like mercury colliding…

About the challenge: Each Tuesday I will provide a photo prompt. Your mission, if you choose to accept the challenge, is to tell a story in 280 characters or less. When you write your tale, be sure to let me know in the comments with a link to your tale. If you would prefer to post your tale in the comments (some people have very specific blog themes but still want to participate), I am happy to post a link to your site when I post your tale in the Round Up.

A final note: if you need help tracking the number of characters in your story, there is a nifty online tool that will count for you at charactercountonline.com.

I will do a roundup each Tuesday, along with providing a new prompt. And if for some reason I missed your entry in the Roundup, as I have occasionally done, please let me know. I want to be sure to include your tale.

Finally, have fun!

And REMEMBER…you have 280 characters (spaces and punctuation included), to tell your tale…and a week to do it. I can’t wait to see what you create this week.

Twittering Tales #123 – The Roundup

Starting us off…
Secret Admirer
“Whoooh, someone has a secret admirer,” Amy teased. 
“I know,” Jan sighed, “at first it was kinda fun. Little message hearts on my desk each day…time 2 dance, angel, wink wink…”
“That’s so sweet. What’s wrong?”
“I found one this morning on my night stand. It said, crazy 4 you.”
~kat
278 Characters

By Deepa at Sync With Deep:
Cand(ie)y
we are like the
little children 
at the candy store
wanting all the 
candies in the jar
and finally 
crumpling the ones
held in our hands!

By The Dark Netizen:
VALENTINE’S GIFTS
“Isn’t this too much?”
No man. She loves small gifts. See it says so on her Facebook status.
“Been stalking her?”
Yep. I even know where she lives.
“You are being crazy. That’s illegal.”
If that is what it takes.
“Okay idiot, what’s next, a love letter written in blood?”
Yep. Yours…
Character Count: 280

By Ron at Read 4 Fun:
Twittering Hearts
At coffee, two octogenarians discussed last night’s Valentine Eve party. “Not exchanging cards, good idea; small candies that you don’t have to chew are better.” “Did you read the message?” “Yep, the message I got was mysterious but heartfelt. Sweet Pea … nice, but misspelled.”
278 characters

By Kate at Everywhere and Nowhere:
Sweethearts
Their suspect had left the building and started walking toward the park, they got out of the car and followed. Suddenly he stopped and patted his jacket and then started back towards them.
‘Quick hold hands!’
‘Next you’ll be asking me to be your first kiss.’
‘You wish, sweet pea.’
Characters: 278

By Michael at Morpethroad:
Candy Hearts
It was Valentine’s Day and he wanted to give his girl a sign of his love and affection.
She had been having a tough time, so he bought her some lollies and tied on a red ribbon.
Squealing with delight she threw her arms around him and said it was the best Valentine’s Day ever.
(276 characters)

By Fandango at This, That, and the Other:
Politically Incorrect
“I’m glad that the company that made those little Valentine’s Day heart candies isn’t selling them this year,” Carol said.
“Why not? I liked them,” Donna said. “I thought they were sweet, both in sentiment and in taste.”
“They just aren’t appropriate in this day and age. #MeToo.”
(278 characters)

From Sadje at Keep It Alive:
With a little money he wanted to please her
He fancied her and would like to ask her
To be his girl, but his pockets were to let
So ha grabbed a bag of Valentines cookies
Tiny little hearts with all the messages
Written on them, all that he wanted to say
And she took it with a smile
Character count: 280

By Kristian at Tales From the Mind of Kristian:
A Valentines Day Surprise
He’d crafted them perfectly; no one could tell the difference.
Carefully he packaged and sent them to the people on his list, ticking them off, placing a leaflet in each box conveying the appropriate sentiment.
“I hope you accept this token of my esteem”.
Let the poisoning begin!
[279 characters]

By Di At Pensitivity101:
It had taken weeks for him to syphon out the good ones from umpteen packets.
She’d love it as it would appeal to her sweet tooth.
He proudly presented his Valentine’s Gift and watched her accepting smile falter.
‘I’m sorry,’ she said. ‘It’s a nice thought, but I refer smarties.’
276 characters

By Nova at MyNamaste365Online:
Sweet Spells
“Each heart represents the last message an individual spoke to a loved one.” Cupid informed the visitors. “In dreams, people forsaw their fates. There was no way of changing it. These short messages are the only way they could live on, after death.”
“How tragic!” Ariel followed. ” These poor unfortunate souls were turned into candy.”

