Idol Mini-Season 2024
Prompt 14: “A genius is the one most like himself"
Due Date: November 7
Words: 1,674

WEE EDWARD IN AMERICA

“The best thing is to be a genius,” thought Wee Edward Campbell, lately of Ullapool, Scotland.  While he was smart, he knew he wasn’t that smart.  “Second best is to have one in your pocket.”

Unfortunately, Airport ( Read more... )

Idol Mini-Season 2024
Prompt 13: Omakase
Due Date: October 28, 2024 at 4:00 pm

Omakase:  "I leave it up to you."
                   A meal consisting of dishes selected by the chef.

AN ACADEMIC LIFE

The bottom fell out of John Wilson’s stomach and he almost tripped over it on his way to Prof. Schmidt’s office, who had summoned him for some ( Read more... )

Idol Mini-Season 2024
Prompt 12: “From the wreckage”
Due Date: Thursday, October 17, 2024
Political Satire

THE TRUTH ABOUT FEMA BABIES

“A North Carolina man was arrested on Saturday and accused of threatening federal emergency responders who have been administering aid since Hurricane Helene ravaged parts of the state last month ( Read more... )

Idol Mini-Season 2024
Prompt 11: Haver
October 3, 2024

Haver:
Scottish slang: foolish talk
Hebrew: friend; comrade; companion.

HARRY AND ANNABELLEIt was a cold, grim day, with a biting wind out of the East.  Fog shrouded the little cemetery where Harris Stewart cast a handful of dirt onto the casket of his friend, Bryce Robertson.  He was the ( Read more... )

Idol Mini-Season 2024
Prompt 10: "synesthesia"
Due Date: Sunday, September 22, 2024

THE MUSIC OF THE GNOMES

For Dave Eggar, owner of Eggar’s Pest Control, the extermination of pests brought in the money, but really it was all about helping people, like those with  unwanted garden gnomes.

He enjoyed catching the gnomes and hauling them to the gnome ( Read more... )

Idol Mini-Season 2024
Prompt 9: "It Ain't Bragging If It's True"
September 12, 2024

THE PIRATE OF MITThe Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a beautiful campus bustling with bright students. It crackles with youthful mental energy. But all of this was lost on John Silver as he walked across it. He was busy contemplating his latest humiliation ( Read more... )

Idol Mini-Season 2024
Prompt 7: hikikomori
August 26, 2024

“Hikikomori” is a Japanese word meaning total withdrawal from society and seeking extreme degrees of social isolation and confinement.  From Wikipedia.

EGGAR’S PEST CONTROL

“I love the busy season,” thought Dave Eggar, owner of Eggar’s Pest Control, while driving to the home of Ron and Sally ( Read more... )

Idol Mini-Season 2024
Prompt 6: The path is made by walking
August 17, 2024

REVIVAL“One more step,” Ray Hamilton, professional searcher, thought, “just one more step.  One more goddamn step ( Read more... )

Idol Mini-Season 2024
Prompt 5: Oubaitori
August 8, 2024

THE LAST MAGIC STOREThe last magic store had finally closed, and only a sad few had mourned its passing ( Read more... )

Idol Mini-Season 2024
Prompt 4: Uncanny Valley
July 31, 2024

“Uncanny valley” - “The uncanny valley is a common unsettling feeling people experience when androids or humanoid robots and audio/visual simulations closely resemble humans in many respects but aren't quite convincingly realistic.” 
TechTarget at https://www.techtarget.com/whatis/ ( Read more... )