Friday, January 14, 2011

Saturday Centus - The Heart Attack

Good morning! Jumped out of bed, all excited to see what Miss Jenny had in store for us today. I wanted to get right on it, because I have to work today. Have to keep paying that internet bill, so I can stay in contact. So anyway, got out of bed, poured a big mug of coffee, stretched my fingers in preparation for that 100 word writing marathon and what do I find? A joke from Jenny. No, really, this has to be a joke, right? She loves to shake things up, and this week we are limited to 25 words. Not 250 - I was hoping that she had forgotten to type the zero on the end. But her instructions are quite clear. 25 words. I've told Jenny before, and I'll tell you now. My flippin' grocery list has more than 25 words. TWENTY FIVE WORDS. The recording on my voice mail has more than that. My standard phone greeting at work has almost that many words. Now some of you may be hopping up and down for joy. I, on the other hand, have a rare condition known as "vox plenteous". Which loosely translated from the Latin means big mouth. Really. Look it up. If you don't have a clue what I am rambling on about, visit Jenny Matlock at Off On My Tangent. Saturday Centus is a fun (usually) weekly meme in which Jenny gives us a writing prompt and we then craft a story of 100 words or less exclusive of the prompt. Yes, you read that correctly. We usually get 100 words, which is hard enough. This week, 25 lousy stinking words. This should be interesting! Make sure to visit all the links. The writing is great, and the stories are so short - especially this week - that you should have no trouble visiting everyone.
Now, if you've been paying attention, my introduction up to this point has 311 words. Let's see what I can manage in 25 - TWENTY FIVE! The prompt is in bold font. That's even skimpy this week, just 3 little words. In the immortal words of our lovely hostess, sigh ...



The smell of antiseptic, the whisper of rubber soled shoes, the sting of an IV catheter. As memory returned, I sat bolt upright. Where was the lottery ticket?



46 comments:

aspiritofsimplicity said...

ooh I want to know more...

easternsparkle said...

Oh very good, very good indeed!!

Terra said...

ooooooohhhhhh, well done. You got me! I too want to know more. Way to go. this week stunk...but you rose up!!

Koby said...

and....? Come on, I can't stand a mystery. (Great job with this hard one)

gautami tripathy said...

Yes, where is it?

thigh Story

Anonymous said...

Did someone want to pinch her lottery ticket....? I want to know. :)

Anonymous said...

Did someone want to pinch her lottery ticket....? I want to know. :)

Bookie said...

Excellent job with the limitation of 25 words!

Strummed Words said...

Good wake up call!
Here's my Lottery Ticket.

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Kat, you are so funny, you crack me up. I love the mention of your grocery list. Too funny. Your story is fabulous. You always make us feel like we're in the middle of something and just catch up with the story. You did a great job with your 25 words. Love ya! Hugs, Marty

Cheryl said...

Nice one, Kat.

Tina said...

Ooooh is there a thief in the mist?

Blondie's Journal said...

This is a great one, Kat! As always, I want the story to go on!

XO,
Jane

Kelly Sedinger said...

Nicely done! I'm liking how the 25-word requirement is forcing everyone to be super-selective in their imagery.

Susan Anderson said...

Great job! I could smell the antiseptic!!

(And I loved the intro, too.)

=)

Shellbelle said...

I enjoyed your response to this week's challenge, but I LOVED your 311 word lead-in even more. You just crack me up!

Deborah said...

Oh ... Very good indeed!

Viki said...

Very, very good. I disliked this one too LOL. You did such a great job with this though.

Tina said...

This one hooks nicely into another one that I read, did you guys plan this ahead? Go check out #9, Tina from Mommy Diaries
The other Tina

Lynn said...

That's great, love it!

Unknown said...

Your micro-fiction is well-crafted. Love it!

But I have to laugh too, because you needed to write a 300-word 'introduction' to your 25-word text!

