The "55 Flash Fiction Alternate Endings Party Game"
A while back I started this "audience participation game" with 55 Flash Fiction Friday. Originally it was just a single 55 that I thought could be spun a bunch of different ways and I invited people to fill in the blanks. Then someone carpe-ed some diem and wrote one for a different story, so the game expanded. There aren't any real "rules", just take a story of your choosing (one of the ones below or a different one if you like) and write your own ending. Or beginning for that matter. Prequels, sequels, alternative realities, anything goes. the only guideline is that it must be in the form of a 55 Flash Fiction, meaning:
- It has to tell a whole story (even though it's an extension of an existing one, it has to stand on its own), and
- It must be exactly 55 words -- no more no less.
If you've got something to add, you can send me the text (and permission to use it of course) or post it on your own blog and just send me the link. People have done it both ways, I can work with either one (I'm good like that). Send your contributions to jbengel [at] brandenburg3 [dot] com and I'll put it together (with a link back to you of course!)
Whether you play along or not, tune in to G-Man's Thursdays at 8 Eastern/7 Central for the next installment of 55 Flash Fiction Friday.
Alternate Endings: "what was your name again?"
"You're the trifecta."
"I'm the what?"
"The trifecta. I dig smart chicks. I dig smart ass chicks. I dig smart chicks with great..."
"Don't."
"So, see? The trifecta."
"And I'm supposed to be flattered I suppose."
"Naturally."
Shaking her head, she turned back to the laundry basket in front of her.But she was smiling.
Graciously hosted by G-Man.Audience participation time!
Want to play along too? Write your own next chapter in exactly 55 words, link to the setup here, and send your link to me at jbengel [at] brandenburg3 [dot] com (since comment aren't available on static pages) so I can add it to the list (that will be) below (I promise!). Or, if you prefer, just send me the text of the story (and permission to use it of course) and I'll repost it here with a link to you in the title. I'm easy that way.
Whether you play along with me on this one or not, stop by G-Man's Thursdays at 8 Central for the next installment of 55 Flash Fiction Friday.
The Rest Of The Story According To:
Lisa at A Blogoddess' Tale actually picked up this older 55 in mid-sentence. So in order to make it "flow" I'm splicing the original together with her ending. (reprinted by permission):
"You're the trifecta."
"I'm the what?"
"The trifecta. I dig smart chicks. I dig smart ass chicks. I dig smart chicks with great..."
"Don't."
"So, see? The trifecta."
"And I'm supposed to be flattered I suppose."
"Naturally."
Shaking her head, she turned back to the laundry basket in front of her.
But she was smiling...
...satisfied that she had worn the faded cutoffs and snug tee... the perfect outfit to show off "the ass in her sass" and long, lean, sun-kissed legs. After 3 months of trawling, this "fish" had finally taken the bait, having the balls to say something. But he didn’t need to know any of this. Yet.
Alternate Endings: conversation for one iv (vespers)
vespers
Every night his dog sniffed the same fence-line, while he stared into the same sky, asking the same questions.
"Have you seen her? Is she okay?"
Every night, the same silence.
"Yeah. Thought so. Just take care of her, okay?"
One night, after months, his phone hummed to him.
"Hello?"
"Sorry, wrong number."
Click.
"Sad."
Graciously hosted by G-Man.
Audience participation time!Every night his dog sniffed the same fence-line, while he stared into the same sky, asking the same questions."Have you seen her? Is she okay?"
Every night, the same silence.
"Yeah. Thought so. Just take care of her, okay?"
One night, after months, his phone hummed to him.
"Hello?"
"Sorry, wrong number."
Click.
"Sad."
Graciously hosted by G-Man.Want to play along too? Write your own next chapter in exactly 55 words, link to the setup here, and send your link to me at jbengel [at] brandenburg3 [dot] com (since comment aren't available on static pages) so I can add it to the list (that will be) below (I promise!). Or, if you prefer, just send me the text of the story (and permission to use it of course) and I'll repost it here with a link to you in the title. I'm easy that way.
Whether you play along with me on this one or not, stop by G-Man's Thursdays at 8 Central for the next installment of 55 Flash Fiction Friday.
The Rest Of The Story According To:
Titanium emailed me this offering (reprinted by permission):
"Deus, in adiutorium meum intende.
Domine, ad adiuvandum me festina."
Looking through the stained glass window,
I saw watchful, soulful eyes through
The chain link fence
And chanted evening prayers
With a strength of purpose
Willing the dog to find his way
Past human-made containment
To the open stretch of sand
And a red Frisbee.
A new player, Leslie Moon sent in this spin on things (reprinted by permission):
The phone rang again.
Deep breath on the other end.
"Sorry it's me again. I saw her. I'm back from the edge of death. Before they sent me back a beautiful woman brushed my hand and whispered your name. Tell him I'm here. I'm waiting. I love him."
"Thanks" was all I could say
"Goodluck."
