It’s time for Friday Fictioneers, a writing community that is lead by our gracious host, Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. Every week, we are challenge to write a 100-word story based on a photo prompt.
I had fun with this prompt. Thanks to Marie Gail Stratford for providing the photo.
This weekend happens to my birthday when once again I am celebrating the magical age of 29! Oh, how I love that age. I may be delayed in reading and responding to stories, but I promise I will get to it. Enjoy your weekend!

Genre: Skewed Historical Fiction (99 words)
Household Name
Blank stares and dark suits accessorized the boardroom table. Doug Englebart barely recognized his colleagues who slaved alongside him inventing this most revolutionary technology.
“Why mouse?”
“It rolls, has little balls, and can fit in your hand,” Doug said.
“I can think of other things that fit in your hand.” Bill smirked.
“What about “Master”? Ed shrugged.
“Besides it’s cute.” Doug studied his blueprints.
“We all know how important cute is,” Bill said, shaking his head.
After seven hours of deliberation, the board voted on their top three choices:
- Master
- Go Clicker
- Mouse
Now every house has a mouse.
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For more stories from the Fictioneers, click here.
Happy Birthday! Ah, to be 29 again! …. And again. and again, and again, and… I hope you have a wonderful weekend.
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Thank you, Trent!! Yes, that age works for me.
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My birthday is at the end of the month and I totally accept my age. Totally and 100%. I just don’t ever mention it online 😉
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I’m mixed about it. But it is what is is. We can’t stop time. I feel young. That’s what matters. 🙂
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It is what matters. I stopped taking blood pressure meds 2 years ago (for the right reasons – my blood pressure is back to normal) and really do feel younger than I have since I was 29.
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That’s excellent, Trent! I still have to take meds for high cholesterol. It runs in my family. What can you do?
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If you have to take them, you have to take them – most of the time it beats the alternative. With the blood pressure meds, I didn’t realize how much they made me feel run down until I stopped taking them. As you said before, the important thing is how you feel, and if you feel young, you are. Of course, you are young, so there should be no argument there.
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I know those blood pressure meds can be complicated. This one isn’t so bad. I feel good and healthy, Trent! Thank you.
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Happy birthday!
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Thank you!
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Fun story.
Happy birthday. Christiane Northrup says to never mention our age. We are the age we feel we are (if you had no idea how old you are, how old would you say you are?)
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Thanks, Dale. Hmm…I’m not gonna answer that. Oh, I know…29. Yes, that’s it.
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Happy birthday Amy – I’ll have a drink for you tonight 😉
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Thanks so much, Louise. I appreciate that!
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I’m selfless!
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And it’s good for both of us!
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMY!
29? Okay…sounds good to me. 😉 I hope you have plans to celebrate mightily.
I love this bit of history. I’m glad ‘mouse’ won. I’d hate to be pushing a ‘master’ around my pad. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you, Rochelle!! I do have plans or rather someone has plans for me. I won’t be using my mouse this weekend! 29 is a fabulous number…I suppose.
I knew you would appreciate my attempt at historical fiction. I always wondered where “Mouse” got its name. I envision it as something really random. Mouse has worked out pretty well, but it’s so odd. It could have been Moxy or Pumpkin just as easily. Pushing a master around the pad…yeah, that sounds like a lot of work. Ha ha. Thanks!
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Party like it’s 1999. Okay, maybe not. Many happy returns to 29, lady.
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Sure, why not Honie?? That song has stood the test of time. 1999….oh, so long ago. I remember that song came out way before 1999 and then it seemed like 1999 was so far away. Right? That’s what I remember. Scratches head. Thanks so much!
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Aah, 29 – I think I remember…
Happy Birthday!
Glad mouse won – Go Clicker just isn’t right!
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Thank you, Dee for the birthday wishes! Go Clicker would have got a nickname and quick!
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Hee, “has little balls” 🙂
Happy birthday. Next week I will be 29 again too!
Fun story and a nice piece of history (thanks for the link).
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Hee hee. Thanks. Of course, it’s my version of history. 🙂
Happy Birthday to you, Ali!! Fellow Libra. Libras rule!
