The https://carrotranch.com/2023/01/23/january-23-story-challenge-in-99-words/:
In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story inspired by “Optimism”.
Click here to hear the author read his words:
The Optimist
I suppose I’ve always been an optimist.
When I was young and my father beat me and slapped Mum, I kept believing things would get better.
When he had that horrible accident and they took her away, even though she’d done nothing wrong, I still hoped things would improve.
The children’s home was horrendous.
I was small and scrawny, so I got bullied until Big Basher had that terrible accident.
I went into foster care but they were nasty people.
Then they had that ghastly accident.
I’m in prison now, but still quite optimistic.
Even here, accidents can happen.
So well done. His optimism is chilling.
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I love this take on a small one reclaiming power through “accidents.” Very nicely done.
Thanks, Bridgette, glad you enjoyed this one man Black Spot!
Optimism can be a deadly trait…..sometimes.
That’s a rather pessimistic outlook, good sir!
Now that’s what I call a brilliant set-up! You had me going from the very beginning, my dear C.E. How very clever of you ❣️
Thanks, Nancy, your kind words have me blushing again.
All the way to my collarbones!
☺️
I see you’re back to old habits of termination with extreme prejudice under pressure and making us laugh at it. 🙂 Long may you rule.
Yes, Doug, my recent writing has seen a significant drop in its OOF factor.
(That’s Oodles of Fatalities.)
Sometimes you just have to clear the decks with some friendly obliteration!
Indeed. There should be more of it. 🙂
Eric Idle-approved! Just as every penny has a bright and a dark side, so every Janus has a beginning and an end. Devilish fun!
Thanks, Liz. As you say, every end is also a new beginning!
I suspect I shouldn’t be laughing, but it was so well set up, so ‘normal’, just like the reading – and so understatedly gruesome.
Perfect music at the end too.
Excellent.
Life is normal, and sometimes gruesome.
Well, my world, anyway!
This is great, at first I felt really bad for our young’un and then I realised … I think I’ll keep my distance, I wouldn’t want any accidents happening to me!
Sometimes bad things happen to bad people!
A fantastic twist at the end. Excellently written.