Rustypuppy

CONSISTENT - The robin watched the caterpillar…

Rustypuppy — Mon, 27 Nov 2023 19:12:30 GMT

CONSISTENT - The robin watched the caterpillar eat his way through all the leaves on a branch of the shrub. As soon as the insect extended his body toward her, the robin spoke. "Back off, buddy."

"But I must eat, or I’ll never change."

"Eat the leaves over there," the robin gestured with her wing. "These leaves hide my nest."

"But that branch is so far, and I am so hungry."

"If I eat you, you won't be hungry anymore." The robin leaned forward.

The caterpillar quickly backed up, almost falling off his branch. Once he straightened out, he found new leaves within easy munching distance. He began eating, ignoring the robin who fluffed her feathers and settled down to warm her eggs.

A few days later, a bright yellow butterfly landed on the edge of the robin's nest. "Look how I’ve changed!"

The robin frantically beat her wings. "Go away! Go away!"

The movement of air blew the butterfly into a dizzy circle. Finally able to control his flight, the butterfly flapped just over the robin's head. "Bird brain. I just came by to add some color to your dull life."

A black paw swatted the butterfly onto the lawn, where the cat batted him around until he could no longer fly.

The robin waited, her tiny heart beating as fast as a hummingbird's wings. The cat patted the still butterfly once more, then strode back to the house. The robin sat down on her eggs. "You didn’t change at all."

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EEFORT - Maxwell served a double fault,…

Rustypuppy — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 18:30:25 GMT

EEFORT - Maxwell served a double fault, loosing the match. His opponent, one of the monks of the Bodhi Business Retreat, bowed and left the court. Max sank to his knees, chest heaving, sweat dripping from his brow.

Sports provided a quick means to put himself into a high-pressure situation. Unfortunately, most of the lessons of how not to choke at the critical moment still fled his mind at that critical moment. He'd gained some ground, but still didn't maintain his composure as consistently as he wanted.

On the tennis court, failure was a blow to his pride. In the board room, this flaw could cost Max his company. Tomorrow was his last day at the retreat. Best to get some rest so he could practice with another match, maybe two.

Max found his path off the court blocked by a full-grown tree that had not been there a moment earlier.

A monk appeared from the behind the trunk and handed Max a mango. "Well done. The wish-granting tree does not appear to everyone. Think of what you want to accomplish, then take a bite."

Max considered his options, then bit into the mango, smiling at the sweetness. As he swallowed, his surroundings faded to white, then solidified into the front of the retreat center.

"Welcome, Mr. Stein," a monk said, holding the door open for Max. "I hope you enjoy your two weeks with us. Much can be accomplished with dedicated practice and the willingness to learn."

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IMMORTAL - While one Birmingham was the…

Rustypuppy — Mon, 13 Nov 2023 00:25:39 GMT

IMMORTAL - While one Birmingham was the most populous city in the state of Alabama, and another Birmingham was the most populous city in the English Midlands, the Birmingham crater on the Moon had a population of zero.

Which made the fact that seventeen alarm clocks sat in its basin difficult to explain. Thankfully, Tonney didn’t have to explain it; xe just had to report it.

From the observation post on the other side of the moon, Tonney vidded the drone footage to xis supervisor on Mars. She sent a priority projection to her supervisor on Europa. He holoed the captain of the Lutwidge Dodgson, who walked into Tonney’s office two hours later and demanded to see the live video.

Still Birmingham crater. Now forty-two alarm clocks.

The captain advised Tonney to cut back on the neurostims and take a paid vacation. Now.

Tonney put in a call for an intra-solar shuttle, donned a spacesuit, and waited outside.

In the abandoned room, Alice slumped in Tonney’s chair. Just when her career was finally getting started. On the monitor, a white rabbit in a waistcoat appear amidst the time pieces. He looked up at the dronecam. "We shall be late."

Alice appeared beside the rabbit and his ears flushed pink at her vulgar suggestion of where he should put his pocket watch. A hole opened beneath their feet. A cacophony of ringing alarm clocks followed the falling duo to a new wonder.

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INEVITABILITY: An acolyte of the Order…

Rustypuppy — Mon, 06 Nov 2023 16:14:56 GMT

INEVITABILITY: An acolyte of the Order of Mages fell off the path through the Library of Sands. His fellows found him three days later, several levels down from where he had disappeared. The shape of an hourglass marked his right palm, the emblem of a constellation on his left.

The First Mage had the acolyte visit every day. None knew what they talked of behind closed doors, and the acolyte did not return to his room until after the evening meal. He spoke with no one, not even his brother, with whom he used to share everything.

As the days passed, the imprint of the hourglass changed, as if sand truly flowed from one orb to the other.

After a week, the top orb was empty. After another week, the acolyte disappeared.

The acolyte's brother, an astronomer at the King's Court, noticed a new constellation in the sky, and wept a single tear.

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INFILTRATION: We have a special guest…

Rustypuppy — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 00:32:53 GMT

INFILTRATION: We have a special guest for today's class, so pay attention as we review how to physically impersonate a human.

