The name’s Bookends, Micro Bookends. License to flash. Welcome! Enjoy!
Dr. No, released in 1962, and based on the 1958 Ian Fleming novel of the same name
Ursula Andress, who celebrates her 79th birthday today, played the shell-diving Bond girl, Honey Ryder (a fairly tame double entendre compared to later efforts) who has been described as the quintessential Bond girl. Her appearance from the ocean wearing a white bikini (which she helped design and sew) and large knife strapped to her thigh, is one of the most famous scenes in cinematic history, and was voted most sexy in a Channel 4 poll. Andress’s Swiss-German accent was considered too strong for the finished movie and was dubbed by German voice actress Nikki van der Zyl.
Let’s help Ursula celebrate her birthday with this week’s photo prompt (the actual contents of her bikini pocket):
The Judge
Judging this week’s contest is Jessica Franken, winner of MB 1.22. Read her winning story and what she has to say about flash fiction here.
What?
A story of between 90 and 110 words starting with DOCTOR and ending with NO and incorporating the photo prompt.
Who?
Anyone, but especially you!
Why?
Why not! Because it’s fun. Because it’s a challenge. Because the winner will receive their own winner’s page, their story on the winning stories list, a ‘who is the the author’ feature to be posted next week, entry into the ‘Micro Bookend of the Year’ competition, and a copy of this year’s winning stories compilation.
When?
Now! Get your entry in BEFORE 5:00 am Friday (UK time: http://time.is/London).
Where?
Here!
How?
Post your story in the comments section. Include the word count and your Twitter username (if you’re Twitterized). Don’t forget to read the full rules before submitting your story.
Anything else?
Please give your story a title. It will not be included in the word count.
Please try to leave comments on a couple of other stories. It’s all part of the fun, and everyone likes feedback!
Remember, only stories that use the bookends exactly as supplied (punctuation is allowed) will be eligible to win.
166 Responses to “Micro Bookends 1.23 – DOCTOR [micro] NO”
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The Key
(word count: 108)
‘Doctor,’ she whispered. ‘There’s something I need to show you.’
His leather chair creaked as he leaned forward.
He didn’t speak.
She showed him the key.
Doctor Smith jumped to his feet as though he’d just sat on a spike. He scrambled for the door and yanked it open.
‘You need to leave Ms Ryder. You need to leave right now!’
‘But …’
‘Please!’
The remaining patients seated outside in the waiting area quietly observed the commotion.
Ms Ryder returned the key to her purse and stood. Her high heels stabbed the floor as she approached the door.
‘But I thought …’
Doctor Smith shook his head. ‘No.’
@koebnig
Okay, where’s the longer version where we learn what the key opens?
Intriguing!
I’m imagining it’s her room key! Someone has gotten the wrong idea…
Interesting, once I read your comment the mystery became clearer…well done 🙂
While the language is slightly suggestive of a seduction attempt, this left me intrigued, as if there were an alternative not so obvious storyline about to unfold…
Childhood Betrayed,
“Doctor,” The BBC exec says, “I’d like you to meet Shane. He’s a producer with the American HGTV.”
“Jelly Belly?”
Shane takes two.
“HGTV wants to cross brand our shows.”
Shane says, “We have an awesome formula. You’ll use your porto-john here to transport Canadian designers back in time to flip castles.”
The doctor tosses his scarf. “Are you mad?”
Shane continues, “American’s love watching Canadians decorate and redesign. It’s a national pastime. Think of the advertising revenue.”
“K-9”
“Yes master?”
“Disintegrate this producer.”
Beeeewwwwww.
The BBC exec looks cross. “You leave me no choice. Prepare to host this year’s Downton Abbey Christmas special in the TARDIS.”
“No!”
110 Words
@Michaelsimko1
// First Dr. Who reference
Great take on the prompt, Michael. Cross-branding shows… Bah!
Love the ‘portojohn’ reference – would be a way more up-to-date external appearance for the TARDIS than than the Police Call Box – and ‘Beeeewwwwww’ as a transliteration of a laser sound. But ‘Jelly Belly’? Although the Doctor comes from Gallifrey, in all his regenerations, he’s had a Britishaccent. ‘Jelly Baby’, please! 🙂
Lol. Crossover. Jelly Belly is everywhere.
great
Awesome! That Dr. did cross my mind but you did him better justice.
