The 100 Word Stories Podcast

Alarms went off almost daily in processing plant seven. It was an orbital asteroid rendering facility that had seen better days. Demoted to a training facility, instructors ran the orbital base. Sometimes the alarms were just drills, but other times the alarms were real. Either way, it was good practice for the future miners, engineers, processors, and administrators. When seven had a full blowout, the company retired the facility. They wrote off that crew, designated the next oldest facility as a training base, and launched a new processing plant for improving production volume and efficiency. Next quarter’s profits will rise.

The next topic is Family portrait

RICHARD

The House Sitter

LEWIE

Title: Craigslist Said It Was Healthy

“Take care of Jarold. He’s a bit troublesome in the mornings,” my manager said, feverishly preparing for his vacation.

Jarold… was a ficus.

Jarold was dead on arrival.

Panic set in. I scrolled the marketplace and found an ad.

We met in a questionable alley downtown.

The woman rummaged through her truck, hair brushing over junk, and handed me a torpid plant.

“This one matches your aura”.

I couldn’t shoulder the guilt. It was eating me alive.

By the time my manager returned, he paused, surprised.

“Keep the plant”, he said, “Jarold seems to like you.”

Jarold Jr. is thriving.

LIZZIE

The new dead plant in the garden of dead plants was rather cheeky, bragging about being the deadliest dead plant around. The other dead plants chuckled. A fever of hatred ensued. The deadliest dead plant…. Who cares? She’s dead. The new dead plant vowed to kill them all. The problem was that they were already dead. That’s when she came up with a plan. Fertilizer! She summoned the wind. The fertilizer flew from the ripped bag, and the dead plants, horrified, began to sprout again. “Happy to be alive? That is a kind of death, isn’t it, you silly weeds?”

SERENDIPIDY

He was shivering violently, sweating profusely; groaning in evidently intense pain.

NORVAL JOE

Billbert stared at the ring Mandi had placed on his finger and then watched as she placed one on her own.

His head suddenly burned with fever and his thoughts became vague and torpid. His vision went bright white and he collapsed backward onto her bed.

Billbert felt a sharp pain on his cheek and then again. He opened his eyes to see Mandi leaning over him. Her lips moved frantically but he couldn’t hear what she said.

When his hearing returned, Mandi said and showed him her finger, “These are my grandparent’s rings. I think you are mine, now.”

PLANET Z

Ned Pearson was apprentice to Wordmaster Bunson last fall. The old man spent his time in a wheelchair and he was nearly deaf and completely blind. He would think of stories and Ned would write them down. Repeat that back to me, said Bunson. And Ned would read off what Bunson had said. Bunson would think for a moment and he would either have Ned cross out that line and replace it or he would continue with his story. Sometimes, Bunson would have Ned go back and read everything. Thank you, Ned. said Bunson. Perfectly done. Ned said you’re welcome.

After we had grass rolled out on our front yard, I would let our cats out to roll around and play and stock out there. I got an Apple AirTag on a collar in case they would run off. They roll on the grass and the sun beams. They claw the trees. They look so happy. I let them in the backyard as well and they explore. I had to put planks of wood on either side of the shed to keep them from burrowing under there. It’s time to come in. I pick them up and they complain loudly.

I live near the bay, and when I go to the beach, I see pelicans and eagles and other birds hunting for fish on the water. I like to watch them striding along the shore or flying above, ducking their head under the water and pulling out a fish or swooping down. It’s just so graceful and peaceful to watch. It’s certainly more enjoyable than when I bring some snacks to the beach and I get mobbed by seagulls. One time I brought a burger and fries and I got set up on the moment I opened the paper bag.

It hasn’t rained here in Pleasant Valley for a while. The stream that goes under the old library bridge is dry. The pond in the park, you can tell from how the bank is exposed from the receding water. The almanac said that this year would be wetter than usual, but nobody believes it. Sundays, Pastor Smith leads the congregation to pray for rain, but it doesn’t rain. And then one day the skies went dark, the winds blew hard, and we were in the middle of a hurricane. Not all at once Lord, said Pastor Smith, and he laughed.

When I walk through the park that used to be a golf course, there are a lot of houses with their backyards facing the former cart paths and fairways and greens. I’d try not to snoop, but some people put decorations out just for the benefit of people walking and cycling and playing the frisbee golf course. And then there’s a house with the 7 foot crucifix and some solar powered spotlights that light it up at night. Whether it’s a symbol of their faith and devotion or a thinly veiled threat to trespassers, I’m not willing to find out.

Jake and Molly carved their initials in the grand oak in Somerville Park. The sheriff talked to their parents. They agreed on a punishment. The magistrate waved his hand in front of Jake’s eyes, and then he waved it in front of Molly‘s. And then he left. Is that it? said Jake. The sheriff nodded and he left. Jake shrugged and said let’s go to the park, Molly. She agreed and they walked hand-in-hand. But when they got to the park entrance, they stopped both were overcome by dark fear. Trembling, they turned around and walked back home.

During my daily walks, I see various creatures. Squirrels and birds and rabbits and turtles. This morning, I saw a turtle by the side of the road. And even though it’s Saturday morning, there’s a few cars going by. I pondered whether to pick up the turtle and carry it to the other side. But then, what if the turtle is just looking and doesn’t wanna go to the other side. And if I carry that turtle over, it will need to walk back across the road. If only this were a chicken, I’d make a joke out of it.

The next topic is PICK TWO

LIZZIE

Beach towel, sunglasses. An empty deodorant can? She’d stopped using spray deodorants ages ago, when being environmentally friendly was a thing. Suddenly, the can beeped. She quickly tossed it away, but her guilty made her pick it up again. Then, a red dot appeared exactly when her ex walked up. “Hello!” For some reason, he took the can from her and… vanished. To her amazement, the can spoke. “Thank you for helping us capture a human specimen of the stupid kind. We’ll research him thoroughly.” Perhaps she could help again. She knew a few more specimens of the stupid kind.

RICHARD

Warning

TOM

Got No Title, Kids

As a rule, I’m pretty fluid with topics here at the Challenge. I can say only a handful of prompts have left me staring blankly into space. This is one. So, I asked AI is there any thing interesting about empty deodorant cans. This is what it spit out: Empty deodorant containers are widely available for purchase online for DIY projects, ranging in price from roughly $1 to $3 per unit depending on quantity and material (plastic or cardboard). Is there an infinity retention of value for all manufactured items? Wait! Who these people buying this stuff? Get a life.

SERENDIPIDY

A chair, bolted to the floor.

NORVAL JOE

Billbert took Mandi’s hand and they flew to her bedroom window. She pushed it open and waved Billbert in.

Once inside, she pointed to her bed. “Have a seat. I’ll be right back.”

He didn’t think it appropriate for a boy to sit on a girl’s bed but as there were no other chairs in the room he gave up and sat.

She brought in an old deodorant can that rattled when she shook it.

“Hold out your hand,” she said as she twisted the bottom from the can.

Obediently, Billbert did and Mandi shoved a ring onto his finger.

PLANET Z

It was time to clean out the cupboards in the bathroom.

George was a pirate, but he wasn’t a very good pirate. During his downtime, he liked to walk around the neighborhood. Which wasn’t very difficult when the ship was out at sea since ships are small and walking around a ship isn’t difficult to do. Sometimes he’d walk around twice, sometimes even walking one end of the gang plank and then the other. Sometimes the shipmates wish he would just go all the way over the plank. When they were in dock, he’d walk around the taverns and houses and warehouses. Then he’d sit down on a bench and nap.