Writing Prompt
Writings
Hate The Player And The Game
Like candy land, or snakes and ladders, boy meets girlâs rules are quite simple, and easily learned through playing a round or two
Like chess, opening moves are very important and strongly impact the rest of the game. The French defense, the two knights, the common friend the I saw you from across the room.
Like the first few rounds of poker, the first rounds of boy meets girl is learning about your opponent, their behaviors, tells, likes and hobbies.
If poker goes well it will likely begin to look a lot like twister, loosey goosey rules, and unavoidable physical contact.
Likely this will lead into game play much like Uno, fun when you started but getting boring. Maybe choosing the game was more fun, maybe you just thought the box was hot, and convinced yourself the game was fun. Maybe your done playing games and just wanna watch a movie instead. So you pack everything up, the cards, the dice, the chips, the board, the pencils, and the score sheet and put it back in its spot. Itâll be nice to have a break from playing that game. Of course until a week goes by, then it will seem as exciting as ever.
The Game of Fortnite
My hands were clutching my controller tightly as I proceeded through the game thinking about the chances of me winning which I knew myself were very slim. On my screen as I traversed across the area looking for anyone to kill so it would make my chances higher in winning this game. If I could just possibly win a grand prize that would change me completely and would help my parents and I a ton. This match means a lot to me. I keep pushing through the baren land to find anyone but there were basically no players anywhere. Maybe it could just be the fact that I am in the middle of nowhere.
The storm keeps on closing in getting ever so closely every second. I kept on running for my life hoping I could find someone or atleast a place where I can camp and kill players while they are not looking. If any of these can happen it means that I can basically get very close to winning. As I slowly traverse through the lush, green forest I spot a player running around so I quickly chase after him with my shotgun and when he wasnât paying attention, I jump over him spam him to death. But my hands were still shaking, it was top 10 already.
The zone had shrunk massively so any player can be anywhere. I looked around for a tall structure where I can stay and shoot people from above until I accidentely backed up into one. I slowly climb up and as I did I saw on my screen that many players were getting killed rapidly like flies until there were two other players left. My heart beat was rising as if I had done an intense workout. I started flinching and over reacting when I hear sounds of just the surroundings in the game. My plan now was to wait till the other two players start to fight and when they both are low I can just pop out and third party them.
But soon enough the two other players started fighting so of coarse I pulled out my sniper and was ready to kill them until they both stop and notice me so for some reason they both unknowingly go straight for me! I was absolutely scared out of skin. Without straight thinking I hid behind an object and as I waited I could hear the footsteps of both the players. As the first player came up, he had no clue where I am. So, I pulled a quick snipe at his head and he was dead. This also made perfect timing, because as I killed the player the other one comes in thinking that I am dead. As he was picking up the loot, I jump out from behind the barrels and laid a shot with my shotgun straight at him which suprisingly killed him.
I was kind of suprised at that because I thought he would have been fully healed and prepared but apparentely he didnât heal up after facing the other player before. But still I won, and now I can successfully enjoy and share the money with my family. My parents, friends and I partied until there was no energy left we all shared our joys and we all moved on inspired do to something like this again.
No Mercy
Every Wednesday night our family plays uno no mercy. Itâs been in our family for many generations and we continue the tradition. As I separate the deck evenly between us I set the final deck in the middle of the table to start the game. The first card on the table is a red one, so I place a red four card. I notice a shadow in the hallway coming closer and closer as each one of us place down a red card. I start to become very anxious, then someone lays down a plus four and chooses red, which doesnât change anything since we were already playing red. I place down a red eight and see the shadow again, it comes behind jade and twists her neck. She slumps in her chair with no pulse, I quickly took everyoneâs cards and shuffled them and put them back in the box where they were and threw them in the fireplace to watch them burn. Our family started a new tradition with another uno game that has a little mercy.
Knight Moves
"Argh! I blundered my queen!"
"It's just a game."
"Just a game! Chess is the game of kings!"
"Seems like a game of queens to me. You know. Queens are so powerful and all."
"Right."
"Well, now that you lost one, you wanna head out for a real bite to eat or something?"
"Huh? No. But if you wanna play, I can teach you. That way you can participate instead of just watching."
"Thanks. But I don't think chess is my game. I didn't really know that this was a chess hangout."
"Right... You had to have. You musta seen the logo, a chess knight and queen. It matches the name plus the slogan says it all. 'Knights and Queens Bistro. Food, drinks, and chess. All day, all night.'"
"Yeah. Well, I just thought..."
"You just thought you could waltz in here and find a nice smart girl who you could sweep off her feet and take somewhere else for drinks or clubbing. You thought your knightly charm and good looks would win the night, and away you'd walk with the new queen of your heart."
"I... I... I..."
"Look. I'm not just a pretty face or just a smart girl. I've got a high IQ, a high Elo rating (that's a chess rating system, if you didn't know), and I do not fall for just any Sir Galahad. And tonight, while I appreciate the hors d'oeuvres and the sodas, I am here for the chess. I rarely lose to this poser..."
