I have a timer set to 30 minutes. No spell-checking, no backtracking. Whatever word vomit comes out STAYS. Be forewarned.
Prompt/concept: Apple Martin (a character from a writing exercise I'm doing) gets dragged to the circus by someone she doesn't want to be friends with.
3 . . . 2 . . . 1 -- GO!
Apple stood with her arms crossed and a pinched expression on her face. She was trying not to be trampled by the passing crowd. They oozed past in surges of colorful blotches, carrying with them the clamorous roar of chatter, but she couldn't make out a single word. The games surrounding her dinged. Suddenly, an elephant blasted, making her start. She might have been interested in seeing the animal were she not already decided on being in a bad mood.
Dahlia, hair as frizzy as always, ran up to her and grabbed her hand. "Sorry I lost you, there are just so many people," she said, then started dragging her along. Dahlia was wearing black and white striped fingerless gloves, a rainbow striped shirt, and poofy red skirt. She fit right in.
Apple, dressed far more modestly and tamely and boringly, followed. Her feet were reluctant to move; they must have rooted. "How much longer . . ." will we be here?, is what she wanted to ask, but she really didn't want to offend so she said, ". . . will the circus be open?"
"All day! Don't owrry, we can stay," she said (and Apple pouted inwardly). "I know you must be dying for the civilization after all that rain. I know I got cabin fever." She pulled aside a tent flap and led Apple to a bench, setting her down nice and tidy. "Now stay here," she ordered. "I'll be right back." Then she vanished in a flurriy, in that funny, hopping sort of way she walked.
Apple was almost disgusted by herself. It was wrong to feel so unfriendly when Dahlia was trying to be so nice. Or was so nice. Dahlia was always like this to anyone who showed her attention. She was like glue. One touch and she was stuck to you.
Apple had brought it on herself. She'd felt bad for Dahlia. They way she was ever the wall-flower, though not a very pretty one.
She reappeared and handed Apple an icecream cone. The scoop was heaping and dripping slowly down the cone. Apple smiled and took a lick. It tasted good but that bright mint color was a bit questionable. What had they put in it? Oh well.
Dahlia shouted, "Ohhh!"
Apple flinched and almost licked the icecream right off the cone and onto her dress. She recovered and saw what her new friend was so excited about. The lights dimmed. Out walked the ringmaster. Wearing the Big Hat. Apple gazed at it dreamily.
The hat was tall, wider at the top than the base, with a big brim. There was gold inlaid in a crown shape around the body of the hat. Gems glittered in the low light. The man wearing that hat was pretty big himself, htough far less attractive. He raised his arms in welcome. The crowd gathered on the benches cheered, including Dahlia, whose applause verily shook Apple off her seat. She felt a fresh surge of annoyance. Why was she so excited? Nothing was that amazing. Though that hat . . . Apple really wanted that hat. If she owned the title that came along with wearing it . . . She'd show everyone what she could do. They may think she was dull, incompetent, reckless. they could think whatever they wanted. But once they saw her in a Big Hat they'd change their tune.
The man announced something and girls in frilly outfits rode out doing flips and spins on the backs of horses. Then out trumped that elephant. It had been painted from head to toe in colorful geometric shapes. Apple didn't want to be the person who had to bathe the animal after. That's for sure.
Hoops hanging from the celeing, or whatever you called the top of a giant tent, suddenly burst into flame and a spotlight came to life with a great electric whoosh. At the end of the tunnel of light was a red velvet curtain suspended in midair at the end of the row of flaming hoops. (Apple hoped the tent didn't catch fire and fall donw on them all.) The curtain parted to reveal a dragon, shimmering green.
THE END
Wow. That was not exactly fabulous. But fun fun!
Give me some prompts! Comment below!
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