So glad to see a Dr Who take! 🙂
This was fantastically funny and there is something delightful about “beeeeewww” coming up while reading.
I Have Some Good News…
‘Doctor? Oh, Nachum!’
‘Don’t start with that “My son, the doctor!” schtick. It’s just a PhD in Macroeconomics, Momma. I won’t be performing emergency tracheotomies with my Swiss army knife and the tube from a ballpoint!”
‘Still, a doctor! Poppa would’ve been so proud… I’m proud! You look so professional carrying your briefcase.’
‘Huh! You should see all the crap I have inside it!’
‘You could never take a compliment.’
‘If you want to make a fuss, make me one of your special cakes when you get out.’
‘Oy! A medic you certainly are not! We both know that I’ll never be coming home.’
…
‘Well, Nachum?’
‘You won’t, Momma. No.’
@GeoffHolme
Word Count:110
Wow, that captures a wave of emotion fast. I’m hoping she’s in jail instead of hospice.
Thanks, Michael.
I was hoping that ‘A medic you certainly are not!’ would make it clear where Momma was. (Actually, I hadn’t considered that she might be in the slammer… Poor Poppa!)
I laughed at this line, “‘You could never take a compliment.’”
Funny to sad all in 110 words (and neatly between the bookends!)
Wondered if momma not coming home was the good news…well-packed larger story suggestion
Unlocked
(106 words)
‘Doctor. Doctor.’ The preamble to a punchline- pull yourself together.
The fabric of her is coming undone. Stitch by stitch. She watches her contents spill out, her once alphabetized innards- Anxiety, Failed Wife, Failing Mother, Working Mother- shake loose, scatter across her desk, over the parquet flooring. The divisions of her she’s filed away in the neat drawers of supression are flung open. They brew over at the tea station. They are in the scrambled statistics she submitted upstairs this morning.
She wonders if there’s time to scoop them up again into paper- clipped bundles and fold them tidily away.
But she’s concious the answer is no.
“She watches her contents spill out, her once alphabetized innards- ” gorgeous!
Thanks, Foy.
I LOVE this, Marie!
So pleased you like it, Jacki. Thank you.
I almost always scroll to your story when I’m lacking inspiration over a prompt and you don’t disappoint. Beautiful, imaginative piece.
Thanks for that huge compliment! Your own stories are always so unique.
Thank you!
I love this one! Some beautiful lines!
Thank you!
fab marie x
Thanks, Susan.
“The fabric of her is coming undone”- that sentence alone is hauntingly beautiful and a crisp summary of this moment in a life. Lovely tale.
Thank you, Casey.
“..the divisions of her she’s filed away in the neat drawers of suppression are flung
open…” – loved the use of language in this piece
Book Worm (110 words)
Dr. Brody adjusted the mask over his face to retard the odor of the dead shark. An eleven foot Great White wasn’t the biggest fish he’d seen, but this one was special. Two lovers strolling the beach discovered the shriveled monster. A human arm protruded from the creature’s mouth. Missing persons records were checked to identify the female victim, to no avail. On the table at the marine fisheries lab the shark’s stomach was slit and the contents spilled out. A police investigator entered the room holding a paper mask to his face. “Still a Jane Doe?” Dr. Brody picked up a sticky library card. “No.”
“Sorry for your loss… but I’m still going to have to charge you for the defaced library book.”
Wonderful take on the prompt! Nice work, Steven.
I hope that your use of ‘Dr.’ doesn’t contravene Mr Borrowdale’s rules. :-/
(Still maintaining your house style of no paragraph breaks? I find it easier to read a story if it has ’em. :-D)
Dr. is fine. I made the bookend DOCTOR (rather than the Dr. of the movie and book) so people could use it as a verb.
Oh, now that’s just giving people ideas!
I guess I could have spelled out the word “Doctor,” it wouldn’t have changed my stories…Thanks for he tip on using paragraphs. I’ll use them to doctor up my submissions next week.