"Hey! I resemble that remark," smiled the Poser.
"...and I am not about to quit after losing that pitiful game."
"She really is all that she says she is. We're not together, because she's way out of my league. Mentally, chess-ly, and obviously physically. So you don't stand a chance friend." The Poser looked over at the would-be Sir Galahad sitting there with his mouth wide open. "Especially, since you're a mouth-breather."
The would-be Sir Galahad closed his open mouth, stood, and turned toward the counter. He paid his tab and walked out without looking back.
"You know, that was just mean." The Poser paused from setting up the board to look at his friend. "But I suppose you had it all planned out seven moves in advance when he came over to the table and asked if he could watch."
The Chess Queen smiled. "Eight. Eight moves in advance."
They both laughed.
Sudoku and You
Once distant, the clacking of the approaching train explodes in one almighty whoosh from the tunnel. It rattles the umbrellas of waiting commuters, a sea of quivering grey fabric wrapped around aluminium skeletons. A platform of freshly styled hair, lightly dampened by drizzle, is knocked out of place.
Nearer the back, a page is fluttered by the wind as a young woman stares deep beyond the small puzzle book. Her hair sodden and page covered in tiny circles of damp. She sits one leg over the other, the small book propped against her projected knee. Chewed pencil in hand, her focus is pulled back to this realm as the shuffling wave of weary workers pulls her from the thought. She jots down the remaining numbers in their boxes and springs to her feet in the direction of the closest carriage.
Expectedly, the train is uncomfortably cramped. Rows of seats filled with passengers and irritatingly placed backpacks. With ears plugged and eyes stuck to screens, the crowd was no closer to this moment than a wagon of ghosts. For all Sarah supposed, they were ghosts.
She awkwardly placed herself between two beige-draped men and once more looked towards her puzzle. 3, 6, 2⊠The tracks below clacked. Numbers melded and meshed together on the page. 4, 9⊠8? A small jolt as the train hurtled towards the inner city, sending its cargo in a tiny apathetic lurch to one side. 7⊠3?
The numbers werenât doing what they were supposed to do. The walls of the train felt much tighter. The crowd of people suddenly felt a lot closer. Were there more now? Was the train smaller?
Sarah glanced up, to the window, and into the dark tunnel wall beyond. Looking back at her, a disheveled woman, maybe 30 years of age, with messy wet hair and a sodden sweater. The woman in the reflection had deep, sagging bags under her eyes and appeared deeply, distressingly, confused.
In disbelief, Sarah glanced around her at the sea of beige. A carriage of ghosts, indeed. Ensnared in their own lives, trapped by a routine, heavy bags of their own, Sarah was alone. No one to assist in solving this puzzle, nor anything the next one.
Writerâs note: a very tiny exploration of our culture of self-inflicted isolation. Written before bed on my phone. Please do leave your thoughts if you so wish but please also be considerate this is just a bit of fun. :) thank you!!
Truth Or Dare
I pull the pack of truth or dare cards that I bought at the antique store earlier today with my friends. âWhoâs ready to play truth or dare?â I ask, excitement filling my voice.
Everyone hoots and hollers before rushing over to the table, popcorn overflowing bowls that they drop on the table. The cards are stiff as I mix them. The thin gold strip lining the edges of the black cards shimmers as it catches light from above. I give up on mixing the cards as they fall to the table in a flurry, scattering right side up and upside down. After picking up the cards and placing them in a neat pile I pull out the electrical reader. I place the cards in the slot on the reader. The reader robotically speaks whatâs on the card, randomly choosing between truth or dare.
Finally, the game is ready. âWho wants to go first?â Jason asks from across the table, his phone lit up on texting.
No one answers. âI will.â I volunteer.
Suddenly, the voice booms over our laughs. âDare, violet.â Pause. Everyone goes silent, the voice setting my alarm bells off for some reason.
How did it know my name? I stare at the device, studying it.
âWith the pliers in Jacksonâs bag, pull out his finger nails.â
I gulp, along with everyone else surrounding the table. Not even I knew he had pliers in his bag.
Jackson makes eye contact with me. âMaybe we should put the game away, itâs giving me the creeps.â He says, his eyes darting around the room frantically.
Everyone nods, equally freaked out. I push the off button but nothing happens.
âYou will play⊠or die.â The device echoes.
A red dot blinks on my forehead. I shake my head, unwilling to continue with this. Pain shoots through my head, a headache seething through my brain like Iâve never felt before.
âOkay, okay.â I gulp, looking at Jackson, then to his bag.
He shakes his head, knowing whatâs going through my mind.
âI donât have a choice.â I say, sympathy etched in my eyes. I reach for his bag and yank it from his grasp, frantically searching for the pliers. My fingers graze cold metal. I gulp, grasping the weapon.
