Genre: Fantasy/Humor (100 words)
The Battle of the Button Hats
Around the bend, the boy spied them, curled up under a sweeping foliage of dank earth, their button hats perched loosely upon elephant trunks as tall as trees.
What’s this? Clumps of logs amassed in heaps, proportionate in numbers and in size, clustered beneath the button hats, emitting an odor so rank, their dewiness has been compromised. The smell infiltrated his nostrils, a stench he had not endured since his voyage to the Mermian Sea.
They must be destroyed.
“Honey, it’s poop,” the mother held back the boy, fanning the air. “Take your shoes off at the door. It’s everywhere. ”
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Thanks to Rochelle Wisoff-Fields for hosting the Fictioneers. I appreciate her dedication each and every week. Thanks to Erin Leary for this week’s photo.
All are welcome to participate in this challenge to write a 100-word story based on the photo prompt. Please visit Rochelle’s Addicted to Purple blog for instructions.
Click here for more stories from the Fictioneers.
I love this…they do look like buttons on a nice sweater. Made me smile.
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Thanks, Susannah. Ha ha. Love your comment. I’m glad you liked it.
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First I thought they were eggs…when I put my glasses on I realized what they were. But they do look more like stylish buttons then what you’d toss in an omelet.
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It’s all in what you see, too! That is what is important. I had to look at this a few times before I figured out what it is I think I see. 🙂
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Hats off….er … Shoes off!
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Ha ha. He better! Thanks, Stephen.
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Very cute. Tricky with the clumps of logs reference – funny how much I love mushrooms when they really are a gross fungus that grows on decaying things or elsewhere as you’ve pointed out…!
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Thanks, Kelly. Mushrooms are definitely an acquired taste.
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Do you like them?
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They are not my favorite, but I can eat them. My son loves them!
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Same here – have to be sautéed with a steak or in a pasta dish. Never raw!
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Never!
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Ha, the difference between a child’s mind and that of an adult!
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Exactly, Carrie! Thanks for that comment. Yes, this is Calvin’s cousin, too. So, nothing but trouble. 🙂
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Hahaha… Brilliant.
You captured this child’s imagination really well. 🙂
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Thanks so much, KC. Thanks so for saying so. 🙂 Kids are fearless, aren’t they?
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“They must be destroyed” Haha, that’s a typical little boy response. Poor mother though. The adult part of me cringed at that last part. Ugh.
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Isn’t it? “They must be destroyed” says it all. It’s the catch all. Everything must be destroyed, and only then are you done. When you’re a mom it’s not such a big deal. But yeah, ugh!
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Yeah, outside the imagination of the kid, it’s just button-hats in poop.
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Yeah, right? I thought so, too. 🙂
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i miss those childhood days when imagination ran wild as mushrooms. great story. i imagined myself in it.
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Me too, Plaridel. Imagination is not just be reserved for childhoods, right? It was fun to imagine this. Glad you came along for the ride. Thanks so much.
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I love looking at the world through the eyes of a child. Thanks for taking us there.
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Thank you, Dawn. Thanks for coming along. 🙂
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Not only funny, but expertly written. Nice job, Amy!
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It’s so nice to hear you say that. Thank you, Perry!
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“They must be destroyed.” What fun – although I’m sure his mother didn’t think so.
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In the end, it’s all about destruction. “Destroy!” I’m sure she’ll be the one cleaning up the mess, so I imagine you’re right. 🙂
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A flight of fanciful imagination comes down to earth with a bump. Nice one Amy.
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I’ll say, and not a pretty bump. Thanks for your lovely comments, Sandra.
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Ah, the imagination of the young versus the pragmatism of the adult.
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Exactly. The lad has to pulled back before he makes an awful mess. Oh, too late for that! Thanks, Ali.
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I like that you’ve managed to find comedy in this and seen it through a child’s eyes.
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Thanks, Mick. I didn’t start with this, but this is where I ended up! Thanks for reading.
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Dear Amy,
Shitty story. Sorry, couldn’t resist. Someone had to say it, right? Love the imagination of a child and it sounds a lot like my youngest son. What that boy didn’t think of? Truly a good story. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
That’s a fine compliment for this story! I didn’t see the poo right away, otherwise I might not have gone here at all. 🙂 Oh, the beauty of the photo prompt. I hope you didn’t have to clean up too many messes like this one. Thanks so much.
Shalom,
Amy
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Dear Amy,
You captured the work of a little boy so well, and, I’m sure, the same urge that causes dogs to roll in cow manure. Lovely work.
Aloha,
Doug
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Dear Doug,
Oh, your comments made me laugh. What is it about cow manure that is so irresistible? And, all things dirty? Thanks so much for your lovely comments.
Aloha,
Amy
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You and I were on the same wavelength this week, Amy. That’s scary. And all this time I thought you were legally sane. 🙂
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I take as a compliment to be on the same wavelength as you, Russell! Let me break it to you gently, I’m definitely not sane. Where’s the fun in that?! Thanks so much.
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Ewwwwwwwwww 😛
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Yes, it is yucky!
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Fun – it was all other worldly, then bam! It’s poop on your shoes at the back door.
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Thanks, Erin. I love your account of my story. Makes me smile!
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Love the foray into a child’s imagination, Amy.
janet
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Thank you, Janet. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
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So glad you mentioned Calvin. We lived in the States for a while and then shared our Calvin books with our own kids years later. He jumped right back into my head as I realised where this piece was going – like meeting an old friend in a different format. Worked well.
Lovely piece!
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Oh, that’s so great to hear that Calvin jumped into your head. Yay! It didn’t really occur to me until after I wrote it…and then I thought, this is Calvin’s cousin. 🙂 Thanks for the kind words.
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It seems our young hero is walking in the footsteps of the great Walter Mitty. Too bad Mum doesn’t appear to be in a space to play along right now.
Great story.
MG
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He does have a sense of adventure. I think Mom draws the line at poo in the house. 🙂 Thanks, MG.
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Buttons! I love it
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Thank you! Thanks for the follow. 🙂
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Ha.. yes wandering around those mushrooms can for sure make you stink a little .. wonderful voice here.
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Mushrooms must have that effect. Thanks so much, Bjorn.
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An O. Henry certified and approved ending.
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Thanks, Mark. Glad you approve. 🙂
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Love your story, Amy! I think I bypassed childhood. Nice to visit it thru your eyes.
Lily
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Thank you, Lily. I’m happy that I enabled you to experience it.
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Love the imagination that you give this boy, and the humor of the reality. Personally, I love mushrooms, but there are few worse smells than shrooms gone bad! Well done.
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Thank you, Dawn! Glad you liked it. I thought you might like mushrooms. 🙂
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Oh, those massive logs! The things that spring uncovers aren’t always pleasant but it is wonderful the lad’s imagination can see more. You made me grin from ear to ear.
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Thank you, Michelle. I have no idea where this story came from. I always notice the logs I guess. Glad I could make you smile. 🙂
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