Alternate Endings: conversation for one ii (listen)
listen
Be with me.
But not with me.
Not where we breathe the same air.
Not where you can touch me.
Listen to me.
When I say nothing.
Or speak in riddles.
I know you understand.
Talk to me.
But don't say too much.
Don't say anything too meaningful.
And never ever say, "I love you".
Graciously hosted by G-Man.
Audience participation time!Be with me.But not with me.
Not where we breathe the same air.
Not where you can touch me.
Listen to me.
When I say nothing.
Or speak in riddles.
I know you understand.
Talk to me.
But don't say too much.
Don't say anything too meaningful.
And never ever say, "I love you".
Graciously hosted by G-Man.Want to play along too? Write your own next chapter in exactly 55 words, link to the setup here, and send your link to me at jbengel [at] brandenburg3 [dot] com (since comment aren't available on static pages) so I can add it to the list (that will be) below (I promise!). Or, if you prefer, just send me the text of the story (and permission to use it of course) and I'll repost it here with a link to you in the title. I'm easy that way.
Whether you play along with me on this one or not, stop by G-Man's Thursdays at 8 Central for the next installment of 55 Flash Fiction Friday.
The Rest Of The Story According To:
Titanium emailed me this offering (reprinted by permission):
"And for the love of all that is merciful, stop PEDALING me, goddammit!"
The beagle just sat there, paw in mid-peddle, astounded in a triangle-eared sort of way. Turning her head to the side, she took one more swipe at my silk blouse.
"That’s it. Get off the bed. Now."
Down comforter is off limits.
Patti of PattiKen and the Muses emailed this eloquently written possible response (reprinted by permission):
"Allow me to be with you
While I’m alone with my demons.
Know that I am loving you,
While I’m hating myself.
Be patient. Just wait for me,
While I’m figuring out what I’m waiting for.
Understand it was never about you.
It’s always been about me.
Wait! Where are you going?
You’re leaving me?
What? What’s that you say?
It was always about me?
Well... Of course it was.
Bye."
Alternate Endings: conversation for one - i
"The ones we love hurt us worst. Only they get close enough to do real damage. I know this -- it's why I don't fall in love.Until I do.
Then it turns to shit. And I fix that hole in the wall because dammit, nobody's getting in again.
Until they do.
Lather. Rinse. Repeat."
Graciously hosted by G-Man.Hope at The Road Less Traveled expanded the "rules" of this game, writing a beautiful ending for this story. Even though I hadn't originally intended to open up all of these for alternate endings, I like the idea and I love what she did with it. So if you're of a mind to expand on this setup, have at it. Write your own next chapter in exactly 55 words, link to the setup here, and send your link to me at jbengel [at] brandenburg3 [dot] com (since comment aren't available on static pages) so I can add it to the list (that will be) below (I promise!).
Whether you play along with me on this one or not, stop by G-Man's Thursdays at 8 Central for the next installment of 55 Flash Fiction Friday.
The Rest Of The Story According To:
Hope (Career Change Time?)
Alternate Endings: The 5:15
The platform was empty except for the two of them. He felt himself helpless in the swirling currents of her smoky eyes.
"Careful, you could drown."
They had so very much in common it seemed he'd known her his entire life.
Oddly, he never felt the impact of the train, only the shove.
"Call me"
Graciously hosted by G-Man.Audience participation time!
Things are not always as they seem. We hear that all the time. Some of you (you know who you are) immediately followed Occam's Razor and decided the smoky-eyed woman threw her would-be suitor under the train. Seems like a logical theory of the crime, but it's not the only possible theory. In short, you can't draw a straight line from A to B based on what's actually written here.
So how does this story really go? Did she do it? If so, why? If not, who did? And why? One of the fun things about 55 Flash Fiction is that there are no spectators, only participants. The writer can only say so much in 55 words. It's up to the reader to fill in the blanks. I thought it would be interesting to take that to the next stage of evolution. So based on the facts in evidence in the story above, what do you think actually happened on that platform? Take what you know for sure -- just as it's written -- and run with it. Write your own next chapter in exactly 55 words, link to the setup here, and send your link to me at jbengel [at] brandenburg3 [dot] com (since comment aren't available on static pages) so I can add it to the list (that will be) below (I promise!).
Whether you play along with me on this one or not, stop by G-Man's Thursdays at 8 Central for the next installment of 55 Flash Fiction Friday.
The Rest Of The Story According To:
Titanium (Taking no prisoners!)
Sandy Carlson (A series of unfortunate events.)
PattiKen (The Stuff of Nightmares!)
Chris at Enchanted Oak didn't create a post, but emailed me this offering (reprinted by permission):
She hurled her card at him through the door as his fee scrambled for purchase on the floor. The door snurrled shut and they were off. He bent to retrieve the card.
"Missing Persons," it declared.
"Missing Objects."
"Discretion."
Then the precious phone number. He took out his cell and keyed it in, choosing "Her."
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