Oo, I do love a good shark story!
I love the original take on this! Nothing I wouldn’t thought up. And the library card. Not a bad way to be identified in death. 😉
great
Brilliant take. Love it. Love the inclusion of the library card.
as soon as the shark was mentioned I could see the Jaws villain from the Bond films (character name? my memory’s dreadful!) – enjoyed this take on the prompt, even if it is a gruesome tale for the victim
Cute Critter (110 words)
Dr. Norden and two rescuers had their heads stuck through the twisted windshield frame gathering information before the extraction. The Medical Examiner has a daughter about the same age as the victim. On the grill of the kelly green Subaru was evidence of the squirrel the driver had swerved to avoid. In the backseat an over-sized red ribbon and bow. The contents of the girl’s backpack strewn about. Inside a homemade birthday card was the outline of a key. The card simply read: Drive Safely. Dr. Norden thought, “Would my daughter have driven straight and run over the animal to keep her car on the road?” No.
Really like this portrayal of a little droplet of time.
Thanks, this one was a little dark. I just wanted to get the big red ribbon idea out of my head.
You Next (109 words)
“Dr. Phil said I should keep my last beer tab to remind me of my sobriety date. The knife is for emergencies. Um, the Smokey the Bear pin is from the family camping trip in Vermont where we found the tiny bird’s eggs. The shell is from Cape Cod last summer. I got totally sun burned. The key is for the shed where I keep my bike. Here’s my Ipod. Do you really want to see all this stuff?”
“Yeah, I think you can learn a lot about someone when you see what they carry around.”
“So, I’m not boring you on our first date?”
“No.”
“Er…a couple of used tissues… and a packet of three condoms… oops! I’ll get the check, shall I?”
Wacky idea but I like it!
(Is the MC a young person? For some reason I had in my mind older / divorced people. But “family camping trip” might ring alarm bells for the listener in my scenario!)
‘my sobriety date’ – that’s why I thought of an older person.
I was promoting nipping one’s alcoholism in the bud. [or Bud Lite as the case may be]
Great take.
great
You Are Served
“Doctor Framingham? Paging Doctor Framingham, your table is ready.” The slim, regal looking maître de surveyed the room but saw no one moving in response to his page.
He repeated the call at least a half-dozen more times before moving to the next name on his list. He repeated the same process with name after name on his list.
From the kitchen Chef Andre chuckled with glee. Erroll Lazenby was a top notch maitre de, but he was no food critic. His slanderous opinion of the new signature dish made Andre feel payback was justified. The phony guest list wouldn’t trace back to him.
“You are feeling inadequate, no?”
Nice double meaning with the title. 🙂
Thanks. Sometimes it falls in your lap.
..
Ancient Artifacts
@voimaoy
110 words
“Doctor, what do you make of this? ” Dr. Yu and Dr. Two were exploring the underground temples of Earth.
In reality, they were just kids and they were exploring their parents’ basement. It was ancient history to them. The stacked boxes were like lost Egyptian pyramids, marked with mysterious scrawlings–Kitchen, Taxes, Miscellaneous.
“Let’s open one!” Dr. Yu suggested.
Ignoring the ancestral warnings, they broke the seal and examined the contents— headphones, sunglasses, a shell, a key.
“What could it mean?” Dr. Two held the flashlight.
Dr. Yu looked thoughtful. “It must be sacred artifacts of some kind.”
An ancient silverfish scrambled for the shadows. Both doctors ran screaming, “Oh, no!”
Aww, bless!
After the first paragraph, I was convinced we were back at Samsara… But, no. It was a much more gentle, down-to-earth dose of nostalgia. I’m very glad they didn’t find something more embarrassing in those boxes!
Lovely story!
Thank you, Geoff! Yes, my first attempt was more involved and much too long. So glad you enjoyed this version!
Their names are adorable!! Great story, Voima. 🙂
“mysterious scrawlings-Kitchen, Taxes, Miscellaneous”. Lovely!
