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.

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.

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Twittering Tale #118 – The Roundup

Starting us off…

Anything…But
Norm loved his wife. He would do anything for his beloved Sadie.
When she asked for a VitaVeggieMatic, he thought, “Sure. Why not?”
Next day, he stared at the glass she served him. “It’s bubbling.”
“Just try it Norm,” Sadie pleaded.
When she looked away he fed the orchid.
It died.
~kat 
(279 Characters)

By Reena at ReInventions:
Soup for the Soul
I consume content that I enjoy, and some that I don’t. I need those knowledge inputs to keep going, in a competitive universe.
I use a green highlighter to recall all this stuff, when needed. It is spinach soup for the soul.
(223 words)

By The Dark Netizen:
Soup
Little Sammy was an ever-hungry child.
He would get hungry every few hours, much to the annoyance of his mother. The only viable solution she could think of, was preparing soup. Sammy would get a hot bowl of soup every time he got hungry.
Thus, began Sammy’s great love for soup…
Character Count: 280

By Fandango at This, That, and the Other:
I Don’t Do Green
I don’t like peas.
I hate spinach, asparagus, broccoli, and green beans.
Same with Brussels sprouts and green peppers.
Kale, zucchini, and artichokes are not for me.
I don’t eat green veggies.
So why would you put a glass of bubbly green gook in front of me and expect me to drink it?
(280 characters)

By Teresa at The Haunted Wordsmith:
Trust the Farmer
Dairy farmers were the first to suspect there was something off after reports of the UFO that was spotted over town three nights ago. Unfortunately, everyone was too busy debating the best way to keep aliens out, no one noticed the alien invasion.
247 characters

By Deepa at Sync With Deep:
Sou(l)p
dear Popeye,
thank you! I owe my eyesight to you!
with love, 
your diehard follower since 90’s.

By Dave at DaveMMadden:
Down the Hatch
First day of camp, time to begin shedding pounds, but he was at the gym’s door with a green, gelatinous ooze. 
“What is this?,” he asked his coach.
“Shut up and drink it,” was the response he received—and expected.
Round after round, his energy never wained.
Coach was right. Again.
Character count: 278

By Kristian at Tales from the Mind of Kristian:
A Green Awakening
Switching the bathroom light on, Jack stared aghast at the glass of tap water in his hand.
It was green, slimy and smelled terrible.
If only he hadn’t downed two glasses of water before he’d realised something wasn’t right.
Maybe he’d gain superpowers? The ability to fly?
Nope.
[276 characters]

By Jan at Strange Goings On in the Shed:
Transmigration
Transmigration was Yoda’s weak point. This was his last chance for redemption.
He summoned the Force and was one with it. Alas he misdialed and got the Juice Bar instead.
The Jedi Academy had its share of industrial accidents, but this was the last straw.
(253 characters)

By Ponnz at The Swan Song:
You serve a threat
In a glass of green!
A green pea juice
Bitter gourd shake?
Smelling lemongrass
I feel the need of pet
A white little rat or
Carrot detesting hare
I meet your glare
Wait!I’m risking life
A quick little sip
Smile on my lips
A sugarcane juice
Burying Wonderful
Thanks rolls off!
Character count:280

By Di at Pensitivity101:
Hubble, bubble, toil and trouble,
Seaweed leaves and old man’s stubble.
Potion made to make you slim,
Eat what you like, no dieting.
Drink and swallow, down it goes,
Yep, it helps to hold your nose.
193 characters

By Willow at WillowDot21:
Trouble in heaven and hell.
Satan hated January, Dry, Vegan, Veggie, No Smoking month! Those humans were always so good at the start of the year. Nevermind come February and the smiles would be wiped from Gabe and the guys upstairs faces. Back to drinking, gluttony and good old St. Valentines debourchery.
(278 Characters)

By the Indishe:
The crisp leaves were meticulously cut, soaked and gently scrubbed till they shone and pulsated into that green mannah that she drank with gusto. Next morning,the headlines screamed that spinach in the stalls had been laced with deadly arsenic!This is the parody of our times!
(278 characters)

By Melanie at Sparks from a Combustible Mind:
Frankenstein wasn’t having a good day.   He’d had his jolt from the doctor’s electrode, but was still ill.   That’s when Mrs. M Frankenstein (to differentiate from Mrs. D Frankenstein, who looked a lot like Terri Garr) made him a pick me up.  What was in it is anyone’s guess.
(Character count:  276)

By Eva at Jean Luce:
A Strange Green Tale
The hurricane along the Florida coast is confusing the forecasters. The ocean is bubbling and green froth covers the eastern seaboard. The school children are sent home early. They discover that the green froth is tasty compared to limp french fries and cold hot dogs.

