Welcome to the first ever Micro Bookends! In order to mark the occasion, I’ve incorporated the theme of firsts into this week’s bookends. Research has shown that if you are the firstborn child and female, you are statistically more likely to be the most ambitious and well-qualified of all your family. As a man with an elder sister I’m not convinced, but who am I to argue with the scienticians?
Someone who proves the research is firstborn, female golf supremo Annika Sörenstam who celebrates her 44th birthday today. As a child she was so shy that she deliberately missed putts at the end of a tournament to avoid giving the winner’s speech. Her coaches noticed this and made the runner-up give a speech as well as the winner. She decided that if she must give a speech then it might as well be the winning one.
Let’s help Annika blow out her candles with this week’s photo prompt:
Photo Credit: Audio-Technica via CC.
What?
A story of between 90 and 110 words starting with FIRST and ending with BORN 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, an interview to be published 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.
29 Responses to “Micro Bookends 1.01 – FIRST [micro] BORN”
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Clipped Wings (110 words)
@brett_milam
First, Micah puked. Then after he flushed the toilet, he wanted to puke again. Instead, he gritted his teeth, wiped run-off brown slime from the corner of his mouth and walked out of the restroom.
Along the hallway, he saw trophies, plaques and accolades from star athletes, academics and all-around geniuses. He looked at his pudgy, freckled hands as they held prepared notecards. He wished the notecards were a comforting blanket to hide him from the buzz of the crowd he heard beyond the far doors.
He went through those doors once his name was presented; he heard the crowd applaud.
Trembling, but going, a spark of confidence was born.
Grrr, stupid typo. The first word is obviously supposed to be “first” not “fist.” Thanks!
Here, have an ‘r’.
Thank you, sir!
I’ve been in Micah’s shoes, speech-making is hard. Good story!
First and the Best – (108 words)
First Sullivan was reflecting on his unfortunate name. As he did at least a million times a day.
But it really was unfortunate to be called ‘First’ when he was the last all the time. At everything but singing.
“You’re going in first, First,” someone laughed.
First sighed and got up. It wasn’t the first time his name had resulted in a creatively engineered pun being thrown at him, but it was the first time he would sing publicly.
Resolution seeped into his veins. He would go out there and show the world what he could do.
And so a singer – the first of his kind – was born.
very clever use of the prompt! Nicely done
@jujitsuelf
107 words
Equality
“First – don’t panic. Mutants have spoken at Oxford before. Second – relax and have fun, they’ll love you.”
Sara breathed slowly. Raphael was trying hard but instead of comforting her, he was making her more nervous.
“I’m purple, Raph. The others weren’t so…mutant-y.”
Raphael snorted. “That’s not a word.”
“Is now,” Sara muttered. “They’re gonna hate me. Oxford’s been anti-mutant for years.”
“And you’re the one they chose to speak at their official mutant acceptance ceremony.” Raphael’s forked tongue flickered out, caressing her cheek. “They’ll love you. Now get out there.”
Sara nodded and stepped out on stage. Global mutant acceptance had finally been born.
Forgot to add #flashdog
That’s a really good story! Enjoyed it thoroughly!
Title: Amplified
Words: 110
@Rtayaket
First we made sure the auditorium was empty. Alex couldn’t get caught again; he was on final warning. I unplugged the amplifiers from the soundboard and lowered them off the stage to Alex. These would go for hundreds in the market. Ever since the law passed against garage bands, amps like these with the potential to play over 80 decibels were scarce. Alex said it was our responsibility to provide access to 120 decibel true rock sound. It was a musical freedom he said; something everyone should experience. He showed me once, the mind-numbing euphony of loud rock music blaring. Thus, our criminal careers in Heavy Metal Larceny were born.
The Alternative Ante-Natal Class
@avalina_kreska
#flashdog
110 words
‘First, you have exactly one minute to f**k like rabbits…’
‘Can we take this a bit more seriously Steve?’
‘Sure, sure, just letting off some steam, Jesus I’m ne-er–vous.’
‘Try this exercise. Point your arms to your feet, like this, then bring them back up and over your head.’Amy said.
‘Yeah, yeah – that’s great.’
‘Right, fifteen minutes, OK?’
‘OK, I’m really ready now, seriously.’
…
Steve took a deep breath and looked out at all the glowing faces.
