Ergo, the Ogre

Author: Ergo, the Ogre

  • 3TC #MM108 | Hooker Ave.

    3TC #MM108 | Hooker Ave.

    Welcome to the daily Three Things Challenge.
    Use your imagination and creativity using one, two or all three words that may or may not be related. There are no restrictions regarding length, style, or genre, though please keep it family friendly.

    Tag your responses with 3TC, #threethingschallenge or TTC, and you can add Di’s logo if you wish.

    pink rose

    Your three words today are:
    DRY
    WISE
    TEPID

    The dry spell had lasted so long that Carly was beginning to wonder if she’d lost her touch. Then she’d caught a glimpse of her reflection in Wally’s Market storefront window and realized she was still as hot as ever.

    Whew! Thank God for that. Once my looks go, I’m toast.

    She knew that this business was fickle and sometimes it was feast or famine. Maybe it was time for her to find a different corner. Carly had been here on 111th & Hamilton for a good six months now. Perhaps a change of venue was in order; something a little more uptown.

    The next day, Carly took the day off to do some reconnaissance. She wandered a few blocks north, then a little to the east and the neighborhood suddenly blossomed! The pedestrians were better dressed; there were fewer seedy bars and strip clubs and more professional business storefronts. The sun even seemed to shine a little brighter on this street.

    She looked up at the sign and saw she was on 86th & Hooker Ave. Carly laughed aloud at the irony.

    Maybe it’s a sign from above!

    The best part was that this particular corner didn’t seem to be occupied, and it was still close enough to the apartment she rented exclusively for clientele.

    The following evening, Carly took some extra time with her hair and make-up before going out to work.

    Might as well have all the percentages on my side.

    It was a Friday evening, and her hopes were high. She viewed it as a new beginning. Life’s possibilities truly were endless!

    Carly stationed herself on the corner of 86th & Hooker and got into character. Men were already taking notice, a side glance here, smile and wink there. This is just what she needed!

    “Cassandra?” a familiar voice asked. “It can’t be. Is that you?”

    Caught off guard with no time to think, she turned around and gasped. “Mom!”

  • 3TC #MM107 | Growing a Pair

    3TC #MM107 | Growing a Pair

    Welcome to the daily Three Things Challenge.
    Use your imagination and creativity using one, two or all three words that may or may not be related. There are no restrictions regarding length, style, or genre, though please keep it family friendly.

    Tag your responses with 3TC, #threethingschallenge or TTC, and you can add Di’s logo if you wish.

    pink rose

    Your three words today are:
    DREDGE
    DEFER
    DETER

    It was time for Gwendolyn to grow some balls. Every time she deferred to her overbearing boyfriend — even the least significant thing — it set her teeth on edge. Feigning contrition dredged up painful memories of her father. He was a bully too, and it was all about control.

    And so, it was decided the next time a decision is made, Gwendolyn would stick to her guns and not defer. The very thought of it was exhilarating!

    “Yo, Gwenny!” Thomas was rowing their rowboat to the pier. “You about ready for lunch?”

    She hated when he called her Gwenny. “Yes, I’m starving. Let’s do Burger King.”

    Thomas frowned. “You know I don’t like Burger King. We’ll go to McDonald’s.”

    “And you know I hate McDonald’s.” Gwendolyn continued. “Why does it always have to be fast food? Let’s go to a restaurant for a change.”

    She felt a surge of danger and excitement. This was fun!

    “Gwenny!” Thomas was perplexed. “What’s gotten into you? What happened to my sweet, easygoing girl?”

    “She grew up.”

    “Well, I’m not sure I like this new ‘grown-up.’

    “Really?” Gwendolyn climbed out of the boat, careful not to rock it. “That’s too bad because I rather like her. And the name’s Gwendolyn, not that you’ll be using it.”

    With that, she turned and walked toward the parking lot, and into the future.

  • 3TC #MM94 | Chester & Grace

    3TC #MM94 | Chester & Grace

    Welcome to the daily Three Things Challenge.
    Use your imagination and creativity using one, two or all three words that may or may not be related. There are no restrictions regarding length, style, or genre, though please keep it family friendly.

