Greetings fellow lunatics and welcome to my blog, Sophisticated Lunacy. Thank you all for stopping by and visiting. As I have the last 41 weeks, I am pleased to participate in week 43 of the Saturday Centus, that fun-filled writing meme hosted by Arizona’s own version of Erma Bombeck, Jenny Matlock, from her blog off on my tangent.
Writing a Saturday Centus is a fun literary exercise intended to challenge you to create an interesting story in 100 words or less, not including the supplied prompt. Each Saturday it brings together great writers from all over the globe to share the experience of selecting just the right words in just the right way to create tiny glimpses of life that are sad, funny, profound or whatever the writer has in mind.
After posting to Jenny’s meme we all read each other’s contributions and give our feedback. It’s like an online version of the Algonquin Round Table, only without the booze. Well…usually.
After posting to Jenny’s meme we all read each other’s contributions and give our feedback. It’s like an online version of the Algonquin Round Table, only without the booze. Well…usually.
The rules are simply no more than 100 words excluding the prompt, no splitting the prompt, no photos or illustrations and no vulgarity. Oh, and I’d like to suggest one more rule for your consideration. No batcrap crazy celebs like Charlie Sheen spouting nonsense like “I’ve got magic and I’ve got poetry at my fingertips.” Sorry Charlie! We Centusians have to have some standards you know.
By the way, Lindsay Lohan, you can stop begging to be a Centusian too. It didn’t work for Paris Hilton or Snooki and it won’t work for you either. Get over it.
This week Jenny has offered up a nice, normal prompt that is devoid of some of the more challenging trappings of previous week’s prompts. She swears there are no tricks, no hidden agendas, no “Oh, and by the way” surprises to twist and contort our minds this time.
Very clever, Ms. Matlock, giving us this false sense of security and then BAM! You hit us with “just make it a positive message that we can all relate to.” Okay, so you didn’t actually say that, but I can read between the lines. Hah! You have to get up pretty early in the morning to fool me…at least before 10:30am.
Very clever, Ms. Matlock, giving us this false sense of security and then BAM! You hit us with “just make it a positive message that we can all relate to.” Okay, so you didn’t actually say that, but I can read between the lines. Hah! You have to get up pretty early in the morning to fool me…at least before 10:30am.
So with this in mind I have taken this week’s prompt, which is “The ATM machine began dispensing twenties...” and fashioned a tale that does just that. I have entitled my little story this week:
Helping Others Is Not Always A Bad Thing
The morning began with a text from my literary agent. He said there was a huge offer for my first novel.
“Good,” I replied.
I passed by a bank in my new BMW convertible when suddenly the ATM machine began dispensing twenties. As this was clearly a divine act, I thanked the Lord for the cash and left.
I saw an old homeless man digging through trash cans. A feeling of warmth and joy washed over me as I knew exactly what to do.
“Hey old guy,” I said. The ATM over there was spitting out free money. Check it out!”
It felt good to help.
Support bacteria - they're the only culture some people have.
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I really liked that. And would like it even better if it would really happen to me. :)
ReplyDeleteHa, this writer was one generous fellow! Imagine,pointing the way when all those twenties could have been used to change the Beamer's oil!
ReplyDeleteTom, you are so good at this! My offering pales in comparison when I read yours. Waaaaaa!!!
ReplyDeleteLOL! I always love reading your endings!
ReplyDeleteLove it, love it, love it. I think your writer may be one of our clients. Very clever, very original and very, very good. Kat
ReplyDelete"Hey old guy" really made me laugh and warmed my heart all at the same time...Nice job !!!
ReplyDeleteomg ... loved it ... laughed!
ReplyDeleteLOL...sooo funny, I loved it! :o)
ReplyDeleteThat is funny. Not what I expected at all!
ReplyDeleteLove it Tom, made me giggle. Love your writing style too.
ReplyDeleteYour fellow lunatic,
Michelle
Hee Hee.
ReplyDeleteGee, I hope he got one.
:)
Hahaha so good. Give a homeless man a 20, he'll party for a night. Tell him about an ATM that dispenses 20s randomly...he'll probably somehow end up arrested.
ReplyDeleteheehee
ReplyDeleteThe soul of generosity...
Nice one, Tom. And sly, very sly.
=)
Glad to hear you haven't poached any walruses.
ReplyDeleteYour usual good job, Tom. I love a novelist with a good heart! Your images were very clear, so your words carry a lot of weight. You are just too good!
ReplyDeleteNamaste..........cj
This either turned out really well for the old guy, and he took YOUR information, and the money, as divine intervention and reformed himself, or the camera on the ATM caught his image clearly, and he's getting three hots and a cot in the local lockup.
ReplyDeleteThink of the many ways this story could go!
your character is so generous. if that were me i would have stood there all day with my bag open haha!
ReplyDeleteA very generous, altruistic move on your part, Tom. Thanks for the laughs, as always.
ReplyDeletexoRobyn
We're a bunch of volunteers and starting a new scheme in our community. Your website offered us with helpful information to work on. You have performed a formidable task and our entire group will be thankful to you.
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I made $20 for each 20 minute survey!
ReplyDeleteGuess what? This is exactly what big companies are paying for. They need to know what their customer base needs and wants. So big companies pay $1,000,000's of dollars per month to the average person. In return, the average person, like myself, fills out surveys and gives them their opinion.