vignettes

[marycatelli]

This week's prompt is:
chop

Anyone can join, with a 50-word creative fiction vignette in the comments. Your vignette does not have to include the prompt term.

Comments

[jbellinger]

“You come too late. The chop is finish.”

“I’m sorry. We took the wrong path at the creek,” Reginald said. “Is there nothing to eat?”

“Chew kola, or suck on rice. Not that, missy! Raw plantain give you the runs.”

“Everything else does too,” grumbled Matilda. “Give me a kola.”

[marycatelli]

timing is everything

[jbellinger]

FWIW, that's a fairly accurate reproduction of the creole; I'm not making fun. The average speaker probably is fluent in several languages.

[marycatelli]

Accuracy is also important.

[jbellinger]

He couldn’t reach the tether. The branch was too thick to cut at one stroke. They’d fill him with arrows before a second swing.
They might even if he succeeded, before the wind carried their craft away.
Too thick—but he had no choice. He lifted his axe and prayed.

[marycatelli]

sometimes you have to choose. . .

[marycatelli]

"Being cheated with a price is not worse than having our heads chopped off," said Angela. "But there are no doubt many uses for money."
"They also assure us that there is much treasure inside," said Tristan. "Even if not enough to lure them back."
"They manage without the money."

[marycatelli]

"What on earth were you gabbling about? You should have chopped off any other topic. The first consideration is that she has gifts that will help her find her footing here, because they will help us all survive, or thrive." She glanced at me. "What class did they give you?"

[marycatelli]

There was always the danger if you could not dissimulate, and hide your knowledge, that you might betray something to Maximiana, and that would end with your husband's head being chopped off, and then your own, and perhaps even your children's, or your brothers'.
Such was the exalted life here.

[marycatelli]

In the garden, men were chopping the stalks of flowers gone to seed.
A cleared throat made Ava start, and look to the doorway, where Julian stood.
"You watch the garden with great attention."
She felt her face heat. "You -- we -- I didn't see the garden that morning."