Haha–great take. Silverfish are pretty frightening, I think.
great
Break from Reality
110 words
@ceckyboneay
“Doctor, what’s he doing?” Clarisse asked of her husband, who had been hospitalized from a mental breakdown.
“The key to happiness is chocolate,” Mike babbled.
“Well,” the doctor responded “it seems as if Mike’s attempts to return to reality have resulted in him rattling off these little life sayings.”
Mike’s babbles continued, “Make your own music. Only you can prevent forest fires. I believe it’s Sally that sells the seashells.”
“Does that mean he’s beginning to heal?” she asked. “A month ago he wasn’t talking at all.”
“Unfortunately, it’s too early to tell.”
Clarisse left the office as Mike’s voice walked her out, “For drugs and alcohol, just say no.”
Nicely done!
Thanks! and of course I misspell my own twitter handle… it should be @ceckybonway. Eesh. First time playing along with you all and I can’t even get that right.
liked the babbling lines linking to the photo prompt items
Expunged
@geofflepard 109 words
‘…doctor the food. That’s what he said.’
‘You think that bean…?’
‘Has to be.’
Megan and Jim sat, staring at the man’s possessions, spewed like his guts across the tarmac. One little seed, trustingly ingested bringing untimely death.
‘Can we do anything?’
Megan held Jim’s hand, the squeeze ending his hope. A mile away, others would be sliding to oblivion. Beyond the state line, the authorities would start trying to control the spread.
‘Is this it?’
The youngsters stared at the dimpling horizon; a commonplace sunset accompanying the end of days.
‘Didn’t anyone realise?’ Jim held her tight. ‘Didn’t God?’
Megan let one teardrop fall, breaking His heart. ‘No.’
Powerful and sobering. Love this.
Wow, this just grows and grows, to infinity….and that last no is so powerful–great story!
Well put, Voima. This is wonderful.
wow! very powerful story with so few words
very effective emotionally
Petty Theft
@Donnellanjacki
110 words
Doctor, lawyer, alderman, thief.
My ambitions have been folded to wallet-sized, and slipped into the pockets of my sin.
“Empty your pockets, please,” says the Custody Sergeant. I place fistfuls of my life onto the table. A key, a ticket, an ID… a future. I’d had it all, I see that now.
And yet.
The Sergeant looks over my shoulder. “Thanks for bringing him in, Sir,” he says. “The shopkeeper was very grateful. It’s not petty theft to him.”
It was just one bottle. Full, I’d hoped, of attention. Maybe even affection.
“No problem,” comes the reply.
My snort-laugh looks like attitude. “No. No problem, is it, Dad? Oh no.”
Shoot- gone all shouty in bold again (bold was only intended for the title.) Can you please de-megaphone me, David?!
I’ve applied some shush.
Ha ha, thanks! 🙂
“fistfuls of my life onto the table” this line tells so much. Wonderful job, Jacki.
“I’d had it all. I see that now. And yet. ” Wow!
And that surprise ending, marvelous…
This is so sad. I love what the bottle might be ‘full’ of- poignant.
Deb, Voima, Marie- thanks so much for reading and for commenting. It really means a lot and is appreciated! 🙂
Word Count 110
@susanOReilly3
Addictive
Dr. Kavanagh stared at me with disbelief. The results of my endoscopy had come in. I knew what he’d found when he shone that camera down, I’d been addicted to eating strange and wonderful objects for years.
It started at ten I was playing with a fifty pence coin which I accidentally swallowed. My usually unflappable mother did not know what to do when she saw her son flailing unable to breathe.
That was a wonderful adventure, ambulance, checkups I never had such undivided attention. When I’m down I can eat a key or earphones or whatever’s near. “Put down the stethoscope” I open my mouth he screams “No.”
This is genius, Susan! A strange and fascinating disorder that forces so many of our EDs to waste valuable time and resources. It might be one of the most frustrating patient visits to deal with. Great story.
thanks very much Foy glad u like x
Love this. How original. What an ending.
thanks very much Marie x
Brilliant story, love that last line 🙂
thanks very much Emma x
Doctor the memory.
Repeat it until you believe it.
Her purse spilled out and you saw?
Keys, earbuds, a bottle cap.