By Peter at Peter’s Pondering (Two Tales this Week!):
1-Polly’s Revenge  – following on from Polly’s Dream
Her mistress was insisting that Polly drank a kale and cabbage smoothie every day.
It tasted awful. She was not going to put up with it.
She’d had some senna pods stored in the cage corner, just in case.
She now mixed all of them in with the smoothie.
They’d soon change their minds!
(280 characters)

2-The Intern’s error
Each intern was warned – “Do not take petri dish B17 out of the fridge”
Simon didn’t listen!
So, when he was told to take out the samples ready to incubate them, B17 was amongst them.
She had been waiting for 39 years, and now, breathing at last, she prepared to take over the earth!
(280 characters)

By Anurag at Jagahdilmein:
The Booster Shot
“Honey, this doesn’t look very safe for our boy.”
“Don’t worry babe, the Doctor said it’ll make him big and strong.”
“OK, if the Doc says it’s fine…”
“Hon, what’s happening?”
“Well, he does seem big and strong…and green.”
“Which Doc did you go to?”
“Dr. Bruce Banner, darling.”
275 characters

By Michael at Morpethroad:
She argued it was good for me.
But it was green.
She’d gone to a lot of trouble
But it was green
and not an attractive green.
Juicing was the way to good health
But it was green
Full of goodness and vitality
But it was green
She said I needed all the help I could get
Sadly she was right.
(278 characters)

By Radhika at Radhika’s Reflection:
Bon Appetit!
The menu read, “ Organic spinach sautéed with garlic, blanched and pureed to perfection. Infused with aromatic herbs and garnished with fresh cream!”
“Mellow in taste and low in calories” beamed the waiter.
I kept staring at the bowl of soup placed in front of me…..
Letter count : 270

By Amritha at Igniting Hope:
Simply Resistible
You put some spinach in,
You take the huge stalks out!
You put some green apples in and shake it all above,
Squeeze a dash of lemon with a pinch of salt to taste,
And a bubbling health drink comes to you!
But I really wonder why are healthy foods never irresistible!
(263 characters)

By Indhu at Always!:
Luck Potion
“You must drink it up in one go”, said the lady.
He did. He waited two days before he returned. 
“Nothing has changed!”
“Oh, I am sorry, I forgot one ingredient in the luck potion. Give me another 500 and I will make it perfect this time!”, said the Witch. 
<254 characters>

By JP at Wide-Eyed Wanderer:
Spell for a Smoothie
Seed of chia, an apple pale
hand full of spinach
hand full of kale
add some honey
it’s no trouble
flip the switch
and let the cauldron bubble
by the pricking of my thumbs
something wicked this way comes
character count: 194

By Ron at Read 4 Fun:
It Gets Better
“Drink this?”
“No, watch. It’s the future.”
“What’s in it?”
“Racism, hatred, cruelty, and evil dipped in hubris. The best poison for humanity ever devised. One ingredient we couldn’t get rid of. It’s boiling at the top.”
“What?”
“Hope. It always boils its way to the top.”
273 characters

By John at Broadsides:
At the Guinness factory we have been working on a special brew for the coming St. Patrick’s Day. Without losing any of the traditional burnt oaky dark flavour, or colour and taste, we have managed to produce a smooth leprechaun green head on the pint. As we say in Ireland “Slainte, Lá fhéile Pádraig sona dhaoibh!”

Newcomer Ira from As Time Flies offers us a tale inspired by last week’s photo (The Parrot):
All In Heart
He understood why they say ‘love is blind’ for there she had a warm smile for the ordinary green while the exquisite and bright member of the species felt neglected. He sat on the edge, gazing at her beauty while she ignored him like always.

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Thank you to everyone who joined the challenge. What a fun mix of tales this week. It ain’t easy bein’ green! I just read a report that here in the US lovers of greens best cook them well. With the shutdown going on 4 weeks now, inspectors are on furlough or in short supply and well, there might be more than meets the eye lurking in you salad. EWE! Well, that’s my PSA for the day. Stay safe while you’re trying to be healthy!

This week we have a photo by Pexel at Pixabay.com. They call this photo “Campfire”. It could be camping…or there could be another story here. I have no doubt you will come up with a campfire tale or two that will surprise and delight us, or terrify us or make us think. I love this challenge and the creativity you bring to the table! Remember to keep it under 280 characters and most importantly, have fun! I’ll see you at the Round Up!

