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Friday, February 15, 2013

Bedtime Story II



"And then Plastic Man stretched out his arm dozens of feet to snatch the child out of the path of the runaway bus!"

"That's a boring superhero, Uncle Phil."  

"But don't you see, Billy?   He could bounce himself like a ball, mold himself into any shape."

"Phooey!  Tell me a good bedtime story about Superman or Batman, not some lame nobody hero!!!"

"This is a good story. Plastic Man saves the city from Disastro, the Evil Accounting Major."

"NO! And I wanna glass of water too!"  

"Okay, Billy.  Coming right up."

"Good, because .... Wow, Uncle Phil, how'd you do that?!!!"

"Never you mind.  Y'see, Billy, Superman doesn't happen to be your uncle. Now do you want to hear the story or not?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 Picture prompt above, story below, and not too horribly off the prescribed 100 word limit at a precise count of 124.  The reason this post is called Bedtime Story II is to distinguish it from Bedtime Story, a piece about my futile attempts to roll my  teenage son back to age 6 and me along with him back to --- well, younger --- by reading him one last bedtime story.   

This is my weekly contribution to the Fabulous Friday Fictioneers and Plastic Man Fan Club for this Friday, February 15, 2013.  I could read you a story now, but you'd be better off bouncing on over to the other fictioneers' talented offerings by clicking the link above.

 Goodnight, everybody.  No, you can't have a drink of water!

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36 comments:

  1. AnonymousFebruary 15, 2013 at 8:09 AM

    LOLLL!! A resident superhero! Now he will pay attention!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Rochelle Wisoff-FieldsFebruary 15, 2013 at 8:17 AM

    Why do I imagine Uncle Phil being portrayed by Peter Falk? Guess it's all those times I've watched The Princess Bride.
    Fun take on the prompt Perry. Made me smile. Made me laugh. But I really need a glass of water.
    shalom,
    Rochelle

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Perry BlockFebruary 15, 2013 at 8:19 AM

      Well, you CAN'T have one! On to your tricks, I am.

      Delete
  3. Reading PleasureFebruary 15, 2013 at 12:04 PM

    What a delightful story. I was smiling while reading it. But did Billy really say "Holy Cow?"

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Perry BlockFebruary 15, 2013 at 12:39 PM

      He's too young to say "Holy Shit!" Do you have another suggestion?

      Delete
  4. janetFebruary 15, 2013 at 12:11 PM

    Perry, this tickled my funny bone, the long one on my superhero stretchy arm. :-) It's all fun, fun, fun 'til your daddy take the T-bird away. My dad told good bedtime stories, too.

    janet

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Perry BlockFebruary 15, 2013 at 12:40 PM

      Thanks, Janet! What superpowers did he use to get the drink of water?

      Delete
  5. Sandra CrookFebruary 15, 2013 at 1:01 PM

    Superhero indeed. Nice one Perry, I hope superhero realises he just got himself a job for life. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Perry BlockFebruary 16, 2013 at 4:38 AM

      I think he's starting to realize it was easier to battle Disastro the Evil Accounting Major than keep up with Billy!

      Delete
  6. RussellFebruary 15, 2013 at 1:54 PM

    Uncle Phil, I need to go to the bathroom. Can I borrow your cape and mask? I promise I won't get anything on them. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Perry BlockFebruary 16, 2013 at 4:43 AM

      You can borrow the mask, little Russell, I don't wear a cape.

      But I'm telling you right now it won't give you the power to stretch every part of your body. Not every part.

      I know. I've been trying since I was WAAAAAYYYYY younger than you!

      Delete
  7. k~February 15, 2013 at 2:28 PM

    Heheheh, that was a fun read! I love the superhero take on this.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Perry BlockFebruary 16, 2013 at 4:45 AM

      No need to thank me. That's what I do!

      Up, Up, and Away .... for another glass of water.

      Delete
  8. AnonymousFebruary 15, 2013 at 2:42 PM

    Thats really a very smart usage of the picture..!! Nice idea :)

    Would you read mine? short romantic story..
    http://yourstoryclub.com/short-stories-love/romance-short-story-tonight-you-are-mine/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Perry BlockFebruary 16, 2013 at 5:00 AM

      I'd like to read yours, but this isn't a link to a story based on the prompt. Can you try it again?

