Photo by Ron Pruitt
End of the Line
Treya watched as her target boarded the bus. This one was odd in that each time he incarnated downward, his girth expanded upward. Usually this process worked the other way around. For now, he fit in with the crowd of travelers and she was fairly certain he’d maintain that low profile. What she didn’t know with enough certainty was if he intended to ride it to the end of the line. She’d just have to follow the bus to each stop. The thought that kept nagging her was the issue of size. What kind of grub would this man become?
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Great picture from Ron Pruitt – I’ve posted a working link above, but no thumbnail, just the little blue swirly guy!
We’ll miss ya kid!
Before I forget, thanks Madison for the work you have done with Friday Fictioneers!
Madison, you’ve done an amazing job with Friday Fictioneers. We only joined in May, but you’ve been a real star! Thanks for all you’ve done x
And now you’ve posted your story – clever take! Sounds like he’ll be the Marshmallow Man (remember Ghostbusters?) of the insect world – yuck!
LOL, eewwww. Ha, I do remember that. Maybe that’s where my subconscious drew the imagery from. It was one of my favorite movies.
Thank you for all your hard work, Madison. You’ve kept me writing and I can’t express my gratitude enough. Best of luck and I hope you keep contributing to FF in its new home!
Thank you Madison for introducing me to the Friday Fictioneers, and best wishes as you go forth.
Thanks for a thought-stimulating photo prompt, Ron. And Madison . . . waaagh! We’ll miss you greatly, which is a tribute to how successful you’ve been. I sure hope you’ll visit us often! Thanks for “birthing” the Fictioneers. I suppose you deserve a bit of rest.
I like the Marshmallow Man better than the mental picture you gave me of this man as a grub. Double yuk!! But my favorite line was “each time he incarnated downward, his girth expanded upward.” I guess he could maintain a low profile but not a narrow one.
Hope you’ll be dropping by often to write and I’ll see you on your blog. Take a few minutes a day just to breathe, now that you have a bit more time.
Thanks for all your hard work with Friday Fictioneers.
“What kind of …..grub“? Ook! Madison, you gave me the shudders with that line.
Thanks again for all your Fictioneers work, and I hope you’ll continue to find time to post Friday Fictioneers stories!
How long is she going to trail her target? When he get the size of a bug will she squish him?
thanks again for creating FFF. I guess we’ve all grown up enough now that you can kick us out the the nest. Happy writing
Hi Madison,
Apparently there’s a lot of downward incarnation around here. The good thing is that it makes for bigger targets when you’re trying to kill them. Ron
Madison,
I enjoyed your story this week and like always it was high quality. But I would like to take a few minutes of your time to thank you for what you have created here. I normally do not join “workshops” like this one but something pulled me into yours and I am glad for it. The 100 word challenge helps to sharpen skills and is a useful tool to use when attempting to tackle any work, big or small. It is sad to see you go and at the same time I would image it has been a big burden for you to keep up with. How you did it is beyond me. Rochelle was a good pick and I am sure she will do well with all the work such an endeavor must take. I hope we see you in the future on Fridays writing your hundred word story. I will check in on your blog and say hi on facebook. Best of luck with everything you do. You will be missed.
With much appreciation,
Tom
i haven’t been doing the FF thing very long, and others have certainly been around here far longer, but my thanks for the fun i’ve had in this short time. i know it’s continuing, not ending, but you still deserve my thanks.
Great fun with giant grub-to-be–thanks so much for manning this adventure so I could take part (since August). Happy Trails!
Here’s mine: http://wrasselings.blogspot.com/2012/10/friday-fictioneers-day-trip.html
“Grub.” I love it when multiple definitions of a word work effectively at once. What is that called? Oh, well. Oops–now my brain’s linking back to Jan’s story. Whether it’s sci-fi or fantasy, I’m curious about the incarnation. Clearly part of a larger story. Is this part of something already written or the germ of a new project?
Thanks for being a great moderator for FF. Looking forward to reading more of your stories, but I’m also glad you are getting a bit of a break.
The mental picture is disturbing… what if he goes to the end of the line?
Thank you Madison. I will always have a spot in my heart for you. See you around.
p.s. not ‘the end of the line’, but the begging of a new trip for you…
True. It’s a bittersweet thing about life…beloved things must sometimes end before other loves can be fully embraced. And I am very definitely walking through new doorways with grand new opportunities. It’s exciting and scary all at the same time. Thanks for joining me on this ride, Ted
As i am coming in at the very end, and not yet really started… My second entry this week. I know I will enjoy this a lot. I still will join in and thank you. It is a very talented group gathering here every week.
As for the story I had an ominous feeling already to start with, but the grub ending was sure a surprise, Got me thinking of fried green tomatoes as grub.
Thank you. You will enjoy doing this and one of the great side-benefits (which was to me a front benefit) is the collection of story fodder you will build. I think I have more than 60 of them and they can all be used to build short stories or novels later.
Hi Madison – great to see we’re back with Treya and her hunting. I’m not sure I much like the sound of her target though, especially accomapnied by the title “end of the line”. Things aren’t going to end well for the rest of the passengers either way around!
Hope you’ll still have time to contribute great fiction every week now you’re not at the organisational grindstone – I miss you when you miss a week!
Lots of creepy stories this week, Nicely done. I hope you just quit running the group and not offering up a story now and then. Thank you for setting this up for the rest of us.
This story puts me in mind of sci fi flicks when I was a kid. That grub’s going to be ginormous by the end of the line. Hope Treya’s up to the task. Thanks again for everything.
You are going to be greatly missed, dear Madison. Good luck with all your future endeavors. Best wishes on your pending marriage and honeymoon in Dubai. Please stay in touch. God speed.
You’re so sweet, Lora. I will stay in touch
I’m going to Dubai in Jan but it’s just to visit. We’re not getting married until next fall when he’s done out there and then I hope to go to France and Germany for our honeymoon!
Great story – I’m thinking Men in Black crossed with Jabba the Hut, but then I watch too much sci- fi!
Thanks for creating this wonderful outlet for us all, and I hope we see you popping over to the new party venue!
This is a great piece, Madison. You may not know me very well, but I just wanted to say thanks for leading this wonderful community of writers.I’ve only been a part of it for about my month, but have really enjoyed the challenges. I wish you the best.
One, thank you for the burst of inspiration and two, so excited you’ve gotten so busy! Three — horrifying to think what kind of grub this guy will become. eewwwww!
Many thanks for my short ride on your FF Express. Sounds like wonderful new adventures await you, especially your coming marriage and exciting honeymoon destination (thanks to Lora for that news). Hope you’ll continue as a regular on Roselle’s page–look forward to reading your stories.
Ooops, I’m still responding to comments from the weekend and hadn’t gotten to Lora’s earlier one yet… but I *am* going to Dubai and getting married, just not in that order
Wedding isn’t until next fall. Thank you for the well wishes! I’m planning to continue at Rochelle’s.
Thanks Madison. Will miss you!
I’m not sure if I’m too late or if I should be posting on the other site, but I just jumped in here. Looking forward to taking part in future Fridays!
Awwww, the gang is all over at Rochelle’s site now. Be sure to join in over there this week, she already has the picture posted. Did you see the link on the prompt page? I don’t have it on hand here or I’d just put it in this comment for you.
I’m still reading stories, but I’m waaaaaaaaaaaaay behind
Thanks! I saw the link, and was planning to jump over there next week. (I didn’t think this photo was over there, but I’ll check). I love this idea! Thanks for getting it started! The best to you in your future endeavors!
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