Twittering Tales #119 – 15 January 2019

Rain or shine Granny cooked her kettles of soup. The hungry came. She fed them all.

It was against the law to feed the poor where Granny lived. It wasn’t long before the city shut her down.

“Don’t you worry,” she shouted as they led her away. “I’ll be back. People gots to eat.”

~kat

278 Characters

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There have been stories in the news recently about people like Granny. Good hearted souls who are trying to do the right thing. To feed the hungry. It surprised me to learn that several cities in our country have passed laws that state feeding the homeless in public places is a misdemeanor crime. The powers that be claim that the spread of hep A is the reason for this ban. And fear that the food might not meet certain standards and make people sick. But the thing is, there are no accounts of anyone getting sick from these make shift kitchens. The real reason seems to be more hideous. These cities just don’t want the homeless in their midst. I remember the battle several of us had years ago trying to set up a homeless shelter. “We don’t have homeless people in this county,” the city council said. “If we let you open this shelter, homeless people will come here from the city.”

I believe we’re losing our heart and soul. And like the Granny in my tale, I say, “People gots to eat.” Who are we if we turn the hungry away. Who are we indeed.

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.

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 #117 – The Roundup

Starting us off…
My humans love to repeat some silly words. ‘Hello, bye bye, nite-nite.’ Lame! Sometimes I give ‘em a ‘good boy’ or ‘hello’. The old guy is my favorite. He taught me a few new words. 
Whenever I get tired of the one they call mom I give her a loud SHIT. I like to hear her scream!
~kat
(278 Characters)

By Deepa at Sync With Deep:
Free Bird
Me to my son : know what, to be free is like being a bird.. How I wish I were… 
I heard my pet parrot in the cage laugh the first time..

By Reena at ReInventions:
Loaded Silence
Let them hear their voices echo against the walls, on a chilled night. Let it induce terror in their cruel hearts, and freeze their dirty hands.
I have vowed to remain silent today. The robbers are in. I will play back the sounds tomorrow, when my people return.
(261 characters)

By Ramya at And Miles to Go Before I Sleep:
Diet Resolution
Few days before New Year :
I have become fat. I think I should go on a diet just like my humans. This will be my new year resolution.
After New Year:
My favourite snack!! Let me just take a bite.. Yummy!!
There is always a new year for resolution. Let me just eat now..
Character Count : 265

By Piyali at Piyali’s Blogs:
A New Companion
You’re experiencing Empty Nest Syndrome.
How’s that even possible? I’ve tried to keep myself busy after Dave left for college.
Have you thought about pets? They help in alleviating loneliness.
I am not an animal lover. Dogs and cats are too high-maintenance. 
How about a bird then? 
277 Characters

By Fandango at This, That, and the Other:
A Cracker, Dammit
I’m a pretty boy.
Squawk, squawk.
Polly wants a cracker.
Squawk, squawk.
Hello, hello.
Squawk, squawk.
Polly wants a cracker.
You’re a babe.
Squawk, squawk.
Hello, hello.
You’re a babe.
I’m a pretty boy.
Polly wants a cracker, dammit.
Not a goddam walnut.
Are you fucking stupid or something?
(279 characters)

By Di at Pensitivity101:
What the hell is this?
I am a parrot,  a blue and gold macaw actually, from South America no less.
I need nutritious food such as nuts and fruit, not this manufactured puffed up popcorn!
184 characters

By Michael at Morpethroad:
Polly wanted a cracker.
Polly was insistent she get that cracker there and then.
Her screeching was deafening.
Mum screamed at us the shut Polly up.
We found her a cracker, and she greedily ate.
Crumbs fell everywhere.
Polly got a cracker, and we got peace.
(249 Characters)

By Teresa at The Haunted Wordsmith:
What the Parrot Saw
“Speak, you crummy bird.” Sammy shook the bird viciously.
Tommy put his hand on Sammy’s shoulder. “Told ya, it ain’t one of them talkin’ birds.”
Sammy stared at Tommy and threw the bird out the open window.
Minutes later, police arrived. 
“That’s them officer,” the parrot squawked. 
This 280-character 

By Peter at Peter’s Pondering:
Polly dream
I’m sick of this cabbage and carrot diet. Look, it’s turning my tail feathers green!
Thank goodness it’s Christmas. 
Maybe I’ll get some plum pudding, and there’s bound to be some nuts and fruit going spare.
I’m hoping there may be stilton and port left over too.
Now we’re talking!
(279 characters)

By Anurag at Jagahdilmein:
Crushing the Revolution
I looked inside the cage and said, “Repeat after me, I will not try to flee again.”
But the insolent cad chewed on a nut silently, ignoring me completely.
“Open the cage,” I ordered the guard.
It was time to remind these pathetic humans not to mess with their owners.
266 characters.

