Today’s Music: Clint Black – Good Run Of Bad Luck
Well, this one’s a little odd.
The fine tri-centric folk at trifecta (gamesters of triskelion?), for their 33rd week, have put up a triple challenge.
I have, in usual form, done my best to find some way to squeeze my story into the rules. And probably failed miserably.
Hey, at least I’m consistent.
Each 1/3 is another piece of the challenge, but they are all in one post, as it tells one overall story. I hope you all enjoy it, and to the Trifecta judging committee, I hope you find it as entertaining to read as I did to try and develop.
The entire set comes in at 999 words, not including titles.
Prompt 1: response to the following quote: “What I tell you three times is true.” by Lewis Carroll
Trifecta – 33 1/3
_____“What have we got?” he asked as he arrived. The Sergeant pointed at the man handcuffed in the alley, pacing back and forth.
_____“We don’t know if he’s the perp or a witness,” answered the officer. “We thought we’d better hold him, just in case.”
_____ “Thanks”. The Detective moved towards the little man when the Sergeant called him back. “We found him riding around in circles on that thing.” He pointed to an antique tricycle, the front wheel as tall as the Detective’s six feet. The Detective took a deep breath and fought down a feeling of impending doom. He looked away and moved towards the man.
_____ “So? What’s the story here?”
_____ The little man stopped his pacing and looked up from his three foot height at the Detective. “It’s them” he squeaked. “You know I’m no faker. Whether you want to call it a butcher or baker. It’s true”
_____ “Start from the top” said the detective, the Sergeant standing agape over his shoulder.
_____ “Whether it’s beaver or bear, They both were there! It’s true!”
_____ The detective backed away.
_____“They’ll navigate. Oh, just you wait. It’s true!!!”
_____ The detective turned to leave and crashed into the Sergeant. The Sergeant looked from the little man to the Detective.
_____ “What the hell? Can we believe anything he’s saying?
_____ The Detective took a deep breath. “Oh yeah, we can believe him. He said it three times. It has to be true.” He fixed the Sergeant with a cold stare. “We’re dealing with a snark.”
Prompt 2: Score:
_____ a : an account or reckoning originally kept by making marks on a tally
b : amount due : indebtedness
Trifecta 33 2/3
_____ Another crime scene. The EMTs pulled people out from the muddy field. Scripter Obscura and Janna T coughed, clearing their lungs. Sights n Bytes and Linda Vernon were drinking lemonade, trying to wash dirt from their throats.
_____ Sharp Little Pencil lay in an ambulance, eyes wide, grinning as her hand wrote poetry in the air.
_____ Brain Tomahawk giggled to himself.
_____ The Detective walked across the scene, noting how things were laid out. He continued towards the impromptu carnival of 3 ambulances and 33 emergency personnel.
_____ “Hello again Sergeant. What have we got?”
_____ “Should’ve known you’d be here. That Snark is out of control.” He gestured. “Look at this mess.”
_____ “I see it” sighed the Detective. “How many bodies?”
_____ “None” answered the Sergeant. “But I’ve got 32 people, all writerly types, all a little crazed.”
_____ “Anything useful?” pressed the Detective.
_____ “Aside from a third of them yelling that they have to ‘link up’, they all had strange patterns on their clothes.”
_____ The Detective’s head snapped up. “Patterns?”
_____ “One thick stripe, flanked by two narrow stripes. On all of them.” The Sergeant paused. “You know…it reminds me of that-“
_____ “Tricycle” finished the Detective. “This may be bigger than we thought. What else?”
_____ “Found a scrap of paper wedged in each person’s nose. A number on each one.”
_____ “Same number?”
_____ “No.” He handed the Detective an evidence bag of scraps of paper.
_____ The Detective eyed it. “Let me guess. One for each vic, numbered one to thirty two.”
_____ “Yes. What does it mean?”
_____ The Detective looked into the night. “It means this isn’t over yet. And someone is keeping score.”
Prompt Three:Write a 33-333 word response to the song featured below.
Trifecta 33 3/3 (Hey, wouldn’t that be 34?)(No, just go with it.)(Um…Ok…)
_____ The autumn air drifted gently over a field of smashed pumpkins. After 33 weeks, the Detective had finally tracked down the Snark. He left the field for a wooded area, and was lost for a moment, but picked out the tricycle tracks in the mud. He followed them to the trike against a tree. Looking up, he saw the little man he interrogated all those weeks ago humming to himself on his perch. The Snark saw the Detective and hopped down beside him.
_____ “You made it” grinned the Snark.
_____ The Detective shook his head fighting a wave of weariness. “This has to end” he said quietly.
_____ “We can make it last, forever, you and I.” answered the Snark, just as quietly. “It would be an…interesting challenge.”