I am no better. It's just that I wrote a sort of 'P.S.' background text after the micro-fiction, to explain the 25-word text!

You put a smile on my face today!

Best wishes,
Anna
Anna's SC#37-The lottery ticket

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Oh, that is priceless, Kat! And funny thing, that's what I always think will happen when someone wins the big one. LOL! Hopefully not, though, and hopefully I am going to win that and not end up in the hospital. I have ever intention of winning and winning BIG. ;-)

XO,

Sheila :-)

Judie said...

Kat! What a great take!!I could see myself sitting bolt upright!!!

Tgoette said...

LOL! Great job with this teensy-weensy Centus! This was just so easy I'm thinking we ask Jenny to keep it at 25 or lower it to, say, 13 words.

Of course we'd both have to write a thousand words or so to describe how it feels to write a short story with less words than it takes to order a cup of coffee at Starbucks.

So sorry about the dig, but it was my muse, I swear! She's got it in for you folks!

Anyway, great take on the prompt! Very original! Well played!

xinex said...

Great suspense here, lol. Beautifully said, Kat. Thanks for congratulating me for the tablescape win. If you joined a writing contest, I know you will win....Christine

cj Schlottman said...

It's all perspective, isn't it? I would be the heart attack victim worrying about the ticket, too!

This is sooo good - such a great twist at the end.

Thanks for a good one..........cj

Malisa said...

Loved your intro! I rejoiced about the 25 word assignment...more time to drink wine! :)

Funny in My Mind said...

Sounds like the beginning of a good movie. I am also long winded so I don't even try these things.

jeff campbell said...

Very crafty job indeed...Peace

Dazee Dreamer said...

Loved it. Wouldn't that be horrible to actually have that happen.

Jo said...

this is just so well written ... wonderful!!!

Rawknrobyn.blogspot.com said...

This imagery is vivid and powerful. I like the final line, in contrast. Great piece.
xoRobyn

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

I laughed out loud like a cartoon character when I read this!

Nancy Jane said...

This is very powerful for just 25 words. Now I'm a teensy bit afraid I might actually win one day!

Anonymous said...

Your intro made me laugh out loud! Great mystery here. Well done!

Bonnie said...

Hey Kat! would you believe I have for the 2nd time in my life bought a lottery ticket. Well, let's just say I'll win big one of these days!

Hope you are doing well,
Bonnie

K&B by the Sea said...

Well, hospital gowns don't have pockets, so hopefully it's in your wallet! Wow, 25 words is tough. You did a great job :-)

Rek Sesh said...

Wonder what happened to it?....very different and imaginative. Great one.

Susannah said...

Oooh, that was a good one! :-)

Sarah said...

Kat, this was terrific. I need to get back in to reading Jenny's posts. I dropped out of AlphabeThursday and didn't sign up for this round. May try to link in on the next go round if she has it again. Thanks for sharing and thank you for your thoughtful visits and comments. I appreciate them.
Enjoy our sunshine today ~ Sarah

Sarah said...

Just added myself as a follower. I thought I was already. You are on my blog roll.
~ Sarah

Dixie said...

Hi Kat.. thanks for stopping by French Lique yesterday... now you've peaked my writing interest, so I'm off ot check out Jenny's writing blog. the sun is shinning! aren't you thrilled! hugs. Dixie

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Amazing Kat! You said so much with so few words! You did leave everyone hanging. I want to know if there really was a lottery ticket, or if it had been a dream under anesthetic! Heck, I can't even leave a comment that is less than 25 words! laurie

LEAT said...

I felt a great big gasp at the end - really evocative sense of returning consciousness. And then a threat of panic! Great read (and loved the long intro contrast)!

Confessions of a Plate Addict said...

Hi Kat! How fun! But do you know...that's my fear...to win and then have something happen! Yikes! But I suppose that requires actually buying a ticket first! lol Happy week!...hugs...Debbie

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Brava, Kat! You made good use of only 25 words to tell a story!