90. Bathroom Etiquette

When guests need the bathroom, I say it’s broken and I just called the plumber and he’s on the way.

It’s a lie.

The truth is, we haven’t cleaned the bathroom since 1997.


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trifecta writing challenge

89. 33 words about rebellion and/ or revolt

"You can't make me!"  He slams the door behind him.  Gone for 10 minutes, seems like eternity. 

"I'm sorry, Mom."  Big words for an 8-year-old.  I brace myself for the teenage years ahead.   

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trifecta challenge

88. POWER

EXT. BEACH DAYTIME, LIGHT RAIN

GOD, in the form of a man dressed in a white seersucker suit, holds a white umbrella and walks toward SATAN, also in the form of a man wearing a black tuxedo, carrying a black umbrella. 

                                      GOD
You’re early.  That’s a first. 

                                    SATAN
I wouldn’t want to be late for our meeting.    

                                      GOD
So … what’s with the tux? 

                                    SATAN
I’m celebrating.  It will be nice to have people worship me instead of despise me for a change. 

                                      GOD
                             (under his breath)
Don’t get your hopes up.  A lot of people despise me.    

                                     SATAN
Okay, let’s get down to business.  The swap won’t be for too long, just a thousand years this time.  You can do whatever you want. 

                                      GOD
Really?  You’re not going to micromanage me again?  None of this “Don’t make anything worse than it already is”? 

                                       SATAN
Worse?  You’re talking to me about worse?  Ha!  That’s rich.

                                       GOD
Well, what is your plan, exactly? 

                                      SATAN
Come on, G, I reread the contract and you know I don’t have to give you specifics. 

                                      GOD
Sure, Satan, I know.  I was just asking out of curiosity. 

                                     SATAN
I’m going to have fun with it.  Some good people are going to win the lottery.  A few diseases are going to go away. 

                                     GOD
You’re not as sinister as I thought. 

                                     SATAN
You? 

                                      GOD
Well, the people that really deserve to be punished and not forgiven, they’re going to be punished. 

                                     SATAN
Ouch.  Well, you do what you gotta do. 

                                      GOD
                                   (laughs)
I will.  I’m looking forward to it. 

                                    SATAN
Can you take it easy on the natural disasters though?  If I’m playing God, I don’t want to get blamed for that. 

                                     GOD
Who’s micromanaging whom? 

                                   SATAN
Come on, you know what I mean. 

                                    GOD
We’ll see. 

                                   SATAN
Is there anything else I should know? 

                                    GOD
                           (reaches in pocket)
Oh, yeah, I almost forgot.  Here are the keys to the other galaxies.  You might need to hire some people.    

 

 

 

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trifecta:  333 words (sinister)

87. Winners

When we met, you were married.  I wished for you.  I won. 

You met someone else.  She wished for you.  She won. 

I shot you dead.  I was acquitted.  Guess I win again.     

 

 

 

 

 

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trifecta writing challenge:  three wishes with high consequences (33 words)

86. My Brother

 

“On the count of three…”

Mom said to me,
I was bursting with excitement—
My brother ran
False start again
Tripping me as he went. 

 

 

 

“Ha! You’re beat!”
said his look,
But he’s a cheat
in my book.  

 

 

 

 

 

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trifecta writing challenge:  the prompt is "On the count of three"  

85. I Am All Three

Mother, wife, writer.  Responsible for the playdates, the Target runs, the lunches packed in a hurry.  In charge of the marriage, the social life, the husband’s dirty socks.  And for me, I write. 

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trifecta writing challenge:  write about one thing that is three things (in 33 words)

84. Please Let's All Just Get Along

Every morning at the school bus-stop, neighbors battle over politics and money.  I'd rather avoid incendiary topics, especially around young children.  I tactfully change the subject to one everyone can agree on:  religion. 

 

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trifecta writing challenge:  the rule of 3