Saturday, January 22, 2011

Saturday Centus - That Child is Touched

Jenny, Jenny, Jenny. Did I do something to offend you? Have I broken the rules and not been aware of it? Why else would you do this to me? Ok, last week was bad. You threw down the gauntlet of 25 words and I delivered. But Sci Fi? Really? Science flippin' fiction? Other than a couple of Asimov stories, I never, ever read Sci Fi. Ok, I did read A Handmaid's Tale, but that was a trick. It was written by Margaret Atwood. Had no idea that it was sci fi until I had already purchased it. In case you don't know why I'm grumbling like an old bear, visit Jenny Matlock at Off on my Tangent. She has this neat little weekly event called Saturday Centus. Jenny provides us with a prompt and we write a story of 100 words or less exclusive of the prompt. Last week, she cut us to 25 words plus the prompt. This week, she gave us back the missing 75 words, but we have to write a science fiction story. Make sure that you visit all the links, this is a truly amazing group of wordsmiths. However, I am making absolutely no promises with mine this week. You'll have to take your chances, and if it's dreadful, go yell at Jenny! As usual, the prompt is in bold font. Oh, and I almost forgot. After getting over the shock of the genre, I read the prompt. And proceeded to spill my coffee thanks to a coughing fit. I actually know what show the line comes from. And (forgive me in advance all you Trekkies out there) I can't stand that show. Once again, I'm stealing Jenny's favorite line. Sigh ....


Lying on the dew soaked grass, Ariel gazed at the stars. Twinkling against the black velvet of the sky, more beautiful than any display at Tiffany's. She cringed as she heard the shouting from the house. Great, they were arguing again. About her, no doubt. She shouldn't have told her mother about her friend. She was much too rigid to believe in such nonsense. They always thought Ariel was different. Now they thought she was nuts! But she had proof that there were other worlds out there. And he promised to take her. Summoning her courage, she closed her eyes. "Beam me up, Scottie"...

32 comments:

Unknown said...

A sci-fi romance! I hope Ariel finds her destiny.

CB said...

Ooohhhh I like the romantic spin! Very good :-D

Dazee Dreamer said...

ok, I would totally read a whole book of this story. Great job.

Viki said...

Oh you romantic one. You who have such a way with descriptive words. LOL You did good. I'm not much for Sci Fi either.

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

You are so good, you manage to paint a picture with your words that just make me feel like I am there. Another great story and you always leave me wanting more. Love ya!!! Hope you are having a super weekend. Hugs, Marty

Sarah said...

Oh, this is great sci fi, Kat. I like the romantic touch.
~ Sarah

lvroftiques said...

Oohh that is a toughie! But you done good girl!! I LOVE Sci Fi but I'd still be lost with that prompt. It's much too indicitive of Star Trek. But using it for a romantic story......Me likey! Vanna

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Well, I think you did great, Kat! I'm all for romance, and being the hopeless romantic, I hope that Ariel does, indeed, get beamed right on up!

XO,

Sheila :-)

lvroftiques said...

Hi again Kat! That Christine really is the traveling-est gal I've ever met! I'm sure she'll be coming soon to a town near you! *winks* Lol!! Vanna

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

The perfect blend of fantasy and a bit of hope.

Shellbelle said...

Hmmm…now I read something completely different into this story than the others. I see a child from a dysfunctional family, who is unappreciated by her mother. This child believes in, and seeks, a world that will accept her differentness. Rather than a lover, perhaps this person who has promised to take her to another world is the Peter Pan of the sci fi genre.

Just my take.

I love the line, "more beautiful than any display at Tiffany's." That is just how I feel about the sky and the beauty of nature around us.

btw, I dream of going to the LOC in Washington, D.C.!

Confessions of a Plate Addict said...

Hi Kat! As usual, you have managed to squeeze the setup for an entire story into very few words! Hope you are having a great weekend!...hugs...Debbie

Cheryl said...

Dreamy and wistful. Nicely done.

Susan Anderson said...

Oh, I like it! This was a good direction to take.

=)

linda said...

Ah, straight to the heart.
Great.

K&B by the Sea said...

Love your twist on sci-fi :-) I can't stand Star Trek either, and sci-fi in general. Unfortunately, my hubby is a total sci-fi geek. Makes for lots of fighting over the remote control!

Dawn Marie said...

I actually went book searching last night and got a couple of romance books to read for the rest of the cold winter. I carry them with me and when I have time at work I enjoy them. Sci-Fi is something I could never do..I barely do romance lol.

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

OH NO! Not like Star Trek? I lived and breatheed for that show to come on every week when I was a kid, Kat! I loved Mr. Spock :D

Your story is right on the money as always. I want to beam up along with Ariel.

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

PS All this time I thought I was your follower! Now I am definitely one :D

21 Wits said...

That was my first thought too, Sci-fi? But you pulled this off in a beautiful tasteful and delightful finish! Thanks!

Judie said...

I hope Ariel found a better life on another planet! Great take on the prompt.

Tgoette said...

Kat you did a really awesome job with this week's sci-fi Centus! Your mix of romance and sci-fi was a clever twist where others might have instead used giant radioactive space opossums or something. Nicely done!

Oh, and your intro was longer than mine was! Do I see a trend? LOL! Maybe Jenny should do sci-fi more often. (Star Trek has to be more fun to write about than, say, "Hee Haw.")

Rawknrobyn.blogspot.com said...

This is a great pithy story. There's so much more I want to know, and it's worded beautifully.
Nice job.
xoRobyn

Lynne (lynnesgiftsfromtheheart) said...

Kat, what a great story, girl you really need to get these published. Thank you for swinging by, you always leave such uplifting comments.. hugs ~lynne~

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Hey, just dropping back by to wish you a very Merry Un-birthday! Do you think Scottie could beam up the calories on those cupcakes if we ate them all??? I don't know that he'd be able to beam us up, otherwise. ;-)

XO,

Sheila

Terra said...

this one is getting an oh wow from me. I could see many a tween enjoying this in a series...girl meets alien...no one believes her, she lives a double life. Love it

jfb57 said...

How romantic!

The homesteadingcottage said...

So good, so good! I must come back for more (:

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Kat, I do not know how you do it! You are so good at this, and I agree, this was a VERY difficult assignment! You sure made the best of it though. laurie

Rek Sesh said...

Whether she really has such a friend or loves to weave a dreamy tale...its a beautiful take....

Nancy Jane said...

I really loved this because it's a tad reminiscent of 'The Time Traveler's Wife.' Now that was a sci-fi work I really enjoyed. Bravo.

Jenny said...

Awwww...I hope your cough is all better by now and you're not longer ticked off at me.

But, see! You did it!

And it was great!

And believable.

You'd think that writing the prompts I wouldn't do stuff I can't write, but no-oooo---ooooo...I'm all about the making things difficult.

You nailed this Kat!

You are really amazing in any genre.