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Thanks! Yeah, Libras are the business. Balance in all things. Nobody sits on the fence like a Libra!
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You got it, baby!
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Happy 29, great age, a few years ago I decided I was 25 again, so still a few years till 29 😉 the computer mouse had an interesting background.. It could have been a rat. Interestingly enough in Sweden, it was considered a problem because mouse has the same meaning in slang as beaver..
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Oh, good for you, Bjorn! 25 is equally as good an age. 🙂 Oh, how confusing for you Swedes! Oh, my goodness. They should have consulted you. I’m sure you guys could have come up with something everyone could agree on and something cooler.
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Funny Bjorn
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Love the story and Happy Birthday!!! Hope you have a great time celebrating and a wonderful weekend! xoxo
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Thank you, Kelly!! Glad you enjoyed my twist on history. I hope to! xoxo
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Happy Birthday Amy.
After reading Bjorn’s comment ….I want to call my mouse a beaver.
Cute hysterical fiction.
Tracey
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Thank you, Tracey.
We should. We totally should. We deserve it!
Thanks. Glad you liked it.
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Happy birthday! And great story. 😃
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Thanks so much, Solo! 🙂
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Next month, I’ll be celebrating the anniversary of my 29th birthday as well. I may even celebrate my 39th and 49th while I’m at it. I’m just glad they didn’t call it a turd. That would have been nasty.
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That sounds like a plan, Russell. We can’t enough celebrating at all these various ages and stages of life. 😉 Ha! Yes, it’s a good thing they stopped at mouse.
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Happy 29th Birthday 😉
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Thank you kindly, Helen.
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Ah! So that’s how the mouse got it’s name. Very clever!!! Happy birthday Amy. I don’t know if you were born on the 2nd, that’s Gandhi’s birthdate. Watch out, you might get famous 🙂
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Ah! That’s it, Jolly. At least according to me! My birthday is on the 4th. I didn’t know that about Gandhi. It makes sense he’s a Libra. I should have known. Maybe it will rub off on me. 🙂
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As someone who is no longer able to pretend to be 29, I wish you a very happy re-birthday.
🙂
Great bit of historical fiction too, and thanks for the link – interesting guy.
Cheers
KT
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Thanks so much, KT! Glad you enjoyed my story. Cheers.
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Inspired, Amy. I’m glad the little men in your head didn’t go with Master. 🙂
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And Happy Birthday, my friend! Enjoy the 29 candles on the cake. Nice not to have to buy that 30th, right? 😉
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Thanks, Mark! Exactly. This way I don’t have to keep track either. 🙂
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Who’s counting among us friends, Amy? Not me. 😉
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“We all know important cute is.” Oops. Does this need a “how” or “We all know cute is important.” ?
Anyway, fun take on the prompt. I, too, am a Libra and celebrate my 28th birthday all month long, year after year! Happy birthday.
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Oops. Yes, it does. Thanks, Alicia! I just knew you were a Libra. Happy Birthday to you, too! May you have a blissful month. 28 is also a wonderful age. 🙂
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Yes, fun story, Amy!
And Happy Birthday! I stopped aging a few years earlier than you…
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Thank you, Tom! Good for you. It’s just so much easier when you stop keeping track. 🙂
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Thanks Amy. I learned a bit of history. I never though about it. My son once had a little mouse cover for his mouse – all furry with eyes, ears and a tail. The cat got it. Happy birthday by the way. My husband and I have both had our birthdays this last week.
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Thanks, Jenny and thanks so much for stopping by. This is, of course, my take on history. That mouse cover sounds delightful. I have a little kitty pad for the mouse. 🙂 Happy Birthday to you and your husband. I hope your birthdays were wonderful!
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Perfection! I love the lightheartedness of this piece. May I say, I hope you are having a wonderful birthday Lovely Lady. You deserve it.
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Oh, thanks so much the kindness, Michelle! I’m happy you enjoyed it. I had a fine birthday, especially nice because I got away for once. Thank you. xo
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Happy 29th (again) Amy! xxxx
I love my mouse and I used it extensively to scroll all the way to the bottom and comment (and on the way I had a little giggle over Björn’s comment) 😀
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Thanks so much, Dianne. It gets better every time I celebrate my 29th. The mouse is quite the celebrated piece of equipment around here. Ha ha. Isn’t Björn silly?! I just love the Fictioneers! 😀
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It does make you wonder…why mouse?
