Monday, March 11, 2013

Blowing Bubbles

/>Write at the Merge, Week 11
Two photos this week for you to reflect upon:(I chose this one.)



Trifecta Challenge; Week Sixty-eight

Congratulations to the weekend's winners, and on to the weekly prompt.
TIME (noun)

1a : the measured or measurable period during which an action, process, or condition exists or continues : duration
 b : a nonspatial continuum that is measured in terms of events which succeed one another from past through present to future
 c : leisure <time for reading>
2: the point or period when something occurs : occasion
3a : an appointed, fixed, or customary moment or hour for something to happen, begin, or end <arrived ahead of time>
b : an opportune or suitable moment <decided it was time to retire> —often used in the phrase about time <about time for a change>

Please remember: 
  • Your response must be between 33 and 333 words. 
  • You must use the 3rd definition of the given word in your post. 
  • The word itself needs to be included in your response. 
  • You may not use a variation of the word; it needs to be exactly as stated above. 
  • Only one entry per writer. 
  • If your post doesn't meet our requirements, please leave your link in the comments section, not in the linkz.
  • Trifecta is open to everyone. Please join us. 



The children squealed in delight.  Bubbles!   Hundreds of bubbles.  Iridescent globes, dancing through the forest on the whim of gust and breeze.

They chased the fragile spheres, shrieking in glee.  Bubbles hung from branches, flashing with reflections of leaf and bough.  They caught in the undergrowth, where little hands tried to capture them whole.

At the far side of the forest, the ground rose through gentle foothills to the mountains beyond. She perched on a sunny outcrop watching the forest edge, puffs of smoke curling from her nostrils with each breath. Her wings folded in readiness against golden scales. 

"Is it time for lunch yet, Mama?"

She flicked her gaze toward her dragonet, still marvelling at the strange emissions flowing from her tiny throat.

"Not yet, Baby, let them get clear of the trees."

65 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Thank you, Sandra! Horror was definitely what I was after.

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  2. Okay. Nice way to start the day, with these cheery Trifecta stories. 'Wings folded' immediately sent chills.

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    1. Sorry about the early chills? Nah! Thanks for reading, Ted, and for giving me evil giggles..

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    1. Thanks, Draug! It was way too much fun to write.

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  4. Never meddle in the affairs of dragons for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

    Wonderful contrast. Well done!

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    1. Especially when flash fried!
      Thank you, Shelton

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  5. Oh boy, a fairy tale with a difference. You handled the transition from magic to menace beautifully.

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    1. Thank you, Sandra! I appreciate you stopping by.

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  6. Very nicely written. I hope the mother makes sure the dragonet eats all of her meal! :)

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    1. Thanks, Joe! Well, you know how young ones are, picky eaters.

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  7. Chewy on the outside, crunchy in the middle!

    I loved every word.

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    1. Thanks, Jennifer! There may have been far to much evil laughter as I wrote this.

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  8. eek - that was a turn of events!

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  9. I had to stop and reread the transition, unnerved by the change in scene -- and then laugh. Lunch time, indeed!

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    1. Thanks for the laugh, Morgan! Dragons have to maintain their strength.

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  10. Very cool turn of eerie events. Well done.

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  11. I'm an Anne McCaffrey fan . . . love this!

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    1. Thank you, Barbara! So am I, though, I don't think the bubbles would have had much effect on 'thread'.

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  12. Children: it's what's for lunch.
    Children: the other white meat.
    See what your story did to me? It's got me thinking of silly food slogans. Seriously though, it was twisted...but funny :)

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    1. Thanks, Janna! Twisted is my usual state, I'm afraid. However, I must not be alone. "Children: the other white meat."? *snort*

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  13. Well, once I read this twice, I got it. The last line's "them" - I wasn't sure if it was the bubbles or the children. JannaT, Children: It's what's for lunch. Oh lord, that's just plain wrong and I love you BOTH for your twisted little minds! Amy
    http://sharplittlepencil.com/2013/03/12/idiocy-unchecked-end-the-war/

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    1. Thanks, Amy, I'm glad you got it. I was maybe a little too subtle. And I'm loving the comments! Some are more twisted than the story!

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  14. Nice contrast between danger and delight.

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  15. Heehee!

    I love this - a lovely play on perspective. What to our eyes is a fun pastime is simply lunch for dragons.

    :)



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    1. Barbara, thank you! I love you got the perspective part'

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  16. Oh my goodness! That's so funny, and just a teeny bit twisted! You made me laugh. :)

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    1. Thanks, Kathleen! Glad I made you laugh. Teeny bit twisted? Aw, thank you.

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  17. Aw, poor kids! I do love how you turned from simple happiness to chilling horror-which in turn became hard realization. Nice work!

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    1. Thank you, Amanda! I was trying for the contrast. I'm glad it worked.

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  18. I love how it went from happy to chilling in a moment! Very good.

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    1. Thanks, Deana! I seem to have a thing for that.

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  19. What a twist! And here I was enjoying the image of innocent bubble-chasing. :P

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    1. Thank you! Twisted seems to be a theme in the comments. Can't imagine why. ;-)

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  20. So how many children do they have to eat for it to qualify as lunch and not just a snack?

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    1. Oh, good question! Hmmm, I'll have to do some research on that....

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  21. Aah! I know it makes me a horrible person, but I was kind of delighted by the turn to the dragonet. The dragonet is way cooler than the squealing kids.

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    1. No, not horrible at all, I don't necessarily want children to be eaten, but I do love the dragons!

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  22. Crunch Crunch! I love it! hahaha. Fantastic.

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    1. Thank you! I am loving the giggles I'm getting from the comments.

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  23. Ooh, there be dragons, Watch out little kids!

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    1. Yes indeedy. Watch out...

      Thank you for reading!

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  24. Love it. The contrast between the tale of the sweet children and the little hungry dragonet (had not heard that word before)

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    1. Thank you! I've seen dragonet used before for young or small dragons.

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  25. Renee, google "Dudley and Stephens", which is my edX reading, and you will see why I am unable to comment on your otherwise terrific tale! *shivers*

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    1. Thanks, Kymm! Too much reading about people eating, eh.

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  26. Super creepy and and fun. I loved it.

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    1. Thank you, Jennifer! I'm glad you enjoyed it.

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  27. This? Was AWESOME. I loved it. I especially love the visual of the bubbles emanating from the dragonet's nose (I assume that's what was going on). It's like an evolutionary advantage - how else is a baby dragon supposed to lure its food close enough to catch before it can breathe fire??

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    1. Thank you!
      That is an excellent explanation. "Evolutionary advantage." I like it!

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  28. That was a nice twist! I'm torn between Aww, baby dragon and Oh no! Dragons are going to eat the people!

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    1. Thanks, Patricia! I know! Baby dragons are awesome.

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  29. Ohhhh Creepy! I love it!
    I was reading it to fast and read chickens as first instead of children. Tomorrow I am going to see what happens when you blow bubbles at chickens just so I will know.

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    1. Thanks, Kitty! You'll have to let me know how that chicken bubbling works out.

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  30. My kids LOVE bubbles. I'll never look at them the same way again. What a great piece.

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  31. Thanks, Angela! Just make sure you know where the bubbles are coming from. Hope there aren't any dragons in your neighborhood.

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  32. Dragons are my favorite lately. Nice job.

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    1. Thank you, dragons are always my favorites. :-)

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  33. Did you see we gave you a nod this week? Sly you. I loved this.

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