Murder on the menu

Trifecta: Week Sixty-Six

On to the weekly challenge.

DOCTOR (noun)

1

a : an eminent theologian declared a sound expounder of doctrine by the Roman Catholic Church —called also doctor of the church

 

b : a learned or authoritative teacher

 

c : a person who has earned one of the highest academic degrees (as a PhD) conferred by a university

 

d : a person awarded an honorary doctorate (as an LLD or Litt D) by a college or university

2

a : a person skilled or specializing in healing arts; especially :one (as a physician, dentist, or veterinarian) who holds an advanced degree and is licensed to practice

 

b : medicine man

3

a : material added (as to food) to produce a desired effect

 

b : a blade (as of metal) for spreading a coating or scraping a surface

Please remember:

• Your response must be between 33 and 333 words.

• You must use the 3rd definition of the given word in your post.

• The word itself needs to be included in your response.

• You may not use a variation of the word; it needs to be exactly as stated above. 

• Only one entry per writer.
• Trifecta is open to everyone.  Please join us.

 

This week’s challenge is community-judged.

http://i1132.photobucket.com/albums/m573/SeekingBlog/Picture11-1.png

 

This challenge was fun to doctor & I hope you will like it.Here is my submission.

 

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Murder on the menu

 

 

The palatial house enthralled the guests.

           

The raven haired hostess looked resplendent in her black & white silk gown.Her almond eyes were limpid pools of molten honey.Her skin?Cream & peaches.When she smiled,her rose bud lips looked dipped in dew.

 

Allan could not take his eyes off her & started to move towards her.Just then he saw that blackguard Chris,reach out & take her hand.He burnt with rage.

 

“You wait,you mongrel!Tonight is going to be your last night.She has promised to be mine & nothing can stop me now,”he thought.As he patted the sachet of powder  in his breast pocket, Allan’s eyes gleamed.

 

Chris bent to take her lily white hand & smiled  into her eyes.She is such an angel.She had looked so  vulnerable when she had told  him how that nincompoop ,Allan, had been troubling her.

 

 “I am going to ask her to marry me as soon as I remove that scoundrel Allan, from her life. Tonight I am going to put an end to his pestering ways,”he told himself.He was going to doctor Allan’s drink,when they sat down  to dinner.He smiled happily at the thought.

.

 

She had been watching them surreptitiously,favouring first one then the other with a smile here,a look there.Keep them guessing she thought,smiling inwardly.She had played her cards well. She was enjoying playing them against each other.

 

Each thought that she was besotted with him-ha!

 

Men!Such fools!

 

The chase was fun but once they fell under her spell,she lost interest.

 

Money?She had accumulated enough over the last six years from her three ex

husbands–all three sleeping peacefully forever-well,not peacefully maybe ,she smirked. She had the sense not only to doctor their meals & medicines,but also the documents ,such that everything came to her after their demise.

 

This time around,she was doing it for the sheer fun of it.Her eyes sparkled at the thought of the scandal ,the news that all this would make.A double murder for the entrée-yum!She could hardly wait for dinner to start.

 

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The Need

Trifextra: Week Fifty-Six

This weekend Trifecta has thrown an amazing challenge,which had the wheels of our brain spinning.Read for yourself & see what they have to say about this unique challenge.

 

This weekend we are playing another type of word game with you.  Below are photos from the 33rd page of one of our very favorite books, Elizabeth Strout’s Olive Kitteridge.  What we want you to do is to scour the page (click to enlarge), choose 33 words, and reshape those words into a piece of your own.  Your piece does not have to tell an entire story.  We just want to see what you can do with this particular word bank.  Punctuation is up to you.  Use whatever you need, whether or not it appears in the photos.

Here is what I came up with:-)

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The Need

How long before the woman discovered his hidden need?

Kevin could not abide the thought of her,gone.

He touched her.

A comforting quiescence wrapped his mind.

To have a child-that’s all he wanted.

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A matter of routine

Trifecta: Week Sixty-Five

After letting us have some fun with Hyperbole ,this week Trifecta has decided to let us exhaust ourselves;-)

 

this week’s one-word prompt:

EXHAUST (transitive verb)
1a : to consume entirely : use up <exhausted our funds in a week>
  b : to tire extremely or completely <exhausted by overwork>
  c : to deprive of a valuable quality or constituent <exhaust a photographic developer>
2a : to draw off or let out completely
  b : to empty by drawing off the contents; specifically : to create a vacuum in
3a : to consider or discuss (a subject) thoroughly or completely  

  b : to try out the whole number of <exhausted all the possibilities>

Please remember:

• Your response must be between 33 and 333 words.

• You must use the 3rd definition of the given word in your post.

• The word itself needs to be included in your response.

• You may not use a variation of the word; it needs to be exactly as stated above. 

• Only one entry per writer.
• Trifecta is open to everyone.  Please join us.                  

 

So,after spending some time trying to exhaust all ideas,I fell back on my exhausted brain to churn up something & here is what it  produced  😛

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A matter of  routine

 

Everything was spick & span-just as Paul liked & expected.Stella looked at herself in the mirror & smiled.Her new hairstyle suited her .Her heart fluttered-in a mix of anticipation,fear & hope.

