Weekly Prompt: Bananas

Write a 50 or 100-word story about bananas

In Byhoohalt on the northwest coast of Scotia in a place that would one day be called Ullapool, Scotland, a serpent left its cave every day at dusk and ate one townsfolk. This scared people because they didn’t want to be eaten.

King Swiðhun of Byhoohalt announced a contest to find the bravest, strongest knight to slay the serpent. He posted the list of criteria for contestants on the inside of the castle’s door. The first requirement was you had to have previous success slaying a dragon, troll, enemy knight, or ogre.

But Swiðhun’s attention wandered elsewhere when he discovered his wife, the queen, was having an affair. Was it the baron? His brother? The court jester, who was always strutting fancy outfits? Swiðhun commanded the sorcerer to use magic to ferret out the transgressor.

The sorcerer plucked a banana from his cloak pocket, handed it to the king and said, “This is a banana. The peel is the most slippery substance in the world. Place several peels around your bed and whoever is defiling the queen will slip and fall, and reveal himself to you.”

The king studied the strange object.

“What else does this banana do?”

“It’s a fruit. The inside is delicious.”

King Swiðhun nodded and took a bite of the banana. “Ooo! This is the most delightful food I’ve ever eaten.” He finished the rest of the banana in three enthusiastic bites.

“How did you conjure this?” Bits of banana flew from his mouth onto the sorcerer’s face as he spoke.

“I didn’t use magic. A ship-faring merchant brings me bananas every month.”

“Just for you?”

“Yes.”

The king narrowed his eyes. “I see. And you’re just telling me about bananas now?”

“Yes, my king.”

The king unsheathed his sword and separated the sorcerer’s head from his body.

This week’s prompt: Write a 50 or 100-word story about bananas or a banana. We’re sure you’ll have lots of fun coming up with an idea and crafting a story about it.

As always, include a descriptive subtitle. If bananas aren’t your writing muse, you’re welcome to contribute a story about something else.

The deadline for the weekly prompt is Thursday.