_____ The Detective faced the Snark. “I can lose myself, for a moment. But not eternity.” He reached into his coat.
_____ The Snark wasted no time. He pulled out a stone sword and leapt at the Detective, toppling him before he could draw. The Detective rolled over, trying to shake the little man loose. The Snark wouldn’t let go. “All this time” he cried. “I’ve devised challenges to delight and amuse! To inspire and challenge! To stimulate and occasionally defeat! It is my reason!” He fought, using his size to his advantage.
_____ The Detective slipped, falling over. The Snark stood over him, a melancholy light of triumph in his eyes, and raised the sword for a final blow, his mouth in a cry of victory.
_____In that moment, the Detective found his weapon, and drew a fine filigreed Mount Blanc fountain pen. He pressed a release that emptied the ink reservoir into the Snark’s eyes and throat.
_____ The Snark’s cheer became a choke, then a gurgle, then…silence.
_____ The Snark fell. A gust of wind blew leaves and dirt, swirling around the body until it was covered, except for one hand, clenched in a fist.
_____ The Detective gathered himself up and brushed himself off. Approaching the cairn slowly, he saw a scrap of paper sticking out of the clenched fist.
_____ He paused and sighed, knowing what came next. Despite his dread, he reached out to perform his final task, drawing the slip of paper from the hand.
_____ The wind gusted harder. Leaves blew. Dirt columned in a gyre. The Detective changed. His spine shrunk, his limbs compressing until he shrunk to half his height, swimming in his now oversized clothes.
_____ He looked at the scrap, sighed, stuck it in his pocket. No words. Just a number.
_____ Thirty three.
_____ He mounted the tricycle. He pedaled slowly away, thinking about his previous life, the places where his friends still met. He saw a glint from the leaf cairn – the stone sword, and felt a surge of pride at the battle.
_____ “The pen is mightier than the sword” he said to himself, riding off to devise the next challenge…
I loved this. I was laughing at the creativity and the use of all 3 prompts. Bravo!
LikeLike
Thanks Tessa. I can only hope the Trifecta Snar- Judges are as appreciative!
LikeLike
Very nicely composed and executed. (I adore the pumpkins btw)
LikeLike
Thanks Kanerva. The Pumpkins were the prompt. You should check out trifectawritingchallenge.com. Might be something that sparks your creative interest…
LikeLike
Tempting, El Guapo, very tempting. However I’m getting further and further behind on everything else… I’ll keep it in mind 🙂
LikeLike
Wow…nicely done….
LikeLike
Thank you kayjai.
Hope it was a good distraction for you!
LikeLike
Absolutely…very imaginative.
LikeLike
A most excellent response to the challenge, my friend! Very creative to link the three prompts together in one storyline.
LikeLike
Thanks so much sandylikeabeach. I’m hoping you’ll throw in something for the challenge. You put up great entries for these (and in general too).
LikeLike
Loved this. Am I correct in assuming the character of the detective is the same throughout?
LikeLike
Thanks a lot, Smak! Yes, the Detective, Sergeant and Snark are the same in each.
LikeLike
I thought so. And thank you for not answering: “Duh–that’s kinda the whole point, jackass.”
And yes, it is too late to change your answer.
LikeLike
Of course not, Smak.
Pay no attention to the edits in my original comment.
LikeLike
You are just too too good for my words….
LikeLike
Much appreciated, jots! Though your words are pretty good too.
LikeLike
haha, that was clever. and you write very well. nice read (;
LikeLike
Thank you Renada. Writing this one was more fun than usual. Just wish they gave us more words…
LikeLike
♥ This had me seriously laughing out loud! ^5s! 😆
LikeLike
That’s all I could hope for, TikkTok. My inner snark thanks you!
LikeLike
Given 3 prompts makes this at least three time better than I could have done. The scene of driving off on a tricycle to write the next challenge has potential for a movie.
LikeLike
Thanks Frank. If you had any inclination, I’d be very curious to see what you did with one of these challenges.
I will now amuse myself by imagining Nora Ephron’s interpretation of this story.
LikeLike
OMG! Mr. Guapola, sir! You have totally nailed it! From one crazed writerly type to another . . . YOU ROCK! 😀
LikeLike
Thanks Linda! Us crazy writerly types have to stick together. You know, so half of us can write while the other half defends the perimeter.
LikeLike
That was clever Guapo! Well done!!
LikeLike
Thanks whitelady. I hope the trifecta folk like it too.
LikeLike
This is good, good stuff, El Guapo. I freeze when I read the Trifecta challenges, so I admire your ability to create such clever pieces.
LikeLike
Thank you Madame Weebles. I’ve seen your writing though. I bet you can come up with some fantastic challenge responses.
LikeLike
So clever!!! And quite fun to read! Bravo!
LikeLike
Merci, Andrea!
And you have a fantastic moustache!
LikeLike
Isn’t it great? I think I look like a Mexican mobster. My husband HATES that I use that picture on things, but I can’t resist. It’s funny to me!
