Midnight_Poets_Muse

Thanks, Five, for the honor of allowing me to bear the torch while I am computer-less *smiles*.

As I’ve ranted about before I am in favor of short, exact word counts. This time I want 93, no more or less, using the following list (you can blame/thank my Muse for the last five words):

Conductor
Deflate
Entranced
Flatulence
Grovel
Expatriation
Caftan
Enervate
Languidl y
Avariciousness

As an added challenge, “Bonus Points” to anyone who can take someone else’s 93-word story and retell it, expanding on it and filling in details that may have been left out. The challenge is to tell the exact same story in 418 words instead of the original 93 words.

As always rule breakers are allowed but I’ll have my whip handy to keep you guys in line.

Torch will be passed on July 2, 2010.

Have fun!

Midnight_Poets_Muse

Previous post submitted on behalf of Midnight Poet. Now if you'll excuse me, I must return to my Ambrosia.



Divinely,

~ MPM

giraffe

93 w/o title

THE CONCERT

"What's with all the flatulence? You stink." She whispered at the theater.

"I have to deflate the air in my bowels, my dear. That's why I wear this caftan. I mean no offense. It's to hide the odors from most others. I languildly lounge in this ampitheater and appreciate art with my brain. If my farting enervates anyone, they can always move."

The conductor had us all entranced in the avaricious quality of Beethoven's 'Missa Solemnis'. I didn't care who was passing gas.

She should grovel at my expatriotism. Not uncondone it.

Doug

WOW! 93 words and that list? I'm way too tired to think that much. I'll have to get back at ya' next week.

Midnight_Poets_Muse

Posted by proxy for Midnight Poet:

giraffe...

I don't quite get it, but kudos to you for rising to the challenge of my short word-count and complicated word-list.

Doug...

Can't wait to hear from you next week, I'm sure you'll awe us with something amazing.

giraffe

These are all going to sound awkward. Is it OK to expand on one's own story? Or does it have to be someone else's?

ladyhwin

Um... wow... wow... uhhh.... um... thank you, midnight?

five

Title: She's A Lady
(93 words)

The conductor stopped, the music stopped.

She sat in back; her husband sat in front. Sigh, she remained entranced.

A sultan’s caftan covered her. She easily wore avariciousness.

If she ignored him, she could make him grovel. Enervated, she lounged languidly and resisted calling to him.

An ugly sound and smell -- a moment of flatulence -- deflated her.

She thought of home. She had not considered she could not return home. She remembered the privileged boy professing love; she remembered his potential. She remembered leaving with him. Her expatriation was collateral to greed.

giraffe

93 w/o title. It's rugged. Can't wait for Midnight's submission.

WHO IS HE?

The conductor tooted the horn in the engine. It was a good warning and also the only way to deflate the steam and coal gas from the furnace. Like flatulence, there's only one escape valve.

The sound entranced most people - especially at night. The long toot and then a couple short ones alerted the train's arrival. The man in the caftan boarded the train in Brookingsville. Passengers were enervated by the avariciousness of his dress and his languid way of sauntering to his seat.

Must be some expatriot groveling (or a terrorist spy)..

giraffe

I'm having trouble coming up with anything worth reading this time. I'm done for a while. 2 boring submissions is enough.

giraffe

five, very good try. It's an awkward list - farts, expatriotism, avarice. I'm sure midnight will show us how to work those into a short paragraph.

giraffe

The 7 deadly sins are:

!) avaraciousness
2) flatulence
3) expatriatation
4) enervating others
5) entrancing those who grovel
6) languidly deflating the conductor of good will and
7) lifting up your caftan - exposing your jewels

Obey these laws and we will exonerate you and allow you to contribute your money.

Nylecoj

Wow! Tough list... Going to find a pencil and dictionary to try my hand at it!

Midnight_Poets_Muse

Posting by Proxy for our Mistress Poet:




I feel like giraffe has called me out so here it is. 93 words, no title...


Conductors are materials that allow electric current to pass through them.