 

She trembled thinking of what may happen if she failed.Bracing herself ,she shook her head,as if that would clear the cobwebs of panic that tried to cling to her  fragile self confidence.But,she told herself,she would not let these thoughts exhaust her.This time she was ready.

 

She heard a taxi stop & then the door opened.It was time for it to all begin-or end..

 

“What the hell is going on here?I leave for two days & you go get yourself  made up to look like a harlot?” Paul hurled abuses at her & Stella could see his fists curling up.She knew what was coming & cringed.

Within minutes,she felt his fist smashing into her face & blood poured out of her nose.She fell to the floor,The sight of blood delighted Paul & he rained a few more punches & kicks on her prone form.Stella did not utter a word.

 

She heard him pouring a drink & switching on the TV.She slowly dragged herself to her feet & stumbled to the bathroom.After cleaning herslf up,she went to  check  on the dinner & started setting the table.

 

She heard him get up & run the bath.She held her breath.Soon,the door closed & she could hear him humming-everything was always a routine for him-any discrepancy with his orderly world meant punishment for Stella.

 

An hour later she was on the phone calling up the Police.Her husband was not opening the bathroom door & neither answering her,she  sobbed.

 

The Police broke open the door-to find her husband,lying dead on the floor.His drink had spilled on to the floor & the almost empty bottle of whisky stood nearby.It seemed that  in his drunken stupor he had failed to realize that the Geyser had a leakage &  he had died of electric shock.

Poor Paul….

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Estranged

Trifextra: Week Fifty-Five

For this weekend’s challenge Trifecta asked us to include some hyperbole in our piece.  It doesn’t have to be the whole piece, but it needs to be in there, and they are looking for 33 words, as usual.

 

And moron that I am,I thought it’s going to be a cake walk.After penning my disappointing nth piece,I just fell down in an exhausted heap.Been picking up all the pieces for the last century & here I am,with my submission(hope Trifecta is still going strong) 😛

 

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ESTRANGED

 

Betrayal made her die a hundred deaths,

She ripped his heart to shreds

Trust lay bleeding,love gone cold,

Broken promises,truths untold.

Tears flowed to put Niagara to shame

Estranged,yet playing the blame game.

 

 

Cupid’s angst

Trifecta: Week Sixty-Four

 

This week,Trifecta asked us to respond to the following word prompt –

DWELL

1

: to remain for a time

2

a : to live as a resident

 

b : exist, lie

3

a : to keep the attention directed —used with on or upon<tried not to dwell on my fears>

 

b : to speak or write insistently —used with on or upon<reporters dwelling on the recent scandal>

 

Please remember:

• Your response must be between 33 and 333 words.

• You must use the 3rd definition of the given word in your post.

• The word itself needs to be included in your response.

• You may not use a variation of the word; it needs to be exactly as stated above. 

• Only one entry per writer.
• Trifecta is open to everyone.  Please join us.

http://www.trifectawritingchallenge.com/

 

And Boy,did I dwell on it-phew,don’t even ask!Well,for what it is worth,here is what I came up with-hope its not too bad:-)

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Cupid’s angst

 

 “Why so sad, Honey?”asked Psyche.

 

“I think, I have lost my touch,” replied Cupid, glumly.

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“My arrows are failing to wound & inflame hearts …” Cupid trailed off.

 

 

“You are the God of love-no one is immune to your spell,” said Psyche, reassuring her husband.

 

“You think I am making it up?” retorted Cupid, a little irritated.

 

“No, I think it must be some glitch. Just relax,” said Psyche soothingly.

 

“I don’t want to dwell on it but ..,” said Cupid, looking forlorn.

 

Psyche noted the wan look, the drooping shoulders, the missing twinkle in his eyes-where was the fun loving & mischievous Cupid? She had to do something.

 

Aloud she said,” Just give me a day, I will find a solution.”

 

This reeked of foul play & she had her suspicions.

 

She had to find out.

 

Apollo started when he saw her & said a little too warmly (who did not know of the animosity between the two households?),”Welcome to my humble home Psyche. What brings you here so early in the day?”

 

“Cut the niceties Apollo. What mischief have you been making in Cupid’s workshop? His arrows are ineffective.”

 

Psyche saw a flicker of a smug smile appear & disappear in a flash.

 

So ,she thought,it IS him.

 

Apollo said,”Now, now, .why should I even think of doing such a thing? You are letting your imagination run away with you Psyche.”

 

“Really? So tell me what this is doing here Apollo,” said Psyche, moving to pick up the tell tale trademark feather from Apollo’s robes.

 

Apollo looked trapped. He had in fact spent most of the night in Cupid’s armory sabotaging the arrows.Oh, darn that feather!!

 

Psyche said, “If you do not set things right by today evening, I shall have to take this matter to Zeus & the council of Gods. Am sure you do not want that.”

 

Apollo’s mumbled apology told Psyche that her words had hit home.

 

She smiled.