By Willow at WillowDot21:
Trouble in Heaven.
Gabriel looked at his mobile these texts didn’t look like St Peter’s handwork. Angel, Jump 4 Me, Miss You. What now he thought. Azriel was with Michael so it wasn’t him. As Gab’s robe burst into flames his mobile beeped. Time to Dance it read. Satan’s laugh echoed around heaven.
(279 Characters )

By Regina at Help From Heaven:
What Love Ain’t
Well, Mark, I think you chose some good sayings for the candy hearts. But, I think that “Adore me” kind of misses the point. It’s a little like stalking, don’t you think, a command rather than a declaration of love? I don’t think people will find it cute! 
(256 characters)

By Jan at Strange Goings On in the Shed:
Candy Hearts
The paranormal investigation wasn’t going well. The team had disappeared, leaving two now. Vlad was scared and grabbed Edie’s hand. It felt ice cold.
He looked at her hand and recoiled. The claw held two candy hearts, “Time 2 Dance” and “Soul Mate.” Her red eyes blazed hungrily.
(280 characters)

By Lorraine at Lorraine’s Frilly Freudian Slip:
Sweet Lexicography
Heartfelt History Lesson
1866: Daniel Chase writes messages on Necco medicinal lozenges.
1902: medical becomes romantic. Simple expressive heart-shaped messages.
A sweet lexicography: language; trends.
2018: Necco’s heart broken. Factory shuttered.
2019: knock-off candies; fake love?
(280)

By Maranda at Maranda Russell:
Valentine’s Candy
My mother considered naming me Candy, but worried that if I turned out to be fat, it would be more ammunition for the bullies to use against me.
I didn’t turn out to be fat, but I did turn out to love candy – except for those little Valentine’s hearts.
All sugar, no substance.

By Anurag at Jagadilmein:
One Night Stand
“Be mine,” she’d said last night. And so, we ended up together.
“Call me,” I whispered as I was about to leave.
“Wait,” she cried out.
“I meant later,” I quipped.
“There is no later,” she replied, “Not for you.”
Maybe a one night stand with a Black Widow was not that great an idea.
279 characters.

By Jo at A Creative PTSD Gal:
XOXO
This will be the first Valentines day without her husband. XOXO was always the first candy heart he’d give Ruth. She bought her own box two days prior but couldn’t open it.
Waking up on the 14th Ruth decided to eat her candy. On top of the unopened box, a candy heart sat, XOXO.

By Leena at Soul Connection:
She took out Red Box frm wrdrobe tht filled wd lil colorful hearts wd msg
“Moments Of Our Love”Smiling she closed eyes n pickd 1.
“WIN ME!Ohh I Remember the Day whn you gave me this btfl heart”She said lkng abv
“HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY.I knw U r here wd me.I Miss You..I Love You 4evr.

By JP at The Wide-Eyed Wanderer:
Candy Hearts
She read the card on the box of candy hearts.
“St. Valentine was a Christian martyr who was beheaded after being beaten and stoned. I find it appropriate that the patron saint of lovers is a man so intimately acquainted with pain. Time 2 dance.”
How had he found her again?
Character count 271

By Deb at Twenty Four:
Their sober silence was only broken when their leader shook his head and said, “Well, I’m mystified, anyone want to hazard a guess?”
“They were meant to be an advanced race, weren’t they?”
“That’s what we’ve been led to believe but exactly what is boogie?”

By Antonia at The 48%:
“You’ll need a heart scan,” a geneticist said. I told him I was booked to see a cardiologist. “They may not do one,” he replies. Distantly I think of doctors waring to write their diagnosis on my bitter heart. Yet still, I’m near the sweetness of an answer, whatever that may be.

By Peter at Peter’s Pondering:
Darling
Great idea but, as codes go, rather complicated.
Understand that each love heart represents a letter of the alphabet and further variation is provided by the colour of the heart.
This message of 57 characters is now down to 40.
The dog ate the rest!
Please Text me, or Call me
(280 characters)  and I bet some of you counted the love hearts!

By Indhu at Always:
Love Never Dies
“You should buy these candy hearts for your proposal today. The old lady’s candies with message are believed to be lucky.” 
The old lady had a smile of pain when she saw him going on his knee.
She said a small prayer for him for this is her way of remembering her lost love! 
<273 characters>

Nice variety of tales…a few romantic love stories, several romantic tales turned deadly, a politically incorrect tale mention, and a couple that had nothing to do with Valentine’s day, love, or romance. Well done everyone! For this week, a familiar scene. Who hasn’t seen this scenario, or been a participant. These guys are obviously lost. Love how the women are standing to the side. What do you think they’re thinking. Or for that matter what do you think the guys are saying. Here’s a chance to work on your dialog skills in micro. (280 characters if you’re counting, that is…and I hope you are! ;)) I’ll see you as always in a week at the roundup. Have fun!

Twittering Tales #124 – 19 February 2019 – Lost

“It’s right here! Just like I told ya’s.”

“But the club is on River Bend. We’re on Canal.”

“I saw a cafe on the corner.”

“Admit it Bud. We’re lost.”

“Shhhh Anne…”

“Oh they can’t hear us. How ‘bout it Sue, lattes and scones?”

“Perfect.”

Ten minutes later…

“Hey where are the girls?”

~kat

278 Characters