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Saturday 23 May 2009

Saturday Wordzzle # 64


The idea is, every week Raven (Views From Raven's Nest) gives you between 8 and 10 words/phrases and you have to create a small but coherent paragraph using every one of them and the same with the mini challenge. You can do either, both or a megawordzzle using all the words, or even all three, it's up to you, you can post them on your blog or email them to Raven. If you join in go to Raven's and put your name on the Mr. Linky so other participants can come visit you.


Here's my efforts, complete with my doodles.


This Week's Ten Word Challenge is: albino, trench, marble, assistant, Indian, What's that supposed to mean?, sound first principles, the key thing, moat, curtain


“Pull up the drawbridge and let the crocodiles into the moat” said the Indian Swami.

What’s that supposed to mean?” asked his albino assistant Marble.

“Lock the door and prepare for battle if anyone tries to get in while we’re testing the new trick” he replied.

Closing the curtain on the cabinet, which was positioned over a trench into which Swami would disappear, Marble asked “Are you sure you know what you’re doing Swami?”

“Of course I do, I have sound first principles and the key thing is to say the magic words in the right order” Swami replied.

Marble stood back and listened to Swami bellowing out the incantation, then all was quiet. Pulling the curtain back Marble was amazed to see a frog where Swami had previously stood.

“Hey, it worked Swami” cried Marble. “Swami, it worked you can come out now, Swami, Swami.”

“Riddip, riddip, riddip” was the reply.




The mini challenge: under the surface, doomed, grand design, temple, aspirin



Martin thought his grand design for the temple was doomed when he saw the other entries to the competition. He popped the aspirin in his mouth and took and gulp of water. He appeared confident but under the surface he was paddling like a duck as he started his presentation.


Megawordzzle

Trench McIver was not what he seemed. Most people thought he was a member of the Scottish upper classes but in fact he was an albino Indian brought up in the Gorbals who had gone to University to study ancient history and made a name for himself as an explorer.

McIver had discovered many ancient scripts and artefacts but there was one thing he desperately wanted to find, he had seen mention of a treatment that could reverse albinism and his quest was to find it.

McIver had spent twenty years searching for the recipe for the treatment and had recently come across a clue as to where he might find it. He booked a flight to Borneo.

The temple where he hoped he would find the recipe had been discovered only five years earlier in the deepest part of the jungles of Borneo. He had been given contact details for a guide, who had been with the explorer who had discovered the temple, so he was confident he would be able to get to it.

After two days trekking they eventually came to the temple, it was of a grand design with a moat. Trying not to think about what could be under the surface of the moat he crossed the bridge into the temple.

The recipe was carved on one of the walls of the temple, in a room which had apparently been something like a pharmacy in it’s time. He had no problem finding it and reading the recipe he thought it had sound first principles but then, apparently, the key thing in it was ground marble and bark from some tree or other. He wasn’t feeling too confident when he read that. Desperation spurred McIver on. With the help of his guide he found the ingredients needed and packed them carefully into his backpack and within four days he was back at his office.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” asked his assistant, as McIver mixed the ingredients together into a mud coloured liquid.

What’s that supposed to mean?” asked McIver.

“You’re unique McIver, why would you want to be just ordinary?” he replied. “If it works you’ll look just like every other Indian.”

McIver had never thought of it that way but he had searched for so long he wasn’t going to back out now. He pulled a curtain across the doubts in his mind and downed the concoction.


Within minutes he began sweating and could feel his pulse pounding in his head, he was scared but if it worked he would be the happiest man alive. He wouldn’t let himself think that he may be doomed not just to failure but possible death!

His assistant stood watching him, ready to ring for an ambulance should the worst happen. Five minutes later McIver asked “Well do I look any different?”

“No, I’m afraid not boss” said his assistant

“I may as well have just taken an aspirin for all the good that’s done, what a waste of time!” muttered McIver.

18 comments:

Kipling said...

Nice story! the moral of which seems to be 'we should never try to change the way we look because it won't change who we are'

bettygram said...

I do enjoy your doodles along with your stories. In the first one, you must be careful of magical words.

snowelf said...

I agree with Kipling. :)

The first one if my favorite!! I really should give these a go sometime!

--snow

Dr.John said...

Three great stories but of course I loved the first one best. Your surprise endings always get me.
I felt sorry for the poor guy in the last story. It takes good writing to make one feel sorry for a character.

ForestJane said...

WTG!

It's interesting to see how different people interpret the same words too!

I liked the first one best. :)

Empress Bee (of the high sea) said...

and once aspirin was the miracle drug!

smiles, bee
xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Finding Pam said...

I loved McIver...of course you make all of the stories so grand especially with your doodles.

I appreciate your comments on my blog. I think you are a sweet friend.

Anonymous said...

I so look forward to any story you write. There is always such a surprise ending. The Ten Words is excellent and my favorite. I so enjoyed McIver as well...poor sole. Have a great weekend :)

Raven said...

Well done as always. Poor McIver, though maybe he was lucky as his assistant tried to point out. I love the swami story. Poor guy.

SouthLakesMom said...

We love the other McI at our house, so we enjoyed the third one best! And yes, the moral was clear to my teens...
SLMom

Fandango said...

You know if he stays a frog we can eat him because he is not people.
Three fun stories and we dragons loved them all.

Dianne said...

I've had many a pre-presentation moment like the one you described

love the swami frog ;)

CJ said...

Three excellent responses to the challenge.

Maude Lynn said...

These are really cool!

bindhiya said...

Dear Akelamalu,
Great stories as always. you have a way with words!
love to you & ((hugs))
bindi

sorry to be away for so long..

gabrielle said...

McIver is a brave man. Where are the Gorbals?

I love the first story!!!

Akelamalu said...

You got it Kipling! :)

Magical words should always be said very precisely Bettygram or there could be dire consequences as Swami discovered! ;0

Oh yes do join in Wordzzles Snowelf, you'd love it. Glad you like my stories honey. x

You're very kind with your compliments Dr.John, thank you m'dear. x

I'm always amazed at the variety of stories using the same words too Forest Jane! :)

Yes it was Bee!

You're welcome and Thankyou for your kind comments too Pam x

Aw thankyou Thom you're very kind. xx

I think McIver was very lucky Raven - he could have gone the same way as Swami! :0

I'm pleased the moral was clear to your teens SouthLakesMom - they won't go drinking any dodgy concoctions! ;)

Do you chew frogs before you swallow them Fandango? Otherwise they could be hopping about in your stomach! ;)

Presentations are scary Dianne!! :0

Cheers CG x

Thankyou Mama Zen I'm pleased you enjoyed them. :)

Aw thanks Bindi, love you too x

The Gorbals were in Glasgow, Scotland Gabrielle but I do believe they have been demolished now because they were slums. No offence meant to anyone who may be reading this that may have lived there.

Stephen said...

I liked your stories. In the third story, with the potion that didn't work, perhaps it was meant to be applied externally instead.

Stephen from Scottsdale, Arizona, USA
http://stephen-has-spoken.blogspot.com/