(A knife)
No! You didn’t see a knife!
Erase it, forget it.
Her purse spilled out and you saw?
Junk, the detritus of a busy life.
(The means to end one.)
No! You didn’t see it. You couldn’t have inquired why she had it if you didn’t see it.
Erase the weapon and what it means.
It’s easier to forget than to keep asking what you could have done differently.
Did you see a knife?
No.
97 words
@CaseyCaseRose
Simply stunning! Well-done!
Wow… This is definitely one of the smoothest and most original use of the bookends (imo). Perfect as always.
Fabulous, Casey!
brill
How mysterious! Clever.
Professor Doctor History
@hollygeely
110 Words
Doctor had been summoned. It had taken ten minutes to make the receptionist understand that “Doctor” was his name and not his title. (Thanks, Mom.) Doctor was a history professor, not a technician or engineer. What did the Robots want from him?
“ACE-17 will see you now.”
ACE-17 was a Magnetic. Junk clung to his gleaming metal exterior; a knife, a pin, a…Was that an iPod? Robots rarely permitted inferior technology.
“You are selected,” it said. “You will rewrite the history. You will reprogram the humans.”
“That’s crazy! I won’t do it!”
ACE-17’s eyelights clicked on. “Question, Professor: Do you have a choice?”
The answer was a resounding no.
Had to read that name and title several times before my brain unscrambled it, nicely done! Clever as always. 🙂
Thanks! I was afraid I wouldn’t have time to play today, glad I managed to get this done.
Fun wordplay. I wonder how many kids growing up will have that problem.
Lovely! So clever and entertaining.
Love everything about this story. Well-done!
Foy S. Iver
@fs_iver
WC: 109
ctrl +alt + delete
“Doctor that image, will ya?”
His poke sends pixels scattering. The muscles in my arm tense. I drive my fingertips into the keys to keep from smacking his flawless hand away.
Damn company people and their manicures.
Clawing through the sooty remnants of Earth left mine ashen from a million memories, bodies, souls.
I wipe the stick-and-blanket shelter from the image along with another piece of my autonomy.
“We can’t have Earth looking hospitable. Theo said you found trinkets.”
I nod.
“A knife, an iPod, a picture. Anything else?”
The badge burns a circle in my breast pocket.
It is humanity. A testimony. There are survivors.
“No.”
Perfectly executed, as always.
Thank you, Jacki. 🙂
very clever Foy much enjoyed x
Thanks 🙂
Lovely. A huge story here. ‘with another piece of my autonomy’ – excellent.
Thank you, Marie!
@6bloc9 (stu06bloc9)
Back-tracking (110 words)
“Doctor, is this necessary?”
“Just a moment…oh…” One by one he examined his patient’s personal items from her handbag, before leaning toward her, appearing concerned.
“Ann, the specialist confirms Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. I’ve just completed his recommended clinical assessment protocol.”
“I came with a slipped disc!”
“Ann, this is your mp3 player – no disc needed, fully functional providing it’s charged. It can play, pause, stop, even skip backwards or forwards. Use it to distract from any pain you imagine having – visualise yourself as jolt-proof as an MP3 player rather than an Old CD player.”
“Can’t you give me something Doctor?”
“I can give you this back – but drugs? No.”
110 words
whoops! not supposed to be a space in ‘yourself’ – the space makes it 111 words! sorry!
I’ve closed it up.
Thank you very much 🙂
‘jolt-proof as an MP3 player rather than an old CD player.’ Great image. Funny scenario.
@6bloc9 (stu06bloc9)
Art Autopsy? (109 words)
“Doctor ?”
Peeling off his mask and latex gloves he replied “No idea, Detective Inspector. The body parts might not even be human – unsure how many bodies even. We need to get to the lab – there are no clear indicators with this one at all!”
“Ok Doc, thanks. As soon as the forensic photographer gets here we can get to work bagging evidence.”
“Where is he? He’s usually here first with you guys!”
“Today it’s a she – stuck in a jam apparently. Traffic!”
“Ok – but I just remembered seeing student art project posters in the lobby? I hope it’s not art gone wrong!”
“Oh doc, you’re kidding! Oh No!”