Thanks to his avariciousness, he has just learned that his body can be a conductor.

Funny, the enervating quality of electricity, that causes one to deflate with flatulence.

At the foot of the fence, I stood entranced, fighting the urge to point, laugh and say "Told ya so." If I did I would have to grovel later, when he was in a better position.

I could see him now, changed into a fresh caftan, languidly planning my expatriation.

Better to remain silent.

Midnight_Poets_Muse

Posting, once more, by proxy. I am but the (not so humble) messenger of the thoughts and words of our most Elevated and Supreme Mistress Poet. Read forth on, mortal wordsmiths!


@ Nylecoj & Ladyhwin... I look forward to hearing from both of you when your dismay at the word-list has faded.

@ Five: I enjoyed your story, particularly the line "If she ignored him she could make him grovel." The whole story had a very nice flow to it.

@ giraffe: I am sorry you are so frustrated with the word list and the word count but you seem to be doing just fine anyway, keep up the good work. As far as expanding on your own story, it would be acceptable but it would defeat the point of the challenge.

The point of that added challenge is telling a very short story leaves a lot unsaid. I think it would be interesting to see how someone other than the original author interprets those things that are not said.

five

Good-Bye and All That
(93 words)

They spoke of hundred year old oriental rugs and silk caftans, blue porcelain and jewel encrusted buildings, and bustling, fragrant squares.

With a deflated smile, she released him from his promise.

Humidity enervates his body: languidly, he rolls over.

He had not released her. Perhaps he should follow, grovel. He ought to go before the conductor moves the train. So many cars.

But would her avariciousness and his reluctance to expatriate change?

The unpleasant odor of flatulence, of gas passing through the rectum, comes from intestinal bacteria releasing sulfur.

He closes his eyes.

giraffe

I get it. A story can't possibly stand on its own like that. I'll play..good twist.

giraffe

midnight, I didn't count words on this. I think it works, tho.

UNTITLED (by Midnight Poet and/or her Muse - additions by giraffe and/or his Muse)

Some crimes are like channels of bad intentions. Smoke pot? Who cares? But he killed his son over a business deal. His grieving daughter in law begged the judge for the death penalty. It was so ruled. The electric chair would be Bryan's fate in exactly 2 months.

Conductors are materials that allow electric current to pass through them. Bryan couldn't stop thinking about that. Maybe it's the water in our bodies - like guys on a golf course in the rain getting struck by lightening. They say if you throw a plugged in toaster into someone's bathwater, they'll die of electric shock. What does water have to do with it? he wondered.

It was just a business deal and my husband found a way to circumvent his father's loopholes in his favor. Bryan was furious. He wasn't one to share. If he chose, you would be in his will. If he chose to delete you, he would. Thanks to his avariciousness, he has just learned that his body can be a conductor.

Funny, the enervating quality of electricity, that causes one to deflate with flatulence. Actually, they say that all people lose bodily functions after dying. They drain their bowels and bladder. I couldn't wait to see Bryan so humiliated like that in front of a crowd.

At the foot of the fence, I stood entranced, fighting the urge to point, laugh and say "Told ya so." If I did I would have to grovel later, when he was in a better position. Like the afterlife. Sorry, but I don't care. Allah can curse me to eternal damnation, but I want to see this son of a bitch shit his pants.
Conductors are materials that allow electric current to pass through them.

Thanks to his avariciousness, he has just learned that his body can be a conductor.

Funny, the enervating quality of electricity, that causes one to deflate with flatulence.

At the foot of the fence, I stood entranced, fighting the urge to point, laugh and say "Told ya so." If I did I would have to grovel later, when he was in a better position.

His last wish was that I be deported from my homeland back to Jordan. I could see him now, changed into a fresh caftan, languidly planning my expatriation.

As they strapped him into the chair, he looked at us blankly knowing that his Earthly goals have been accomplished. I wanted to scream.

Better to remain silent.

giraffe

Sorry, some of the lines got repeated and some left out - due to my limited knowlege.

giraffe

Actually, I like it with the repeat lines.