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#callingmrcupid
The words flashed on the screen, the ones she’d been dreading for weeks. She’d been thrilled to discover online dating, and even more thrilled when she’d been matched with Derek. They chatted every day, sometimes late into the night. But now the moment had come:
derek_132: Let’s meet.
Her heart raced and sank in equal measures. She knew it would be a disaster, it always was. Men changed when they met her, every man she had ever known, and she couldn’t bear to lose Derek. Still, maybe this time it would be different.
medusa_1: How do you feel about snakes?
(100 words)
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For those who don’t know, Friday Fictioneers is a challenge to write a 100 word story from a picture prompt. It’s hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields, and anyone can play. Thanks for hosting, Rochelle! Check out the link below to see what other fictioneers did with this week’s prompt.
Need more Friday Fiction? Click the blue frog to read more stories from other fictioneers!
Need more stuff to read? Give Firewords Quarterly a go (there’s one of my stories in Issue One!) NOW AVAILABLE AS A DIGITAL DOWNLOAD – CLICK HERE FOR MORE
EL Appleby: Brain Fragments 
Dear EL,
Poor Medusa. She must be weary of stony stares from men. Clever story as always.
shalom,
Rochelle
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Stony stares… very good 😀
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Well at least she hasn’t made contact with Perseus. Personally I think men set too great store by womens’ hairstyles… Very clever.
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Maybe in the sequel, Derek turns out to be Perseus (only that username was already taken) 🙂
(And my hair looks like medusa’s most days – I’ve given up trying to tame the snakes)
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El, Hilarious. XD Poor Medusa and poor, poor Derek. You would be taking a chance with the online dating. Well written as always. 🙂 I struggled with that link until I finally trashed the blog for that story and redid it. It should now connect. I tried it and it worked finally. Thanks. 🙂 —Susan
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thanks Susan
sorry I’m taking so long to reply to comments at the moment – I’m busy writing! I’m glad you sorted out your link. Take care. EL
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Very clever story! Nicely done!
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thank you 🙂
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Great story. Poor Medusa, I feel for her.
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Thanks, it was interesting writing medusa as a victim for once!
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On-line dating’s a bitch for a gal like Medusa!
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The online bit’s fine, if only they didn’t want to meet her in the flesh!
thanks for commenting
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Very clever – the surprise at the end really worked on me. MAybe Medusa could wear a hoodie?
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I’m glad it worked – it’s always difficult to know how many clues to give and I thought the picture would give away where I was going immediately, but so far only one person guessed where I was going.
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A very funny story. I enjoyed it.
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thank you – I’m glad you liked it
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Lol. Good pace to this story, liked it.
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thanks Paul, glad you liked it 🙂
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This is very funny and kinda’ sad, too.
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Who’d have thought we’d ever feel sorry for Medusa?!
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I like this. Poor Medusa. It’s always going to be the same. Perhaps she should try Australian?
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maybe she should stick to the ‘online’ bit and give up on the ‘dating’ bit!
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Funny story. I enjoyed it.
Randy
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thank you 🙂
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This was too clever. It put a smile on my face, when I read her username. You drew me in from beginning to end. I was actually feeling a little sorry for Medusa, until I read her name! lol Great take on the prompt.
Blessings,
Cheryl
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thanks Cheryl. I’m glad I made you smile 😀
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I had never imagined Medusa as hapless victim. What a great twist!
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Deep down, we all just want to be loved 🙂
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Brilliant. Coupled with the picture (and the fact that my story also featured Medusa) I knew where this was going as soon as I read “men changed…”.
This was so well written. it had me smiling! Poor Medusa 😦
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You’re the only one who guessed before the end – i thought it would be obvious just from the photo – I guess your mind and my mind are twisted in a way that other people’s aren’t 🙂
(off to read yours in a bit!)
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Very funny! As Indiana Jones would say “why does it have to be snakes?!”
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I’d take a head full of snakes over a head full of spiders any day 🙂
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That was perfect in so many ways! Loved the wit and humour + actual human emotions the real Medusa once felt 🙂 brilliant
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Fantastic stuff, EL, I know I can always count on you! I felt sorry for Medusa, but then maybe I (or you) have been too much influenced by the BBC’s Atlantis… was she originally a tragic character or a bad one?
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I would love to see her on-line profile photo. Great story and I love the way you presented it as well.
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Fantastic! I didn’t see that coming. I love Medusa stories. In fact, I played Medusa in a coloring book once (but that’s a whole other story that would take more than 100 words to tell). I wonder if our heroine would do better dating if she used a series of mirrors for “face time.”
Cheers!
MG
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Men changed… yes, into stone 🙂 thanks for the laugh. never knew i could ever feel sympathy for Medusa.
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This is such a great story! El, you are brilliant! This is the first time I have ever had an sort of ‘kind’ thought for Medusa. Well done! Thanks! Nan 😉
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Okay, this made me burst into a broad grin! LOVED your story. Very, very imaginative take on the whole thing.
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Clever story! I guess her relationships always reach a rocky patch after they meet. 🙂
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I love your use of the #hashtag.
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To paraphrase an old American commercial, I suppose “only her hairdresser really knows for sure.” 😀
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Excellent use of the prompt ; Two thumbs up! Tay.
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Hilarious – and really well written. Every word perfectly chosen to lead us on and give us that wonderful shock of recognition when we realise what is going on. Fantastic!
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This is wonderful! Poor Medusa ….!
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Hilarious and a surprisingly thoughtful story.
Thoroughly compelling read with a crisp narration.
At the end, it left me smirking.
Recently I’ve written a short story- a surreal dark comedy. If you’ve time, do read and give feedback:
http://yourstoryclub.com/short-stories-unusual-experience/story-black-comedy-confession-of-a-serial-killer/
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I have a positive feelings bout Derek. He keeps snakes and lizards and they’re going to get on wonderfully. Lovely take.
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smart, sharp writing too. 🙂
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