LikeLike
So the Snark WAS a boo-(*jum*)
LikeLike
Exactly, HaikuWater.
Snark was not a Trifecta judge.
You’d think I’d learn to quit while I was behind…
LikeLike
Hi,
These are great, it was good reading the three of these together, and it was all very clever. Well done. 😀
LikeLike
Thank you Magsx2. It was too much work trying to think of 3 separate stories, so I just rolled them into one.
LikeLike
OH. My. God. I loved every second of this, especially when you started listing the fellow trifectans with the papers. Slips of paper up the nose. And the detective becoming the snark he was hunting. OY. This is absolutely brilliant!!
LikeLike
Thank you, Jester Queen! Once I threw in the tricycle, it seemed appropriate to poke more fun.
As you’re a regular entrant, I’m really glad you liked it!
LikeLike
Your writer’s voice reminds me of Christopher Moore — have you ever read him? His writing is extremely active and sharp-witted. I loved his “Bloodsucking Fiends” book.
LikeLike
Wow, that’s a high compliment, Asplenia! Lamb by him is one of the funniest books I’ve read.
LikeLike
Just thought you should know I nominated for the “One Lovely Blog” award thing.
Full details here: http://averystrangeplace.com/2012/06/27/lovely-as-balls/
LikeLike
I’m honored, Strange. I gotta warn you though, I suck at responding to these…
LikeLike
I loved this, wow! Yet another (not so hidden) talent, unveiled.
LikeLike
Thank you Cayman. You should definitely get in on these. I bet you’d nail them.
LikeLike
Great! I am not worthy. Three wonderful pieces and the reason I only submitted once.
LikeLike
Thanks Lorre! I’m hoping they establish a new category for me (creatively deranged?) just so I can win one.
LikeLike
You write very well El Guapo, I’m impressed.
LikeLike
Thank you Savor!
LikeLike
This had an immediacy and fun vibe to the connection of prompts. I read it all twice befire commenting. good job
LikeLike
Really glad you liked it, Lance!
LikeLike
You “slayed” this one. (Sorry, couldn’t resist…pen is mightier than the sword, you said :)) This was an excellent entry times three. I’m impressed the creativity you mixed into this one!
LikeLike
I thank you both for the compliment, and for the brief use of your nose in this one.
LikeLike
What up Guapo! Rich, good looking and now smart to! c’mon man!
LikeLike
You seem to know an awful lot about me Pete. Have you been reading my mail again? 😉
LikeLike
Hey now, I only giggle to myself when something funny comes to mind on the train. Which it always does.
Wonderful play in 3 acts! I can see an indie theater picking this up. I can also see myself buying a ticket, and not noticing that there are only 33 seats.
Great job!
LikeLike
Well, as long as there’s some giggling, Brain.
Hmm…Trifecta Theater. 3 shows nightly, 3 dollars a ticket?
LikeLike
I tried (Lord, how I tried) to devise a plan of attack to conquer all three of these assignments in one fell swoop. And now I lay crippled in defeat at your feet. You rose to the task as effortlessly as if you were simply drawing a breath.
Bravo, Mr. G. You have truly earned the name El Guapo today.
Trifecta, please allow me to submit my vote that Guapo advance to the swimsuit competition.
LikeLike
I read your entry. It was really good!
And while part of me wants to advance to the swimsuit portion because I look great in a thong, part of me really doesn’t want to have to shave my legs.
Again. 😉
LikeLike
Guapo … that’s what Nair is for.
LikeLike
I love Nair! Tastes really good on strawberries.
LikeLike
This was a very good read. I enjoyed it emensly, I hope you win you are deserving.
LikeLike
Thanks Starla. Once I figured a way to jam them all together, it was a lot of fun to write.
LikeLike
I had to read it twice too! It’s awesome! (Then I had to read the tags too just to make sure.) I love how you incorporated all three challenges, while ending with another Lewis Carroll theme… That song has such a weird (delusional) feel to it, making it perfect for magic.
LikeLike
Thank you, L&L.
I had the image of the white rabbit in my head as Detective shrunk…
LikeLike
totally tripletastic, Sir EG!!! I Love, love, love it! I love, Love, love it. I love, love, LOVE it!!! you sure do have a peachykeen brain there dude and you know how to use it!!!
🙂
LikeLike
Thanks, thanks, thanks BuddhaKat! Just don’t tell my boss. He’ll want me to use it at work. 😉
LikeLike
Hilarious. 🙂
Love this: “But I’ve got 32 people, all writerly types, all a little crazed.”
LikeLike
No idea why you got bumped to spam.
Thanks Rosemary! I enjoyed playing with the trifecta tropes in this one.
LikeLike
Love the music video you have shared. ^ o ^
LikeLike
Glad you liked it, ristinw.
I still use the phrase “good run of bad luck” to describe my state of life from time to time.
LikeLike