One of my favorite writing games is something I call three words. I post three words and encourage you to write a flash fiction piece containing those three words. If you would like to challenge me – post three words for me and next week I will post a piece of flash fiction using your words. Enjoy!
Three Words
- Blush
- Unpalatable
- Speaker
Flash Fiction
I just let the words hang there, suspended in the silence between us.
"I am sorry," the translator said, "but that is untranslatable. They have no concept of such a thing."
"It is really quite simple," I replied. "They return the Widower and her crew - or we destroy their capital city."
I was not sure - but it looked as if the Andredi ambassador's eyes bulged as the translator tried to convey my meaning. At length he spoke in the deep flowing words of his native language. The translator turned to me, his face ashen.
"The ship they will return. The crew.., they have already disposed of."
I spread my hands on tghe table and stood very slowly. "In that case, Mr. Ambassador, we are at war."
There was a blush to the surface of it all that amazed me. How can such a moment, one that was supposed to mean so much, end up being just an unpalatable situation of pomp and meaningless ritual?
ReplyDeleteWhat am I supposed to do after the speaker gets done handing out our diplomas? What am I supposed to do with my life? Does this gown and cap really mean everything has changed?