Flash Exercise Online Portfolio
RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS
[FlashXer] EXERCISE: SUNDAY, JANUARY 4, 2009
In a way this is a different kind of excersise, but it is a
challenge, I trust. See
what you think....
If you haven't read the Admin E mail our boss,
Pam wrote, you should. All I can say is Aw Shucks...
nice words but I can't deposit them. How about a raise,
Pam? Double my salary and I'll be happy for a while.
If you haven't read her e-mail, which came yesterday, you
should. But this is what she suggests we do, and I recommend
we do that:
Vote for Irv's FlashXer Workshop at http://www.critters.org:80/
predpoll/writerws.shtml and you can vote for my Flash Fiction Flash
newsletter at http://www.critters.org/predpoll/writerinfo.shtml One
vote per person, and everything's set up alphabetically at each link.
The voting's very easy.
Your vote can make a difference, look at what is happening in
Minnesota. (I think that is where they are jockeying for a senate seat)
So let your voice be heard, give us a boost up...all press is gratefully
accepted. Now here is your prompt for today....
WHAT? WHAT? YOU WANT A NEW CAR! JESUS, GET REAL
THIS IS TAP CITY, AND WE CAN HARDLY PAY THE RENT
Usual rules, 1000 words, in the subject line, please, your name,
the words tap city and the story title.
And, thanks for the nice words Pam. I appreciate it, although I
probably don't deserve them...regardless I thank you and once again
I wish you and everyone on our lists...a Very Happy New Year.
You all deserve it.
Irv
01/04/09 Janine's Tap City "Random Acts Of Kindness" 254 words
"I don't know if a new car is such a good idea, Fred."
"But I really want one."
"Yes, but something flashy like that would draw attention to us."
"No mom, it wouldn't. I would be real careful. I would tell them I found it in a junk yard and fixed it up myself."
"No one will believe you found a new car in a junk yard. Be reasonable."
"What is the use of having money if we can't spend it?"
"Because everyone else is tapped out. They call it Tap City around here. They talk about it as a joke to cheer themselves up."
"But we have enough to help them. Why don't we just do that?"
"Because people would take advantage of our generosity and want us to give more than we are able to give."
"We could do it as anonymous donations to other people who help, like the churches. We could call it random acts of kindness."
"It would feel good to help these people."
"Come on . . . I can say I needed the car to get to my job to support the family and someone donated it. I'll drop off the money at the charities all over town in it."
"Well, alright. You talked me into it. I hope it makes a difference."
Headline in The Daily News: Random Acts of Kindness Bring Hope
Headline in The Sun Times: Anonymous Donations Fill Hungry Bellies
Headline in The Junk You Won't Believe: Where Did The Money Come From? Is It Stolen?
01/04/09
Hi Janine,
That gave me a giggle. No Crit. -Rita
01/08/09
Hi Janine. Entertaining take on the prompt.
However, I got lost while reading the dialog. Remember to put tags in dialog after a while. Prevents the confusion that this story caused me. Not having tags every so many lines causes the reader to be tossed out of the story when trying to figure out who's speaking at any given moment.
Regards, Mioke
01/11/09
Hi janine,
A good short and to the point story. Very reflective of society as to questioned motives of altruistic philanthropy.
Hal
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website created by Janine Bouyssounouse.
Last updated 01/14/09