“It is humanity. A testimony. There are survivors.” so eloquent and powerful. Such a hopeful no.
Great story!
Thank you, Voima! I love that phrase “a hopeful no.” 🙂
@6bloc9 (stu06bloc9)
Red Letter (109 words)
Doctor Stranegleov must be a typo! Things had been strange for ages. Lights
flickering, strange noises, screeching. Pounding footsteps while no-one around. I
hadn’t requested a medical, no health concerns or routine checks due. So what
kind of doctor?
“One of the Professors fancies you – it’s a ploy!” Debbie giggled when I showed her
the letter I’d received.
“Or one of the lads daft stunts! Probably open the door to a bucket of cold custard
on my head – they pulled a prank last week on Simon, dead funny for about a
second! He’s not come back from his mum’s yet, panic attacks apparently.”
“You going?”
“Of course not! No.”
CHRIS AND MIKE vs THE ESCAPED DOCTOR
Brian S Creek
108 words
@BrianSCreek
#FlashDog
“Doctor Frankenstein has left the building,” said Chris as he followed Mike under the yellow tape and into the cell.
Mike found a box of the Doctors personal belongings and rummaged. “Photos, badges, a shell.” And a key that ‘fell’ into his pocket.
“Our Doctor had help escaping,” said Chris. “All the damage to the door, I’d say it was opened from the outside. By something very strong.”
“That’s your five minutes,” said a woman stood across the corridor.
Chris grinned as they left the cell. “Thank you, Jo.”
“You’ve figured it out, haven’t you?”
Chris nodded.
”Are you going to tell me?”
“That would be a no.”
Another great story…. how was it done? 🙂
It’s Dr Frankenstein – he made a bolt for it! (BA-DUM! tish!)
Thank you, Stella. As for the escape . . . perhaps a certain Doctor’s ‘creation’ would be strong enough to rip that door off (cue Eastenders drum beat!).
There they are! Enjoyed this. 🙂
Thank you, Foy. 🙂
***** Unlock Your Blue Funk
Doctor Pell told mum I’d find this book useful. Which I have, it being the exact size to wedge my door shut and thus fully deserving of those five stars. Mum thinks I’m lining up the pins and drivers of my mind, or some such flimflam. Actually I’m practicing my swing. One chance is all I’ll get. Tommy — yes, doctor, Tommy who put me here — won’t feel a thing. When he wakes, he’ll taste that key — yes, doctor, the trinket you gave me — filling his duct-taped mouth. Will he suffer? Undoubtedly. Will I regret my actions? I don’t believe so, no.
—
109 words
@edbroom
dark and wonderful I like
chilling revenge plan! – enjoyed use of the doctor’s recommended book as a door wedge!
Prevention is Better than Cure
107 words
@el_Stevie
Doctor Rimmon watched as the handle slowly turned. The panel was satisfied that rehabilitation was complete and the release date had been brought forward. And now there was nothing to prevent the door from opening, nothing to keep the world safe from a madman. He had to try something.
The doctor followed the guard, currently preoccupied with errant earplugs and heavy metal, towards the exit. He was running out of time; they had to let him stay. Rimmon pulled the small army knife from the folds of his shirt.
Too late, the guard saw the doctor’s smile, the blade in his hand, felt its sting, whispered, “No”.
Oh! A very interesting twist. A very complex character you’ve explored in a short space.
(109)
@Viking_Ma
Time is Up
Doctor Death walked the hospital, his bare feet padding silently, as he looked for the next victim. His scythe shone in the buzzing fluorescent lights, the wooden end clicking rhythmically on the tiled floor.
Room 402 was his next stop, where a wizened figure lay in bed. The Doctor leaned over her and gazed into her frightened eyes, before whirling around and lopping off the head of her fat visitor, a man who had been dozing in the corner of the room.
‘Him? Really!’ croaked the woman, her lips cracking in the dry air. He nodded.
‘Me next?’ she asked
He smiled and made to leave. ‘No.’
