I’m going back to last October for this week’s challenge and making a bit of a change in what I asked you then.
The challenge was to: Make your protagonist a genius in one respect and a near simpleton in some other way.
Nearly everyone (me too) wrote about someone who was gifted in some respect, but had some other qualities that made them less than perfect neighbors. We’re going to turn that around this week as we develop a character.
I want you to focus on the average person who, for some reason (that you provide in your story), displays a moment of brilliance not expected from him/her.
This Week’s Challenge:
Use prose or poetry (fiction, nonfiction, or essay) to develop a character who is as normal as anyone might define that term and then... have that same character say or do something that is brilliant in response to some stimulus.
Ideas:
What’s normal? That’s for you to decide and define.
What’s brilliant? See question above.
What stimulus? See questions above.
Although I didn’t ask for it, this challenge lends itself well to an anthropomorphic character.
Watch Out For:
Your character should be average or normal. It’s on your shoulders to convince us of that.
Your character must do something that appears beyond his/her/its capability. Again, you have to convince us.
Recap:
This was a cool week for responses. I'll point out that these writers worked hard to make these submissions and it would be courteous of you to take a look at them.
Winter Feelings (Saturday GWE and Shedding Light Group) by Alison H.
SWE, 01/05/2013--In January, then--Poem by sarah leanne
New Year's Day poem (Saturday Writing Essentials: January 5th, 2013) by Angela A.
January Seventh (Saturday Writing Essential) by Len Maxwell
January satwe jan 5/13 by karen vaughan
Happy New Year! (Saturday Writing Essential): Take it Somewhere Else by Stacey (Jesus is coming soon-are you ready? ) U.
26 January 1788 - A Fibonacci Poem for Austrialia Day - SatWE, January by Irina Dimitric
Weekly reminder: Don't forget to recommend an article that you like (to learn why, read Ann Marcaida's article Attract More Writers and Artists to Gather!). Also, try to place a comment on at least one article and say more than you liked the piece. Tell the author what worked and what needs work.
The Rules:
- Put this challenge statement at the beginning or end of your submission so readers will know what you’re supposed to do.
Challenge: Use prose or poetry (fiction, nonfiction, or essay) to develop a character who is as normal as anyone might define that term and then... have that same character say or do something that is brilliant in response to some stimulus.
- There is a limit of three submissions from each member per day. If you’re extremely prolific, spread out your work and post only three submissions per day.
- Post to Gather Writing Essential.
- Tag your submission with SatWE.
- Include (Saturday Writing Essential) as part of your title.
- I ask that you make your submission(s) by next Friday afternoon.
Good Writing!
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Comments: 34
I will close my eyes, and if I don't fall asleep, I will be back with a short story.
Ok.
Beelzebub was an ordinary boy by most who saw him. A blond, average-sized, 5-year-old boy, who, oddly enough was obedient and not terribly talkative. Oh, he talked enough. Nothing wrong with him that anybody could ken, in spite of his odd name, apparently given to him by a wayward uncle, as a joke, thinking that if his sister's first born son was anything like her husband, that he must be a devil. But something ran amiss in the genetic department, because Beelzebub was no devil that anyone could see.
He was quite obedient,m although extremely average in looks, temperament and abilities, if he had any abilities, which some doubted, for he never showed much inclination. He did have one odd habit, of staying in his room for hours on end.
Beelzebub, come help me set the table.
OK, mommy.
Beelzebub, come help me dry dishes.
OK, mommy.
Beelzebub, did you make your bed?
Yes, mommy.
Beelzebub, what do you want to do today? It's Sunday.
I don't know. Help you?
Beelzebub, you're such a good little boy. Where did you come from?
I don't know, Mommy. The mailman?
That would be a much better guess than I could ever make. Certainly not....
By and by, winter came. It fell in spits and starts, rather than in flakes. The skies were gray and cold, and the larder was becoming bare.
Beelzebub, think we need to bring canned fruit from the pantry.
OK, mommy.
Beelzebub was in the pantry, bringing up the canned peaches, when he heard a thud. Beelzebub cocked his head, like a puppy. Hmm.
Beelzebub ran upstairs and saw his mother lying on the floor. Hmmm. Beelzebub made a mad dash for his room, dialing 911 on his mom's cell phone, in the meantime.
Beelzebub didn't lean down to see if his mother was breathing or if she seemed hurt.
Don't worry, Mommy, Beelzebub said.
Beelzebub dashed into his room and waited for the ambulance to come.
The siren cut through the gray wintry day, its shriek chilling the air.
Don't worry, Mommy
Beelzebub stayed in his room. He heard the ambulance approach the house. Don't worry, Mommy.
He heard the men talking.
Where is that little boy?
Who, the one who called?
Yes. Is he safe?
I don't see him anywhere, Fred.
What about his mother?
She's unconscious.
What happened?
Can't figger it out.
Pulse?
Weak, but..
Blood pressure?
Low, but...
Heart attack?
No. I can't find anything wrong with her.
I'm worried about the little boy,. I'm going to go round back and look for him.
Good idea, I'll stay with his mom. Bring the stretcher, We need to slant board her.
Got it.
Fireman 1 ran out back to look for Beelzebub.
Fireman 2 looked at his watch and reaized he had to call his wife. Mabel? Yeah. Mabel, I'm going to be late. Difficult rescue here, Oh, that's okay hon.
Fireman 2 looked around. OMG, Where did she go? He whipped his head around, She's missing.
Fireman 1 walked in the house, What the ?
Missing,
So's the boy,
What the?
Suddenly, Fireman 1 and 1 heard their ambulance start up.
What the?
They looked outside.
How in heck?
Beelzebub was sitting in the driver's seat, with his mother right next to him.
Fireman 1 looked at Fireman 2. What the?
Beelzebub called out. Hey suckers, I've been collecting bottle pop tops for three years and I made an escape chain out of them. I put shortening under them and the chain was a super slider. I ran out back and then around the house and whisked Mommy away faster than you could say,
OMG, Beelzebub.
You aren't so slow, after all.
Beelzebub laughed.
But hey, Beelzebub - give me back our ambulance. Your mom needs to go to the hospital,.
No, she doesn't, Beelzebub said. She's fine.
You're not a doctor, Beelzebub, Fireman 1 said.
No, but she's breathing good. It was a spell I put on her,. We need more food. I'm driving to the store,
Where did you learn to drive, Beelzebub?
Cartoons,
Thanks for taking the SatWE challenge in such a unique way.
if i have time and am not bone dead tomorrow - like i usually am, i will consider it.
right now, i don't even remember what i read.
i have esl billing and a newsletter to get out tomorrow. watch tv and work on my mss and read novels. and then edit a few articles. usually, i spend most of my day editing parenting and legal articles. pays the bills.
Featured in SatWE in the Triple Name Club.
Thank you for sharing and submitting to
The Surreal Circus.
That's a very interesting take on it, Greg. I'll probably steal that sometime in the future.
Featured on Surreal Circus
Thank you for the feature; writers love to see that.
Thank you for submitting to: Not Gathering Dust!
But in a coconut dropping on the head moment it occurred to Big Charlie that Tarzan was probably being paid peanuts. So over a banana smoothie - shaken but not stirred - the Godfather offered walnuts for Tarzan to come work for him. It was a flash of sheer genious which, alas, saw Big Charlie relegated to wearing the dunce's hat. For Tarzan was being paid coconuts by the gorillas.