This challenge is produced by GirlieOnTheEdge with the following simple rules:
Write 6 Sentences. No more. No less.
Use the current week’s prompt word – CONTROL
Click here to hear the author read his words:
Bannockburn
Although this isn’t my first trip in the Time Machine, it is The Big One, the reason I spent all those years developing it, so everyone is there to see me go: Sarah, my wonderful, patient, loving wife, my two great sons, my darling toddler daughter, and my three close friends and collaborators, Wee Tam, Slick Rick, and Big Hairy.
I arrive at Bannockburn on 23rd June 1314, suitably attired and drenched in pig’s blood, in time to see Robert the Bruce, the warrior King of Scots, dispatch Sir Henry de Bohun, a somewhat over-ambitious English Knight, with a mighty blow from an axe, in what might be described as pre-match entertainment, before circling the battlefield, observing the fray and taking notes.
After a fascinating afternoon, and very much looking forward to returning for the second and final day tomorrow, I head back to my transport in time to see an unattended toddler stumbling towards the bank of the fast-flowing burn and, forgetting the first rule of Time Travel, I instinctively catch her arm and point her towards where a group of women are tending the wounded.
Sliding onto my seat, I open the Control Panel, hit the Home button and experience the usual light-headedness and brief loss of consciousness before I open my eyes in front of Tam, Rick and Hairy.
As they help me out amid much back-slapping and a million questions, I look around in confusion and ask why Sarah and the children are not there.
My most trusted friends look at each other in turn, their faces mirroring my perplexity, before their three voices simultaneously ask the same question: ‘Who?’
Oops, CE.
Goes to show you just never know…! 😀
Impossible to foresee the effect of anything on the future, hmm?
Especially if one goes back and makes the tiniest of changes… we’re that delicately balanced!
Ha! Ha! Having been married to a scot for 14 years, the Wee Tam, Slick Rick, and Big Hairy took me back to the West Coast. 🤣 Great six, Ceayr.
Aye, nae luck, hen!
But thanks…
Whoa! I love how this ended. I want to read more!
Tune in next week for another thrilling episode!
I will 🙂
The tiniest adjustments make for unforeseen large impacts. Powerful!
I guess all our actions have repercussions far beyond what we see, Susan
Great six!
I took a peek inside your kennel (down boy!) and I have to say I think you’re barking mad.
But Good Boy for visiting here, please don’t take the ‘Bite’ too literally.
😂🐾
That is tragic! When the Butterfly Effect hits hard, hit hits home.
Well done!
Ain’t that the truth, Liz!
I do keep warning people about this timey-wimey stuff… Splendid Six!
Some of us just don’t listen, it seems!
I get nervous travelling on a bus. Time travel? No thanks!
Yeah, but you are a big girl’s blouse, old buddy!
Dude!*
“Welly, welly, welly, well!” Looks like a certain writer has a bit of the quality that them of us what hang out at a metaphorical nightspot, one that will remain un-named, really enjoy reading (and writing).
The beauty part (as a deceased friend of mine would say) of the Café is it not only lacks a dress-code, it allows any literary mechanism to sit at the bar, provided a Proprietor is mentioned by name.
Fun Six, yo
*compliment on a most effectively told story of time travel (and it’s treacherously slippery hand rails)
Thanks, Clark
Bravo, CE.
Dangers of time travel 101? 😀
As we think we know, Denise, when in reality we know almost nothing.
Much fun until Doctored with Who? Have you checked the Poiice call box? 🙂
Groan, groan and triple groan!
Excellent result. 🙂
Oh, we mess with what we do not know and suffer for it. An excellently crafted story.
Thank you, Mimi.
Some things are indeed beyond our ken.
I like the description of the demise of Sir Henry de Bohun as “pre-match entertainment”.
Actually a true part of the story, Frank, well-known to every Scottish schoolchild:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_de_Bohun
I thought you made up that character. It is good to know that part was true.
Ouch.
What an ingenious time-travel tale, beautifully crafted.
Oh, to see Bannockburn firsthand – but what a cruel twist of fate you weave into it.
And that final, ‘Who?’
Superb.
Thanks, Jenne.
We have no way of knowing how our tiniest action can change the future, do we?
Great last word!
Thanks.
Pity about the other 273!
Haha 😸