First, two arms and two legs; no more, though you can get away with less.

One nose and one mouth. The exception paperwork for this rule is not worth your time, trust me.

Two visible eyes only - if you can't keep the others hidden, pick a climate that requires clothing over most of your body.

Males and females dress and adorn themselves differently, though the cultural acceptance of these norms is more tolerant in certain areas of the planet. Do your research so your presentation doesn't disturb the locals ... unless that's part of your mission, in which case do your research in order to maximize the intended disruption.

Humans age at an accelerated rate compared to us. You'll either need to relocate after a period of time to avoid suspicion, or modify your physical form in order to maintain your cover. Consult the reference tables for recommended alterations.

As you can see, our guest has done a masterful job of impersonating a human male, age twenty-thirty years. The clothing style indicates association with a military organization, as does the metal, projectile-producing object in his ...

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SINGLE PAGE STORY*: ENCOUNTERS - When the…

Rustypuppy — Mon, 16 Oct 2023 20:13:28 GMT

SINGLE PAGE STORY*: ENCOUNTERS - When the tornado carried you away from your apartment in Oklahoma City, visions of gold brick roads sparkled in your mind.

When you ended up on a deserted island, you realized how much you missed pizza and having a pocket knife.

When the one-eyed dragon appeared, you experienced hope, fear, excitement, and trepidation, though not in that order.

When the UFO fired its energy weapons, you defended the dragon's blind side with your magical crossbow while it sang a tune that melted the aliens' hearts, literally.

When the sun exploded, you and the dragon flew to a new universe.

When you woke up, you had vague impressions of other adventures, but neither you nor the dragon could remember the details, so you ordered ten large pizzas and played video games.

* Fanciful micro fiction of less than 300 words

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SINGLE PAGE STORY* SUNDAY: DISCRETE - Callamine…

Rustypuppy — Sun, 08 Oct 2023 16:14:00 GMT

SINGLE PAGE STORY* SUNDAY: DISCRETE - Callamine held the scroll above the sleeping baby's forehead.

She'd been ordered to curse the boy as punishment for the actions of the father. Such things did not sit well with Calla, who believed the one responsible should bear the consequences of their actions, not the next generation. But she was still only a low-level fairy and as such, dared not disobey a command from her queen.

She did, however, dare to speak the curse instead of touching the written words to the newborn's skin.

Thus on his sixteenth birthday, the day the boy was to die, the master weaver celebrated his first year of apprenticeship by letting the boy dye the first wool of the season.

Callamine had slug duty for a lunar month as punishment. Disgusting, but temporary. After all, a fairy who'd thrice failed her advancement assessment couldn't be smart enough to know about homophones.

* fanciful microfiction of less than 300 words

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SINGLE PAGE STORY SUNDAY* - INTENT: In…

Rustypuppy — Sun, 01 Oct 2023 21:24:15 GMT

SINGLE PAGE STORY SUNDAY* - INTENT: In a ten-room hotel on the far side of the island, a busboy with a marble brain clears a table. He has one emerald iris and topaz teeth, but as the top half of his skull is missing, people first notice the smooth, white and black-veined sphere.

Some say he was transformed by the gods as punishment. Others say the gods rewarded his bravery. His mother doesn't want to talk about it, and his little sister charges a piece of fruit to those who want to see her brother open coconuts with his teeth.

The manager of the restaurant values the boy's work ethic. The owner of the hotel takes the family out on his yacht once a month in gratitude for the additional tourists who come year-round to see the boy with the marble brain.

Since his transformation, the boy's family and community have prospered beyond their wildest dreams.

A worthy consolation for his failure.

That's what he tells himself, in the pre-dawn hours, when he sits on the cliff, his jaw aching, looking right and left to be able to see with one eye what he used to see with two, his neck tense and strained with the weight of his decision.

A decision no god had any part of, for only a human would seek to combine the animate and inanimate for a chance at immortality.

* fanciful microfiction of less than 300 words

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SINGLE PAGE STORY SUNDAY: UNITED - Once…

Rustypuppy — Sun, 24 Sep 2023 18:17:01 GMT

SINGLE PAGE STORY SUNDAY: UNITED - Once every thirty years, a floating island appears and remains for sixty days.

It’s said if the gods accept your offering, the island will settle upon the water so you and yours may take of its treasures.

By the end of the first month, boats and rafts and make-shift platforms crowd the water enough for one to walk across the ocean. With so many, so close, any violence claims more than the intended targets. Elders from all clans demand courtesy and restraint, having little patience with the trivial differences of color or custom when faced with their last chance to reach the island.

As the days pass, there are fewer offerings left to give, yet people stay in the hopes of celebrating someone's success.

Every offering is watched with anticipation. Every rejection is consoled with soft words and gentle touches.

At the end of the sixtieth day, the island, still floating above the ocean, disappears.

The mass of boats and rafts slowly disentangle and disperse. Some return to their homeland. Others follow their new friends or lovers to a different life; one made possible by an unattainable dream.

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