Thursday, June 7, 2012

Where the Rubber Meets the Road

I can really relate to this week’s photo prompt from Madison Woods   http://madisonwoods.wordpress.com/  As I’ve gotten older, I’ve also become wider. (That’s right WIDER, not wiser) Some have even accused me of being full of hot air. The joke around my house is that my wife, Connie, could write “Goodyear” on my sides and rent me out to fly over sporting events and private parties. So far, I’ve not been able to overcome gravity, but I’ve got high hopes! 
Where the Rubber Meets the Road
When I was a young rubber tree, springing up on a plantation in Indonesia, I often fantasied of becoming a blimp. Not just any blimp, a genuine, bona fide Goodyear blimp.
I could imagine my milky latex sap being refined into a glorious covering for the world’s finest airship.
I would be the star attraction at the coronation of kings, the Indianapolis 500, the Super Bowl, and of course, the annual Walmart Shareholder’s meeting.
But the hands of fate are often cruel. So here I lie, used, abused, and thrown on the trash heap of life—just a soiled prophylactic.
 

27 comments:

  1. aww sad....

    http://writersclubkl.wordpress.com/2012/06/08/friday-fictioneer-spread-your-wings-and-fly/

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  2. Deara Russell,

    You're a cruel taskmaster for you little bit 'o' rubber. Your play on words is about three levels deep and I'm smiling once again as I dig deeper into the rubbish heap looking for more. I enjoyed your prologue to this weeks story almost as much as the story itself.

    Aloha,

    Doug

    http://ironwoodwind.wordpress.com/2012/06/08/joining-a-murmuration-or-bud-cowarts-view/

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  3. Russel, you have a way of seeing things, so different from others, and then it sort of skews my world as I absorb your writing. Nicely don, once again.

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  4. A unique and interesting take on the prompt. Mine is here: http://readinpleasure.wordpress.com/2012/06/08/fridayfictioneers-emily/

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  5. I loved this - very unique and very fun. Very well done!

    Here's mine, if you have an interest: http://theforgottenwife.com/2012/06/07/friday-fictioneers-6812/

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  6. Hysterical once again. And imaginative to the utmost. I mean, imagine being a rubber tree imagining to becoming the Goodyear Blimp! That's amazing, darn it. And good.
    Yours as ever,
    Laura, Lindaura at
    http://fictionvictimtoo.blogspot.com

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  7. Hot Damn... This is a good one!

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  8. This, Russell, is probably the funniest and cleverest Friday Fictioneer story I have ever read — though I'm not sure being an effective prophylactic isn't a more noble purpose than celebrating a Walmart shareholders meeting.

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    1. I'd have to agree with you there, Carlos. I threw that line in for those of us who live in NW Arkansas and have to put up with the chaos and madness of the annual Walmart pep-rally. I've stood in my yard, waving at the blimp, begging for a ride, but they just won't stop and pick me up :(

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  9. Oops, mine is at: http://repuestodelatabla.wordpress.com/2012/06/07/friday-fictioneer-100-word-story-airship/

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  10. Man that was awesome. The best story ever. I'm sharing this on Facebook. I gut laughed and clapped my hands. Poor little tree.

    http://remakingme-atiyatownes.blogspot.com/2012/06/friday-fictioneer-jump.html

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    1. That's sweet. I'm glad you enjoyed it. It was a lot of fun and I hope your Facebook friends get a kick out of it too.

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  11. ...the... the longer I looked at it the better it got. Oh my god this might be my favorite one. hahaha. http://kaitlinandmichaelbranch.com/2012/06/08/friday-fictioneers-6/

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  12. Oops there goes another rubber tree plant! You might have called this "High Hopes" and gotten yet another level of entendre (certainly more than double). Like Carlos, I enjoyed the inclusion of the Walmart shareholders' meeting on a par with those noble sporting events where we usually see the Goodyear blimp. Very funny, indeed. Some have found mine "funny" ... but I don't think so. You can read it at http://scottcheck.blogspot.com/2012/06/heist.html

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  13. Aww, poor rubber. I liked the title, the prologue and the story itself. I enjoyed the idea of a rubber tree with dreams.
    Might be a British thing, but I think "fantasis(z)ed" not "fantasied?"
    I'm over here:
    http://elmowrites.wordpress.com/2012/06/08/friday-fiction-blimps-and-balloons/

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  14. Big dreams gone flat....As usual, your work made me chuckle. Poor rubber never had a chance.

    http://erinleary.wordpress.com/2012/06/07/flash-friday-fiction-4/

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  15. HAHAHA! I did NOT see that coming...



    Kathy
    http://notforallmarkets.wordpress.com/2012/06/08/on-the-bright-side/

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  16. OMG! Well, all I can say to that is... isn't it better to be a soiled rubber than an unused or worse yet, used but unsoiled one?? Very funny as usual, Russell. I can see you had an easier time with this one. Still chuckling.

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    1. Your right, Madison. It's fate could have been worse. We all hope to serve a useful purpose in this life.

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  17. Ouch! That must hurt. I'm glad this isn't a person's account.

    Mine can be found at http://logo-ligi.com/2012/06/08/radiant-flight/

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  18. Russell: I hate this word..but going to use it anyhow...AWESOME !!! Chuckle time once again. Enjoyed both prologue and witty story. I envy your wife. To be married to such a delightfully, daffy person with your unusual take on life (& prompts) ... must be such fun. Those last four words? Honestly...did not see them coming. LOL. Here's mine:
    www.triplemoonstar.blogspot.com

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  19. That was funny and sad at the same time. And very interesting. I liked your idea of the rubber tree. Mine's here: http://marilynkaydennis.wordpress.com/2012/06/07/madison-woods-friday-fictioneers-panther

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  20. Laughing so hard I can hardly type. Great out-side-the-box imagination. I love the POV from a rubber tree--who'd a thunk it?
    One of my favorites this week. Good job!

    Thanks for commenting on mine.

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  21. This was amazing and made me smile! Wow, what a great POV! Great job! A favorite!

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  22. How funny! I really enjoyed this one, Russell. Thanks for the giggle.
    www.rochelle-wisoff.blogspot.com/2012/06/wings.html

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  23. What a brilliant ending to the story of one rubber tree's dream of the big time - to end up simply preventing the creation of another life instead - very amusing and made me smile :-)

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  24. Well, it's better than being uprooted by an ant, I guess. High hopes.
    Mine's here: http://stonesoupnovelist.com/2012/06/08/a-scene-over-the-cloud-sea/

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