Sweating in the IHOP

The Sunday Flash Factory 5 to 50/55 challenge prompt words in bold. 

I took a visual tour of the town, while I waited for my organic catfish special. The restaurant sat across the street from the county jail, a building my eyes kept returning to. I wouldn't be here if the battery in my LTD hadn't died. I sure hoped the mechanic didn't look in the trunk.

The Parade

Here's a bonus Sunday story. Patti Abbott posted a challenge to write a drabble (a story of exactly 100 words--not counting the title) based on a picture. Here's my effort.

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The Parade 

The town folk waited for the maimed war hero to ride by. Small children held red, white, yellow and green helium-filled balloons, ready to release them in his honor. The older boys hung out by the trees, smoking pot and joking about the one-legged hero to cover up their own anxiety about being next. Others, dressed in summery garb, leaned over to watch the horizon.

The lead motorcycle carrying the fallen veteran approached the crowd. The soldier saw a line of enemy troops and grabbed his gun. As they rode past the horde, he sneered and emptied his rifle.

Life Imitating Art

The Sunday Flash Factory 5 to 50/55 challenge prompt words in bold. 

Mazie trudged through the Gallery of Fringe Art disgusted by what she saw. Statues with heads for feet. Torsos with genitals in place of belly buttons. Audience members oohing over every disgusting piece. She stopped at the statue of the boy, drama etched on his face. She touched his skin and he whispered, "Help me."

Still Life

The Sunday Flash Factory 5 to 50/55 challenge prompt words in bold.

They called him Camel because of his humped back. He was a master artist, his medium pasta. His most recent exhibit was of a pride of lions. He called it Wanderers. The title more suited him, especially after the earthquake leveled his home and killed his wife and two sons.

For Better or Worse

The Sunday Flash Factory 5 to 50/55 challenge prompt words in bold.

I married a penguin. Her waddle made for a scenic view. Our feud began shortly after the ceremony. She accused me of being an alien. I retorted she should have come with a manual. We bicker like politicians, neither of us giving in. It's been that way for six years. We plan on many more.