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Doesn’t it, Dawn? It could have been so many other things. It’s funny though. I’ve simply never questioned it. It’s always simply been ‘mouse.’
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Me neither. That IS what is funny!
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Thanks, Dawn!
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Happy B’day.
A great ending for this piece.
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Thanks so much. I’m glad that ending worked. I could think of no other. 🙂
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This one worked beautifully. 🙂
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Thanks!
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Happy 29th. 😉 And I really enjoyed your historical take this week. Go Clicker? Go figure!
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Oh, to be 29. Again! Thanks so much. Could you imagine Go Clicker? I’m glad they went with Mouse after all. 🙂
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Happy 29th. Me, I’m 49, have been for years. 😉 I hope you have a great party.
I actually read about the inventor of the mouse two years ago in that same wikipedia article, when he died. Such a shame that he never got any royalties. If it had been invented more recently, the little mouse would have been called the iClick. Great story.
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Well, I’m 29. Again. It’s a favorite number of mine. I had a great birthday. I got away for over 24 hours! It’s such a shame that the inventor of the mouse didn’t get the credit or the money he deserved. Considering what a huge invention it is, it’s hard to believe. Ha! The iClick – I bet you’re absolutely right. Thanks, Gah!
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Wow. 29? Ever been kissed?
You know I think it was Shakespeare who said:
a mouse by any other name would…
only be a Master Go-clicker.
Randy
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No, I’ve never been kissed either, but I have two children. Ha ha. The world would be a different place if it were not called the mouse. I’m sure of it! Thanks, Randy.
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They used to have tails too.
Good piece.
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Right. Now they don’t always. Thank you, Mick.
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I loved this one. I imagine it probably did happen something like that. Great job!
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Thanks, Diane. Glad you enjoyed it. I guess it’s why we have marketing departments, although mouse has worked out pretty well. We never forget what it’s called. 🙂
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Happy birthday, Amy, even if it’s a few days late. I like this story. Somehow I wish Go Clicker had made the cut. It sounds a bit like do-hickey. 🙂
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Thanks, David. Sorry for my delayed response. I’m trying to multitask again and it’s not working. Hey, why not do-hickey?! Go Clicker would probably turn into Do-Hickey. 🙂
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I wouldn’t be spending so much time on the laptop today if the thing I was pushing around all day was a ‘Master’. Point of principle. Nice take Amy, and hope you had a lovely birthday.
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Everything would be all together different if the mouse was a ‘Master,’ wouldn’t it? Thanks, Sandra! It was very nice.
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Happy Birthday, Amy! Yes, 29 is a great age, Mouse is my favorite of the three names also. Well done. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Thanks, Suzanne! Things turned out for the best as far as the name went, however it happened. I think we’re all satisfied with mouse. Could it be anything else now?
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Oddly enough, like the man who invented the Post-it note, Doug never made any money from his invention… sad, really. Oh, and happy birthday (belated and all).
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I heard that Doug didn’t get money, Todd. It’s so tragic, because certainly he would have made a well-deserved fortune. I didn’t know that about the post-it note inventor, another household invention we take for granted. It’s so simple, but so useful! I wish I would have thought of that one. Thanks for the birthday wishes. 🙂
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An excellent take on the prompt, Amy! I like the sly humor in the middle! 🙂
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Thanks so much. I’m glad you enjoyed it! I always try to see the humor in things.
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Happy 29th, Amy, a week late! See, I’m even more behind than you… and 31. 😉
Loved this one! Clever and witty, and the dose of history was great! I figured Rochelle would have tackled that. Glad someone did, as I’ve never thought to look it up… but find it fascinating. Happy happy birthday!
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Aww, thanks so much, Dawn! You’re not late, I celebrate my birthday all month. Well, not really, but I love the month of October. We’re in the prime of our lives, are we not?
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed my version of history. Thanks for the bday wishes!
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