‘First, thank-you all for coming. Two, ladies – can you all strip off? Now…imagine you’re the foetus, you’re all about to be born…’
RISE
Brian S Creek
100 words
@BrianSCreek
#FlashDogs
First thing I notice is the number of seats and it makes the butterflies in my stomach dance the cha cha again.
It’s not long until the rows will be full of my fellow citizens. Man and woman both old and young will soon fill this room like too many chess pieces on a board.
And they’ll be looking to me, their new leader, the one who must tell them, in no uncertain terms, just how we can rise up and over throw the oppressors that hold power.
Tonight a new nation will be born.
Title: We will fight them with speeches
@Making_Fiction #FlashDog
109 Words
First, we will fight them on the beaches.
That’s what he thought he heard across the transatlantic wireless. But the sounds were crackled, ethereal and distant.
He knew the man was called Churchill and thousands of miles away there was a war.
He was young, and he wasn’t interested in the sounds of metal machines of death, not yet. He preferred the sounds of rhythm, of strings on wood.
He heard rumours about the man being shook up by self-doubt and hounded by a black dog.
And, so the young boy Elvis had visions of the songs he would sing and how he would move. A legend was born.
The Wedding Party
“First I was afraid…”
Martin groaned. Really? He would happily watch Jess rock the mic all night, but Gloria Gaynor? Here?
He looked around, checking his attentions weren’t noticed, but the party was breaking up, only the hardened drinkers braving the karaoke, and he sat back to watch.
Jess was slaughtered too, fluffing lyrics and spilling her lager, but he couldn’t take his eyes off her. If only he could tell her how he felt.
Finally finished, she crashed into her seat beside him.
“You’re up boss. What’s the song?”
He pushed aside everything he wanted to say and grinned.
“Porn To Be Wild.”
“Ha!”
“Born! Oh god, I meant born… ”
@ Karl_A_Russell
110 words
#FlashDog
well done!
@stellakateT
106 words
First one to sing karaoke, first one to be throwing up, first one to start a fight! That’s how I heard my mum described me to Lisa. I hopped from one foot to the other. I was desperate not to look at Lisa in case she saw the fear in my eyes and my heart thumping out of my chest.
Stepping up to the mic I cleared my throat
“Ladies and Gentlemen”
A ripple of laughter echoed around the room.
“I know I’m a bit of a Jack the Lad and this will probably finish me old mum off but will you marry me Lisa Born”?
@blackinkpinkdsk
Tragedy of Love
110 words
First love, puppy love, nonsense they say. Though Audrey remembers the lasting impact.
Many years later, many loves and a new life created.
Giving birth to Lilly resulted in an emotion too large for the simple reduction of four letters. Audrey passed along her knowledge of firsts, counting by twos and tying shoes. When Lilly was little it was easy to kiss away hurt. Then Lilly fell in love. Heartbreak followed.
Another first for both: the end. End of life for one, and the end of living for the other.
“Audrey, how has the suicide…?”
Plump tears hit the podium. She’ll never forget the day Lilly was buried or born.
First to appear was the large lady who, as always planted herself in the middle of the auditorium. Her trench coat rustled as she made her way to the seat. As time passed, more bodies drifted in in dribs and drabs.
Midnight, and I made a start: ‘Without further ado, Ladies and Gentlemen, we will begin. Let’s all join hands and contact the living…I see a man who has the initial J. He is sitting on a beige sofa . Would anyone like to go through to him? I sense the 29th of October is important to him. It is possible this was the day he was born.’
(108 words)
“First place, first place,” I chant over and over in my mind, eyes closed and face tight.
I hear my mother reminding me that only a trophy makes it worth all the money she spends on my “career’, angry slashes of red manicured air-quotes over this word.
I replay my performance, mentally ticking off each necessary skill, precise pitch, accurate but not overwhelming belting on power notes, engaging performance, consistent smile. I had done it all.
First place is announced. The smiling blonde girl with the easy demeanor walks past me to collect her prize, a secret sneer, whispering, “A star is born.”
104 words
@CaseyCaseFrank
rather, @CaseyCaseRose
Had to get back here to comment: the line “angry slashes of red manicured air quotes” has stayed with me since reading this. What an excellent summary of the mother and her relationship with the poor MC.
These Go To Eleven
First night and the usual last minute shit. Vince prodded his screwdriver into the nest of cables that fed the mixing desk. The compere on the stage, a man comprised solely of gin and ego, muttered into the microphone before shrugging theatrically.