      Delete
  9. AnonymousFebruary 15, 2013 at 4:48 PM

    I thought it might be coming, and I loved the line when it hit!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Perry BlockFebruary 16, 2013 at 5:15 AM

      Did I hit you with my best shot? Now we've got George, Bobby Darin, AND Pat Benatar to work with ...

      Delete
  10. AnonymousFebruary 15, 2013 at 5:33 PM

    Now this is a sweet story I must say. Well done.

    ReplyDelete
  11. AnonymousFebruary 15, 2013 at 5:37 PM

    Oh that was great!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Perry BlockFebruary 16, 2013 at 5:28 AM

      I hope that will be an impression that will linger. Thanks!

      Delete
  12. AnonymousFebruary 15, 2013 at 7:42 PM

    You are my new super hero. this story is perfect. I love the ending, love it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Perry BlockFebruary 16, 2013 at 5:33 AM

      Well, it was about time you kicked that overrated bum Batman out!

      Delete
  13. AnonymousFebruary 15, 2013 at 8:53 PM

    These high profile superheroes hog all the limelight!
    Very clever, very unique and very funny.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Perry BlockFebruary 16, 2013 at 5:38 AM

      Yeah, you know what? Even Aquaman won't return my calls

      Delete
  14. billgncsFebruary 15, 2013 at 11:42 PM

    did he have an elastic grin ?

    ReplyDelete
  15. Perry BlockFebruary 16, 2013 at 5:41 AM

    That's really stretching it!

    ReplyDelete
  16. brudbergFebruary 17, 2013 at 5:14 AM

    Wonderful story. Yes that kid got his superhero. ;-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Perry BlockFebruary 17, 2013 at 5:40 AM

      Yeah, though I bet Plastic Man wanted to use his plastic self to bounce the kid to another planet!

      Delete
  17. EL ApplebyFebruary 17, 2013 at 5:30 AM

    Hi Perry
    This was great - I'd love it if my uncle was Plastic Man - a recyclable superhero - perfect!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Perry BlockFebruary 17, 2013 at 5:38 AM

      That's true. Every time Plastic Man saves the world he saves it two ways in one!

      Delete
  18. AnonymousFebruary 17, 2013 at 10:44 PM

    well done, but i couldn't help try trimming it down to 100.

    "Then Plastic Man stretched out his arm forty feet to snatch the child from the runaway bus!"

    "Boring superhero, Uncle Phil."

    "But don't you see, Billy? He could bounce like a ball or mold into any shape."

    "Phooey! Tell me a good bedtime story about Superman or Batman, not some lame nobody hero!!!"

    "This is a good story. Plastic Man saves the city from Disastro, the Evil Accounting Major."

    "NO! And I wanna glass of water!"

    "No problem."

    "Good, because .... Wow. How'd you do that?!!!"

    "Don’t worry about it. Now do you want to hear the story or not?"

    ReplyDelete
  19. Perry BlockFebruary 17, 2013 at 11:11 PM

    I like it a lot, but there's still one problem: it's not my voice.

    It may just be that my writing style is "verbose" to a certain degree. I can edit, clip words, remove clutter but in the end my certain mode of expression is not lean. For me the sentence "Superman doesn't happen to be your uncle" is key to the story. The same impact is created in the version above without it, but as I said, it just isn't in my voice any longer.

    But I appreciate your trying, because in some situations you will make the improvement that works for me. And sometimes, me being verbose, I just won't see it. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  20. nightlakeFebruary 18, 2013 at 5:40 AM

    this was fun. Superheros don't always have to be famous:) interesting read

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Perry BlockFebruary 18, 2013 at 7:09 AM

      Plastic Man actually does exist, a popular character in the 40's and 50's who I believe was resurrected in later years. My problem with being Plastic Man is I'd probably spend too much time concentrating on one part of my body and not enough time fighting bad guys.

      Good thing Uncle Phil doesn't feel that way!

      Delete