By The Dark Netizen:
Parrot
Parrots can be trained well, this I knew.
My parrot though, was a genius. It learned to mimic the human voice in no time at all. Soon, it had learned to ask for crackers. It did not take long for it to start taking all the crackers for itself.
I guess it mimicked human greed too..
Character Count: 280

By Sadje at Keep It Alive:
Peter, bought a Macaw, beautiful yellow and blue. It was the envy of his friends. 
He wanted a singing bird but only got loud squawks instead. In desperation he took him to a bird trainer,expert in this art. 
The guy looked at Peter and shook his head sadly, sorry my friend, your Macaw has no talent in talking or singing. 
Word count: 280

By JP at the Wide-Eyed Wanderer:
Extortion
“It’s extortion you know,” Bill scowled at the blue Macaw, “those bloody nuts are expensive.”
The Macaw turned and eyed his owner, “Squawk … ‘What are you doing with that ax Bill? No Bill, NO! AHHHHHHH’ squawk”
Bill handed the bird another nut.
Character count: 245

By Kirst at Kirst Writes:
Repetition
This time it’ll work out. Sure, she’s my “usual type” – crazy, party girl – but she’s not like the rest. She’ll want to settle down, I’m sure.
Can’t wait for her to meet Dad. My new girlfriend! Poor Dad, never did find the right woman.
Funny how neither of us have had much luck.
(279 characters)

By Hélène at Willow Poetry:
Magic Cookies
My parrot, Edgar, doesn’t like his Christmas treat.
He looks at me, then at his little bowl.
What’s this? he asks me.
Christmas cookies, Edgar, a special treat.
Them no quackers! You think me a dog?
Edgar, I know you are a parrot just taste the cookies.
Cookies magic turn me into dog?
280 characters.

By Ponnz at The Swan Song:
Your Colours Aren’t Mine
Blue and yellow hues collide
Colourful palette to the eyes
I hear them say everyday
With me their selfies play
Mirroring them I wink back
How beautiful it feels!
I see myself, my feathers
I find nothing to praise
For it’s not the same eyes
I am sitting behind bars
Your colours aren’t mine

By John at Broadsides:
A parrot, a parrot, a parrot, this could become repetitive but parrots are repeaters, a parrot, a parrot, a parrot my kingdom for a horse.

By Dave at Dave M Madden:
Finding Success as a Parrot
Peacocking in an outfit far too colorful for the occasion, it was hard not to feel bad for the guy: an ugly duckling with a voice that squawked like a crow.
His popularity perched on an ability to repeat others.
He could fly with the flock as long as he wasn’t a dodo.
Character count: 278

By Willow at WillowDot21:
Trouble in Heaven
George the parrot was back. Michael and Azriel fed the errant bird.
Gabriel arrived, delighted to see his pet. “I wander where he has been” he asked. George looked him in the eye and said. “Gabe’s a twit Gabe’s a twit”Gabriel was furious.In the distance Satan cackled. God coughed.
(280 Characters)

By Ron at Read 4 Fun:
Hold the (Party) Line!
Let’s start the show. Come to order! It has come to our attention some of you are expressing independence in a message. Your only job is to parrot the party line. We give you the talking points, you repeat over and over. Are you Democrats? Can you hear me? Is this thing on?

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You all cracked me up with your twittering tales last week. Brilliant! What a great start to the new year! Thank you to everyone who participated! This week…yes it’s been a week…how is everyone doing with your new year’s resolution. Or maybe you don’t do resolutions. Too much pressure. It ain’t easy bein’ green, or for that matter downing that healthy Jamba Juice you promised yourself you would drink every day for a month because it takes a month for anything to become a habit. Read my green rimmed lips. Drinking kale juice will never become a habit for me. But enough about my failed attempts at being healthy! For your challenge this week a photo of a nice tall glass of healthy brew by Anasegota at Pixabay.com. Maybe you’re a fan of the stuff. If so, my apologies if I have offended you. To each their own! Remember, you have one week and 280 characters or less to tell your tale. See you at next week’s roundup!

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Norm loved his wife. He would do anything for his beloved Sadie.

When she asked for a VitaVeggieMatic, he thought, “Sure. Why not?”

Next day, he stared at the glass she served him. “It’s bubbling.”

“Just try it Norm,” Sadie pleaded.

When she looked away he fed the orchid.

It died.

~kat 😉

(279 Characters)