    Tag your responses with 3TC, #threethingschallenge or TTC, and you can add Di’s logo if you wish.

    pink rose

    Your three words today are:
    PINCH
    BOUNCE
    ROLL

    Chester pinched some snuff and stuck it between his cheek and gum. He ordered another Rolling Rock from “Bonnie the Bouncing Bartender” — a most vivacious young woman — and kept the empty bottle to spit in.

    He’d just have to remember which was which and not spit into the fresh bottle. That usually happened later in the evening.

    Chester promised himself — and his sister, Sherri — to be extra careful tonight since Sherri fixed him up with a blind date, one of her best friends. He’d reminded himself again not to do anything stupid and checked his watch.

    Ought to be here in about fifteen minutes. ‘Nuf time for another chew.

    Chester packed his cheek again and stared at one of the bar’s several television sets. He didn’t care much for sports but, wanted to look normal. He went over in his mind everything Sherri told him about … what was her name … Grace. Yeah, Grace.

    She has long blonde hair, down to there. She works as a paralegal. No kids and two cats. And she has a good sense of humor — which is exactly what a woman needs if she’s going to date Chester.

    He happened to be watching the door when she strolled in and walked right up to him.

    “Are you Chester?”

    “Yes, ma’am!” He stood up and tipped his cowboy hat. “You must be Grace.”

    “I am!” She smiled and sat down on the bar stool next to him. “Whatcha drinkin’?” Grace picked up the wrong Rolling Rock bottle and before Chester could stop her, she took a swig and promptly spit the warm, thick goo all over the bar.

    “Oh, my GOD! What the…”

    “Grace, I am so sorry.” He handed her several napkins. “I knew I shoulda gotten rid of that mess before you got here.”

    She spit and spit into the napkins, rinsed her mouth out with the glass of water Chester got for her, and spit it lady-like into the trash.

    “Are you okay?” Chester asked.

    “Yeah.” Grace nodded. “So, I guess this means we’re engaged?”

  • Annie

    Annie

    Of all the rides, Melanie loved the carousel best. Her favorite horse was Annie. If someone was already riding her, she’d patiently wait for the ride to end rather than choose another horse.

    Annie was painted pastel pink and white with bright, smiling eyes. There was something in those eyes that indicated a soul, life. None of the other horses had that look of ‘something more.’ Maybe that’s what drew Melanie in.

    One day, Annie wasn’t there anymore. In fact, it was a completely different carousel. We left that day, and Melanie never mentioned Annie or the carousel ever again.

    Written for Friday Fictioneers, hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields.

    Photo art courtesy of Ted Strutz.

  • 3TC #MM92 | Ditched

    3TC #MM92 | Ditched

    Welcome to the daily Three Things Challenge.
    Use your imagination and creativity using one, two or all three words that may or may not be related. There are no restrictions regarding length, style, or genre, though please keep it family friendly.

    Tag your responses with 3TC, #threethingschallenge or TTC, and you can add Di’s logo if you wish.

    pink rose

    Your three words today are:
    TEETH
    TONGUE
    GUM

    Due to excessive inbreeding, Etta Lu’s gums failed to grow teeth and so there was, nothing to keep her tongue inside her mouth. As such, it cascaded over her nearly non-existent lips and dangled just below her chin.

    Her tongue was remarkably similar to that of a Saint Bernard’s — drool and all — which is how she ended up with the nickname, Bernie.

    When riding in a car, Etta Lu liked to hang her head out the window and enjoy the breeze as it ruffled through her thin strands of hair.

    One day at a stop light, a red pick-up truck with a Saint Bernard riding in the back pulled up next to the vehicle Etta Lu’s was riding in. The dog and Etta Lu locked eyes and Etta Lu found herself unable to assert any self-control, whatsoever. She sloppily licked her skinny lips and leapt out of the car window, into the bed of the pick-up. Her father who was also the driver, was too busy counting cars to notice his daughter’s absence.

    The dog, whose name was James, was repulsed and frightened. Clearly, he’d never seen anything quite like the being that had bounced in next to him. Just as the light turned green James made a break for it. He was out of the pick-up and across three lanes of traffic before Etta Lu could introduce herself.

    She stared after James with tears in her crossed eyes. She didn’t even care that she was in the back of a stranger’s pick-up.

    Nothing mattered anymore.