The dot suddenly appears on Jacksonâs forehead. I grab his hand with shaky fingers, his equally just as bad. His body is shaking as I bring the pliers to him.
His hand yanks away sending the pliers clattering to the floor. He screams in pain, clutching his head and bending over, trying to alleviate the invisible pain.
His head slams against the table, smoke coming from his ears and eyes.
âJackson?â I manage to barely squeak out. Everyoneâs eyes are frozen on Jacksonâs lifeless body.
âNext card. Jason.â
One by one, we are killed off, heads slamming to the wooden table, smoking just like Jacksonâs. And then, there was me.
Hide and Seek
My cousins and I get together every winter holiday at our Grandmotherâs estate in Shire Hills. Itâs cold and the world outside has turned white. The adults are out, on work-business matters. We donât mind, we thrive alone in a big house left for us to muck about. Playing and having fun, kid or teenager, it doesnât matter, all togther. Itâs like weâre reclaiming a childhood, whenever we gather togther; in this particular place, at this time of the year. Itâs a certain atmosphere thatâs short-lived but blissfully cozy.
We were lounging in the living room, throwing about suggestions of what could do. We finally all agree to indulge in a game of hide and seek. Classic sure but in this house this game will last a good while and is taken quite seriously. When the question of seeker is brought up, we all unanimously agree; the eldest should go first. Neil, lowers his head in resignation.
âRight, Iâll count to there minutes in the drawing roomâ.
Thus, we begin. We group up in trios and pairs. The little ones, the boys, the girls, the closest in ages. We run about in a frantic manner, keeping up that sense of thrill. Some of us go upstairs, some go for the closests in the hallways. Linda, James and I, head for the top of the top. Are we going to the balcony or the attic? Weâre not quite sure. When everyone finally settles down in there hiding spots, the house is still and silent. The only possible sound is from hushed whispers and messages on our family group chats.
Except, this is where things take a turn, what happens now is something we cannot see, something we didnât see. Our parents came home abruptly to a silent and lifeless home. What they perceived must of been theyâre worst nightmare. For how they reacted next⊠letâs just say we all began to question who our parents really were after today.
It's The Olympics Mate
The idea struck late one night, sitting in the treehouse till dusk with my younger brother Xander and two best friends, Lilah and Oliver, who were also brother and sister. To this day, no one remembers who actually came up with it, but it is undeniable that everyone had immediately jumped on board. We plotted the details, writing them down in a notebook so we wouldn't forget a thing. We were going to create our own summer Olympics. The rules were simple. First everyone had to choose a country. I, of course, chose Australia due to a recent phase where I would speak as if I was from "down under," doing my best impression of an Aussie accent. Oliver chose England, and immediately began ranting about tea in a British accent. Lilah picked Scotland and started practicing her imaginary bagbipes. My brother Xander decided to be basic and picked America as his home county. After eveyone's origins had been decided and we had mastered our accents, we planned out the sporting events. The following were included, but not limited to: two versus two basketball, pig, knockout, a tennis tournament, a frisbee throwing competition, a soccer kicking challenge, three point shooting contest, track events in the back yard, and two versus two football which would not include tackling and would be played at the end of the dead end road in front of Lilah and Oliver's house. Lilah wrote all of this down in the notebook and we discussed a system for scoring points. By the time all of this was settled, the parents had come out onto the porch and called us, saying it was time to leave. Through the entire ride home and as I fell asleep that night, all I could think about was the perfect summer laid out before me, and the competition that was sure to provide a lot of entertainment for me and my friends. Or should I say, mates?
The Crockmaw
The usual card sharks come in, there eyes blazing for a bite. The room is tense as no one had made a bet yet as they hold the three cards, tightly in their hands.
âNo bets?â The dealer asked to the players. They look into each otherâs eyes, see if thereâs a crack, a way to break the line. But I knew these types.
Over zealous.
Too much pride.
Arrogant.
I raise the stakes to fifty mil. I was all in.
âAnyone else?â
âI fold.â
âDamn king.â
I won already and I didnât even get to show it.
âVery well. The game goes toâŠâŠ..â
With a splash the chips scattered around the table. A man by the name of J put all his chips in too. Much to the oohs and aaaahhs of the spectators.
âI take that back, the game continues. We have reached the reveal. Gentleman? One at a time? J? Your first card.â
J revealed a king. Not good.
I revealed the first card? It was a Jester.
âJ wins the first reveal. Now your second cards gentleman.â
J revealed a second king. I was still in the clear.
I revealed an angel. I won the second round.
The third round is where you soar or fall.
âYou lost,â J said with certainty. I raised an eyebrow, âletâs let the cards talk, shall we?â
âJâs final card is????? Oh wow.â The dealer was surprised for there is only 3 in the deck.
J played the devil card.
âNice draw. Very nice draw.â
I revealed mine. A card where itâs nearly impossible to draw but it can beat any other card in the deck. And I just happen to have one.
The Crockmaw.