 

 

 

                                                            —————X—————–

Eat,pray,love

Trifextra: Week Fifty-Four

 

This weekend Trifecta has thrown us a curved ball-its not a writing challenge but a reading challenge.We have been  asked  to scour through our favorite pieces of literature and give them  the best 33 words we can find.

Some quick guidelines:

• The writing you choose should not be your own.
• The 33 words should be lifted directly from another source (i.e. don’t take 33 random words from Macbeth and shake them into a poem of your own (though that would be an awesome idea for another challenge) and don’t take a sentence from the beginning of a book and another from the end–keep the original order).
• Credit your sources.
• You can’t use the same 33 words as anyone else in the linkz. Skim through before posting your own.  You can use the same author and even the same title, just not the exact same words.

This weekend is judged by the community.

 

Easy you say?I say,no!It’s like looking for a needle in a heap of needles & choosing the one that appeals to you.Having read many books, & having a lot of favourites in different genres,this was definitely tough.Fortunately,the last book I read had me in its grips from the first page & I loved it so much that it stuck in my mind-so here goes,my chosen 33 .

 

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http://www.atomicpopcorn.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/cover.jpg

 

 

“You make some big grandiose decision about what you need to do, or who you need to be, and then circumstances arise that immediately reveal to you how little you understood about yourself.” 

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So much for Clairvoyance

Trifecta: Week Sixty-Three

 

This week’s word is:

PATH
1: a trodden way
2: a track specially constructed for a particular use
3a : course, route
  b : a way of life, conduct, or thought

 

Please remember:

• Your response must be between 33 and 333 words.

• You must use the 3rd definition of the given word in your post.

• The word itself needs to be included in your response.

• You may not use a variation of the word; it needs to be exactly as stated above. 

• Only one entry per writer.
• Trifecta is open to everyone.  Please join us.

 

This week’s challenge is community-judged.

 

 

This one was not easy at all but then could not give up without trying,could I?So here is my fictional piece:-)

 

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So much for Clairvoyance

 

  

Samantha looked at the house carefully. The house looked cheerful enough with its blue green shutters on the windows & red tiled roof. A little quaint maybe, but nothing that seemed out of place.

 

Still, she felt uneasy, especially when she remembered how she had met no one-no one at all, while treading her path towards this place. 

 

At 30, she had had more than her share of adventures. She was with the Homicide department, working as special agent .Her Masters in Criminal Psychology was only a cover –her real talent was clairvoyance.

 

She rang the bell.

 

A young woman opened the door, “Detective Samantha Jones. I am here to investigate the death of the twins.”

 

“Please come in. I am their aunt, Melinda”

 

“I would like to meet everyone.”

 

“Yes,of course.”

 

 

Two days back, the 3 year old twins had been found in the nursery, with their throats slit.

 

Samantha despised killers & child killers were the worst of the lot.

After a while Melinda returned, followed by a wan looking Susie, the mother of the murdered twins, her husband Dave, his cousin Jenny, a close friend Mark & his girlfriend Connie.

 

Angie, the housekeeper, set a tea tray in front of her. 

As Samantha was introduced, she shook hands .Images flooded her mind & she saw things she wished she would never have to see again.

 

“Beasts! Won’t let you get away this time!” she thought.

 

Funny, Samantha thought a little later, the tea has made me drowsy.

 

 

“Is she unconscious?” she asked

 

“She is dead, stupid! Her tea was poisoned,” he said

 

“We could not have her catching us!” affirmed another.

 

“But, what will we do with the body?” she wailed.

 

“Shut up woman! No one need ever know she was here,” growled the man.

 

“Yes, good thing she did not come by car & that we were ready.” she added, smiling.

 

“Go, get that vat of acid out in the backyard, we need to start working immediately,” he commanded.

 

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Bitch speak

Trifextra: Week Fifty-Three

Weekend is here again &  for the weekend prompt Trifecta  asked for exactly 33 words of dialogue.

Am so at sea with dialogues but well,nothing ventured,nothing gained.So here is my attempt.

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Bitch Speak

 Looking  radiant, Emily! (Trollop!)

Aww,Dora ,you are  sweet.( Bitch!)

Really,you look 25.(40 & fat!)

Look who’s talking!(Old hag)

Have to rush Dahling,catch you later. (Hussy!)

Sure Hun! (Bimbo!)

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What an amazing piece-had to share:-)Read & judge for yourself

My Word Your ear.com

She couldn’t make out the features of the man. He was a blurred, black figure, looming in the air above her like the shadow of death. She tried hard to see through the fuzzy windows that were her eyes but there was not enough light. Like a Black Hole all light was trapped within him and only as much light seeped through his edges that she could visualize the frame of his tall, lanky body but not his face-no!

She was aware of the cool ground beneath her. Her palms itched as grains of sand rubbed against them, wet and stinging. It couldn’t be sweat! There wasn’t a trickle on her face and her mouth was as dry as the desert. Before long she became aware of the viscous wetness that could only be her blood! It was her blood that stung like venom through the cuts in her hands! But why didn’t it hurt? Why was…

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