(109)
@Viking_Ma
Time is Up by Carolyn Ward
Doctor Death walked the hospital, his bare feet padding silently, as he looked for the next victim. His scythe shone in the buzzing fluorescent lights, the wooden end clicking rhythmically on the tiled floor.
Room 402 was his next stop, where a wizened figure lay in bed. The Doctor leaned over her and gazed at her cluttered bedside, before whirling around and lopping off the head of her visitor, a man who had been listening to his ipod in the corner of the room.
‘Him? Really!’ croaked the woman, her lips cracking in the dry air. He nodded.
‘Me next?’ she asked
He smiled and made to leave. ‘No.’
sorry the earlier post was a rough draft!! *tired face* this is the real one 🙂
Ooh it wasn’t her turn yet lol I can just hear that buzzing of the lights, so many horror scenes spring to mind 🙂
@stellakateT
110 words
A Simple Request
“Doctor, pray with me”
His bedside manner prevented him from recoiling with horror. On went the false compassionate smile he’d honed over the years. The Hippocratic Oath instructed him to heal people not to dillydally in superstitious nonsense. Each time he injected the fatal dose of the strong painkiller he felt relief. It wasn’t murder but the body couldn’t keep taking these drugs that also suppressed breathing. He’d spent years agonising over this moral dilemma. The items on the bedside table were a sad reflection of seventy years. He injected a double dose; the devil was never far from his shoulder and danced on hearing his reply.
A whispered “No”
Oh this is heart-tearing. 🙁
Oh Stella! This is so disturbing. So strong!
This is fantastic, Stella.
brilliant
wow thanks all for the great comments 🙂
Word Count 110
@FinlaysonPalmer
Doctor Yes
Doctor Yes sat stroking his Pomeranian poodle, and watched the man before him empty his pockets.
‘So Mr Blonde, you think you can come here with your tanned good looks and that filth on your head?’
‘Filth? Au naturel, nothing fake or filthy about me.’ He tossed his swiss army knife to the table, followed by a small tub of hair wax.
‘You expect me to believe that? You’ve come here to mock me and my follicly challenged head haven’t you?’
‘What would you have me do, cut it?’ He laughed.
‘No Mr Blonde, I expect you to dye!’
Mr Blonde clutched his golden locks in dismay. ‘No!’
love ‘filth on your head’
Thank you 🙂
lol nice
Thank you 🙂
hairy tale made me chuckle with Mr Blonde etc – very well thought out response
Thank you Stu 🙂
Clean Up (110 words)
@brett_milam
Doctor, the white coat knight atop the white horse of life’s messiness, asked to traverse it, to translate it into something intelligible. The fragments that were people once look to the Doctor to piece them together again.
The new mother, hands stuffed with clumps of her auburn hair swamped with postpartum depression. Messy signature, abundant medicine.
A 12-year-old that fantasizes about slicing his sister’s breasts off at night. Messy signature, no real cure.
New patient, Belinda, 20something slipping into early stage schizophrenia, tried to kill herself. Messy signature, messy medicine.
Broken shells with messy lives look to the Doctor only to say, “Yes, you can be fixed,” but never, “No.”
Love the subtle tie in to the photo and the repetition of “Messy signature.” So much practiced removal from “messy” situations.
Powerful piece. Disturbing. Nice job.
What an amazing piece of writing. Every single line stands up by itself and there’s barely a word that doesn’t punch twice its weight. Fantastic.
Thank you so much!
‘The fragments that were people once look to the Doctor…’ superb! What an interesting, disturbing story. ‘messy medicine.’ is so good too. This piece has so much to say.
Thank you!
fantastic write x
Thank you so much!
The Gifts of Belief
(110 words)
Doctor Which paused, examining the objects in the box. “This is all of it? I can’t heal you without the total contents of your bedside table. These items sleep beside you, connected to your essence.”
Ella surrendered an ipod.
“I will burn these, chanting an incantation.” He handed her a bottle of dark liquid. “Drink this before bed for seven nights. You’ll be cleansed.”
“The pain will stop?”
“So I have promised. Goodbye.”
She paused. “Mitch said you’re incredible. I’m sorry—it’s hard not to doubt.”
“Doubt is poison.”