Bollocks.
Vince plunged the screwdriver deeper hoping to kick something into life. To think he once used to dream of becoming a roadie, of touring with Maiden.
Sodding open-mic wankers.
Suddenly everything went white.
Vince opened his eyes, the stench of scorched hair filling his nostrils. He looked back at the stage, the compere shrugged, tapping the unresponsive microphone.
Some days Vince really wished he hadn’t been born.
@imageronin
110 words
#flashdog
Sapient Surrogacy, Inc.
First, state your name. Into the microphone, dear.
Please stop squinting. Yes, the lights are necessary. To protect the privacy of the patrons. Besides, we prefer anonymity. For liability purposes.
We’ll get to compensation presently. We need vocal confirmation of your medical records, that your uterus is operable and disease-free. Good. Let’s start the bidding at…
… Sold!
Congratulations, dear. You’ll receive 33% after implantation. Remember to save your receipts for everything, evening primrose oil, laser hair-removal, the odd dark-truffle craving. Please follow our technician off the stage.
You’ll be fine, sweetie. It’ll progress more or less like a normal pregnancy—right up until it’s born.
108 words
@rowdy_phantom
Live From The Foundation
@edbroom
110 words
First, a big hand for the caterers. What about those meatballs?!
My name’s Bob Hope. I’m no stranger to academy awards though I was a little surprised at your invitation. I guess these occasions can become a bore. Am I right, Niels?
I flew over today with Mr Oppenheimer there. That Enola Gay is so noisy, Bobby thinks he’s become deaf!
At the airport, I saw Werner Heisenberg. I think it was him. I can’t be certain.
On the road to Stockholm – tack – we broke down. Two hours we waited. Now I’m surrounded by mechanics!
Anyway, the winner of the 1954 Nobel Prize in Physics is… drum roll… Max Born!
The Contract
“First come, first served.”
Hiakai must have read the sign fifty times. The words never changed, though, and despite her fears, tiny bubbles of hope flitted across her heart.
She wriggled in the plush blue seat, trying for the most comfortable position. Sixteen hours so far, no bathroom breaks, nothing to eat. A fasting appointment, they’d said, but she’d already known that. Hadn’t she trained all her life for this?
Ages passed.
And then: at last a voice fell, like summer thunder.
<>
Hiakai leapt to her feet; her voice carried across the auditorium. “First I came, first am I served!”
Devoured.
………Transformed.
Born.
108 words
@postupak
–Webhost didn’t like the thundrous voice, it would seem. Trying again with different punctuation.
The Contract
“First come, first served.”
Hiakai must have read the sign fifty times. The words never changed, though, and despite her fears, tiny bubbles of hope flitted across her heart.
She wriggled in the plush blue seat, trying for the most comfortable position. Sixteen hours so far, no bathroom breaks, nothing to eat. A fasting appointment, they’d said, but she’d already known that. Hadn’t she trained all her life for this?
Ages passed.
And then: at last a voice fell, like summer thunder.
Hiakai leapt to her feet; her voice carried across the auditorium. “First I came, first am I served!”
Devoured.
………Transformed.
Born.
108 words
@postupak
HAHAHAA. Webhost liked that even less. There goes my twist, falling flat like a would-be soprano.
The Contract
“First come, first served.”
Hiakai must have read the sign fifty times. The words never changed, though, and despite her fears, tiny bubbles of hope flitted across her heart.
She wriggled in the plush blue seat, trying for the most comfortable position. Sixteen hours so far, no bathroom breaks, nothing to eat. A fasting appointment, they’d said, but she’d already known that. Hadn’t she trained all her life for this?
Ages passed.
And then: at last a voice fell, like summer thunder.
–IS THE FIRST SYMBIONT PREPARED?–
Hiakai leapt to her feet; her voice carried across the auditorium. “First I came, first am I served!”
Devoured.
………Transformed.
Born.
108 words
@postupak
Three Reasons
@hollygeely
107 words
First, there was the small matter of her bladder. It was going to surpass small soon, as it had expanded to an unhealthy size. Second, she had agreed to meet her new girlfriend for coffee in half an hour, but at this rate she was going to be late. Third, she really didn’t like churches, and for some reason they’d decided to hold the recital in a big, fancy one.
Yet when Maria took the stage and walked nervously to the microphone, none of those things mattered. Her little sister was the most important person in the world, and had been since the day she was born.