that appeared to be frowning, as if distinctly displeased with the world. It tilted its head, then slowly, ever so slowly, lowered it to the discarded leaves.
"See.. He's fine."
As she watched, it flicked out a bit of tongue, and took a great snapping bite of the offering. It did this over and over. Utterly unhurried. Munching until the greens were gone.
Sent via a stray supercharged nano particle of unobtainium....

...Continuing with character drabble...

The unnamed corpse weighing heavily on his mind, he trudged his way back to the compound. He saw many hopeful eyes drifting towards him, from the restless children squatting in the dust, and hurriedly looked away.

He rushed past familiar rusted doors, long since frozen in place by ancient decay. They stood agape at the shadowy mouth of what amounted to a great metal box.

It was one of a dozen or so, stacked and scattered about, forming an enclosing circle that had served as both prison and home for the past month for both him and his people; Their many wagons, few beasts, and awaiting trade possessions placed protectively by mutual consent in the dusty center.

As his eyes adusted to the darkness, he heard the children joyfully calling out, high voices nearly singing, "He's back! He's back!"
Sent via a stray supercharged nano particle of unobtainium....

Inlandia Institute Workshop 11-04-10

Prompt--
A time when you remembered your sense of humor.
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At first pattering of rain that splashed against the window, I arrived to work. Relieving the watchman of his duties, I read the passdown log of the events that I had missed from the previous day, my mind filled with hope that I could avoid calling the clerk for any truck; she and I had mutually agreed we did not like one another since the day I started.
Then, I noticed the piles paper, with the stickit notes slapped on top. All demanding that the be redone for one reason or another. They were all work done by me, and only by me for the previous two weeks.
I was singled out as inadequate, though I well know the entire thing was laughable. One can never be an inadequate security guard, unless one had been caught. Caught, mind you, sleeping while on post.
It did not take long to remember why such occurrence had graced me that night. The previous night was Halloween, and I had refused to come in early as I wished to enjoy the night.
Apparently I had angered the newest post commander with a god complex, and he had to come in early instead.
Then a truck came in. And I snickered at it all. Thinking, what a stupid job I had. I picked up the phone and began the unpleasantness of the day; working in a little metal box during a thunderstorm for minimum wage.
Another day in paradise.
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Prompt-- a messed up culinary experience.
--
I was really looking forward to enjoying all that 64 ounces of total caffeine sugar ice cubes swimming in a truly sweet brownish bubbly fountain of happiness.
Instead.
the diet impostor soon flew out the window and splashed the pavement.
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Prompt -- dog point of view
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I smell it. Way up there where I can't reach. She tells me no, and so I wait. I reach up into her lap, nuzzle her hand. She pushes me away and down. Man I'm bored.
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Prompt -- mission inn picture
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He stood and looked down at the woman, and received the medal she offered from her outstretched hand. Then glanced up at the sudden flash of light.
The camera moved off and he glared down at his reward. He found himself somehow disappointed. He had won the race and found the simple contest was far too easy a victory. But now that it was over, what was to happen now? Would the loser, always a proud man, kick him out of his company for the humiliation of proving his boast wrong?
He looked over at the greying man as he too received his token from the woman, smug face set in an expression of superiority.
"Come," The man said. "Drinks, as it were, are on me."
Sent via a stray supercharged nano particle of unobtainium....