Ella nodded, resolved. “I’ll be fine.” She smiled and left, closing the door.
The doctor pressed an ipod button, grinning. “No.”
@Emi_Livingstone
The power of suggestion and believing what we want to believe. I liked this take.
Thanks! : )
That good ol’ snake-oil! ‘Doubt is poison’ to a charlatan!
‘These items sleep beside you, connected to your essence.’ is a wonderful line. Good stuff, Emily.
[ Can’t believe you didn’t go for an opening gambit of ‘Doctor Livingstone, I presume.’ 🙂 ]
haha-thanks!
Love this story! Wonderful lines–and a great character in this doctor, too.
Thank you!
What a con. Love it. I too like the ‘connected to your essence’ line. Lovely.
Yeah, he’s not a good guy… : )
Schizoid
-Doctor! Doctor! Why did the chicken cross the road with a minister, a priest and a rabbi, holding a light bulb?
I ain’t a doctor. Get out of my bar!
HAR! HAR!
‘um… i-i-i don’t get it, lenny.’
-IT’S A LOT OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF JOKE MIXED TOGETHER.
‘sorry, josé, I still don’t…’
-likethestuffonyourdeskshithead!
‘the st-stuff on my desk isn’t m-mixed up, sergei. i know wh-wh-where everything is. please d-don’t make me m-m-move anything!’
-whatareyougoingtodoaboutitifwedoasshole?!
‘i-i gotta PENKNIFE, s-s-sergei!!! HERE!!!’
‘Andy? Are you OK? I heard you shouting.’
‘l-l-leave me ALONE!!! AARRRGH!!!
-Way to go, shithead!
-YOU REALLY STUCK IT TO THE BITCH, DICKWAD!
-thataintketchupthatsrealbloodasshole!
‘no-no-no-no… NO!!!’
@GeoffHolme
Word Count:106
David – just noticed… If the last line breaches the rules, please replace it with –
‘no-no-no-no… NO!!!’
A Bit of Needle and a Little Thread
A.J. Walker
“Doctor Bond.” said the diminutive receptionist.
“I’m not a doctor? Call me James.” said James.
“Sorry, it’s just all the…”
“Please go on.” said James.
“Well, the… enhanced ladies who’ve been visiting your room… 007?” She couldn’t stop herself. “I assumed you were a plastic surgeon.”
A smile drew across his face. “Just call me an… experienced auditor.”
“Sorry, Mr Bond.”
“James. Anyway I require a sewing kit. My pockets have finally given way. Been carrying too much. Once a boy scout…”
She perused the evidential assortment of electrical goods, keys, pocket knife and useless trinkets.
“Perhaps you need a man bag?”
James gave her the look of Medusa. “No.”
(110 words)
@zevonesque
#FlashDogs
Lol, another one that made me chuckle – 007 needing a man bag and stitching his own pockets…
Homeostasis
108 words
@meg_mediocre
“Doctor Zhivago, May 10, 1996?” Bel glanced up.
Maria snatched the ticket stub away. “That was our first big date.” she stammered apologetically.
“Okay. How about this? Your ID from 2000-”
“No. I’m keeping them all to scrapbook with. Eventually.”
Bel sighed. “I’m sorry, Maria, but this is just not going to work unless you’re willing to let go.”
Maria’s lip quivered in shame.
“Let’s go back to the kitchen, where it’s less personal. Won’t you be happier with lovely clear benches?”
Something snapped in Maria’s head. She couldn’t do it. She wouldn’t do it.
She eyed Bel resolutely as the peace of self-acceptance washed over her.
“No.”
Title: Her Collection
Word Count: 108
Twitter: @AudreyTCarroll
Doctor Melinda Roberts, PhD, was a collector of lost things. Her office, rather than filled with 80s-style covered volumes that made the representation of gender in media accessible, hosted ten lanyards punctured with pins found on the grounds of amusement parks; rusted keys that might have fit the trunk of someone who fled the country long ago; bottle caps in all state of damage and wear. Gerald had become a part of her collection, a broken baby bird chirping away as an ornament on her desk. She found herself wondering what happened when a piece of a lost collection lost itself again with a simple no.