Free AI web copilot to create summaries, insights and extended knowledge, download it at here

1948

Abstract

ed my nerves to scan her usual spots. Last week’s blizzard of fish had left many piscine carcasses rotting in the alleys. I worried that she might have eaten a rotten fish and gotten sick, and if not, then maybe this next blizzard would bring down more stinking, rotten fish.</p><p id="7a74">T’s tone was gentler when he came back in. “The probability of Paris going through a second fish blizzard in this century is 0.00067. Marcelle will be fine.”</p><p id="39da">“That’s the Poisson distribution for you. Me, I wouldn’t mind some anchovy on my pizza,” <a href="https://readmedium.com/pigeon-around-and-find-out-783b4b828939">Frank </a>squawked from the mission control communications channel, interrupting and ending my unsanctioned satellite use.</p><div id="88a4"><pre><span class="hljs-comment"># Prompt</span> (+<span class="hljs-number">2</span>) A doorbell rings <span class="hljs-keyword">and</span> <span class="hljs-keyword">a</span> talking dog says, <span class="hljs-string">"Timmy's stuck in a well!"</span>

<span class="hljs-comment"># Constraints</span> (+<span class="hljs-number">1</span>) Kitty <span class="hljs-keyword">and</span> Timmy are <span class="hljs-keyword">on</span> <span class="hljs-title">the</span> <span class="hljs-title">ISS</span> <span class="hljs-title">in</span> <span class="hljs-title">outer</span> <span class="hljs-title">space</span>. (+<span class="hljs-number">1</span>) They are monitoring blizzards, <span class="hljs-keyword">and</span> see <span class="hljs-literal">one</span> starting. (+<span class="hljs-number">1</span>) Kitty zooms <span class="hljs-keyword">in</span> <span class="hljs-keyword">on</span> <span class="hljs-title">the</span> <span class="hljs-title">Eiffel</span> <span class="hljs-title">Tower</span>. (+<span class="hljs-number">1</span>) Blizzard leaves rotten fish <span class="hljs-keyword">in</span> <span class="hljs-keyword">the</span> alleys.

<span class="hl

Options

js-comment"># Hardcore</span> (+<span class="hljs-number">2</span>) Frank pipes <span class="hljs-keyword">in</span> <span class="hljs-built_in">from</span> mission control.

<span class="hljs-comment"># Literary device</span> (+<span class="hljs-number">5</span>) The <span class="hljs-keyword">first</span> Dog <span class="hljs-keyword">on</span> <span class="hljs-title">the</span> <span class="hljs-title">ISS</span> <span class="hljs-title">is</span> <span class="hljs-title">juxtaposed</span> <span class="hljs-title">against</span> <span class="hljs-title">Lassie</span> <span class="hljs-title">and</span> <span class="hljs-title">Laika</span>.

<span class="hljs-comment"># Tally</span> (+<span class="hljs-number">1</span>) For <span class="hljs-keyword">the</span> tally = <span class="hljs-number">14</span> points </pre></div><p id="ce34">Thanks for another great prompt, <a href="undefined">Jonathon Sawyer</a>! I challenge <a href="undefined">Dani Banani</a> and <a href="undefined">David Bauer</a>.</p><div id="5591" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/monday-mash-up-13-8ef48b634fa"> <div> <div> <h2>Monday Mash-Up #13</h2> <div><h3>Story writing prompts to spark your creativity with a challenge</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*7WoijjRU2hIyUX49nZ5hnQ.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="becc"><i>Thank you for reading! If you enjoyed this, please consider supporting me by <a href="https://medium.com/@seahym/membership">joining Medium as a member through my referral link</a>. Your membership fee directly supports me and other writers you enjoy. It also gives you full access to every story on Medium.</i></p></article></body>

MASH-UP | FICTION | FANTASY | PROMPT

It’s Not Raining Cats and Dogs

But there were plenty of fish in the sky.

The electronic doorbell rang. A pair of mournful puppy eyes flickered alive on my screen. “Timmy’s stuck in a well! Timmy needs a calculator!”

I rolled my eyes. “T, just give me the gravity well depth so I can plug it into the system. You don’t need a calculator, I know you know the numbers.”

The twinkle in Dr. Timothee Canis’ eyes was unmistakable. The first Dog on the International Space Station was also first to ape his fellow so-called intelligent canines. He always made sure to remind everyone though, “None of them had their M.D. and Ph.D., and had gone to space — un-Laika me!”

“You’re no fun, Kitty. Fine, fine. Tell them the crashed satellite boosters are sufficient for relaunch from Jupiter.”

I purred, satisfied. “Ground control will be happy about that. Maybe now they’ll let us actually prep for the next round of freak blizzards.”

T’s face disappeared, replaced by his camera view of Earth. I squinted at the image. An alarming swirl of white was already starting to form over Europe. Switching to the WorldView-8 satellite camera, I easily spotted the Eiffel Tower, and zoomed in on it.

“Kitty, you know that’s misuse of government property,” T barked.

“Too bad you gotta come in from your space walk to stop me.”

No sign of Marcelle prowling the streets of Paris. Still, it helped my nerves to scan her usual spots. Last week’s blizzard of fish had left many piscine carcasses rotting in the alleys. I worried that she might have eaten a rotten fish and gotten sick, and if not, then maybe this next blizzard would bring down more stinking, rotten fish.

T’s tone was gentler when he came back in. “The probability of Paris going through a second fish blizzard in this century is 0.00067. Marcelle will be fine.”

“That’s the Poisson distribution for you. Me, I wouldn’t mind some anchovy on my pizza,” Frank squawked from the mission control communications channel, interrupting and ending my unsanctioned satellite use.

# Prompt
(+2) A doorbell rings and a talking dog says, "Timmy's stuck in a well!"

# Constraints
(+1) Kitty and Timmy are on the ISS in outer space.
(+1) They are monitoring blizzards, and see one starting.
(+1) Kitty zooms in on the Eiffel Tower.
(+1) Blizzard leaves rotten fish in the alleys.

# Hardcore
(+2) Frank pipes in from mission control.

# Literary device
(+5) The first Dog on the ISS is juxtaposed against Lassie and Laika.

# Tally
(+1) For the tally = 14 points

Thanks for another great prompt, Jonathon Sawyer! I challenge Dani Banani and David Bauer.

Monday Mash-Up #13

Story writing prompts to spark your creativity with a challenge

medium.com

Thank you for reading! If you enjoyed this, please consider supporting me by joining Medium as a member through my referral link. Your membership fee directly supports me and other writers you enjoy. It also gives you full access to every story on Medium.