Check out http://jfb57.wordpress.com/2014/06/23/100-word-challenge-for-grown-ups-week138/
The prompt is: …but what is the prompt?… + 100 words
MESS-UP
“Expect the team at 1:00 p.m. Friday.” The cashier handed Ellen a receipt, who skimmed the itemized list and frowned.
“Only two for the setup?” Her sister slumped beside her. She grabbed her wrist. “I’m paying for three?”
“No, Ma’am.”
“Write guaranteed on-time on the invoice.”
The sisters raced to the car. “This is it.” Ellen winked. “What wrong, Trace?”
“I’m nervous. What if I mess-up?”
“No way.” She patted her shoulder.
“But, but what is the prompt? When does everyone shout Surprise?”
“We’ll enter the living-room and you’ll flick on the lights.”
“Hope Mom doesn’t have a heart attack.”
“You agreed.”
“Still, Mom’s 85.”
How the Cookie Crumbles 
June 24, 2014 at 7:40 pm
I’m sure she will love the surprise. But what is being set up?? And to be honest if I was standing in the group I don’t know if I would yell surprise or just kind of whisper it. 😉
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June 24, 2014 at 8:03 pm
Not enough time. I blew it. Why does anyone yell surprise when the l lights go on?
Here it is usually a surprise party: birthday, anniversary, whatever is imminent….:/
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June 25, 2014 at 5:41 am
I would probably whisper because of her age!
I don’t think you blew it. It left me wondering what was next. 🙂
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June 25, 2014 at 7:59 am
Ha ha. Whisper? What if she’s hard of hearing? Heck, maybe she won’t have a heart attack after all. 😛 😛
Thank you, Colleen. ❤
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June 24, 2014 at 7:48 pm
This one kept me guessing, Tess. Well done!
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June 24, 2014 at 8:06 pm
I wonder if it’s a cultural difference, my rushing to the end in my excitement or worrying the old lady might die of a heart attack when everyone yells ‘Surprise.’ I h.a.t.e. when this doesn’t jell.
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June 24, 2014 at 7:57 pm
My mom just turned 80…. 🙂
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June 24, 2014 at 8:10 pm
Would a roomful of people yelling surprise unexpectedly put her at risk of a heart attack?
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June 24, 2014 at 10:10 pm
Nah… she’d yell right back at them.
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June 25, 2014 at 7:52 am
I love a feisty character, especially in a skirt. 😛
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June 25, 2014 at 9:24 am
An original womens’ libber…
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June 25, 2014 at 7:06 pm
😀 😀 😀
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June 24, 2014 at 9:47 pm
I just smiled….Wonderful writing as always! 🙂
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June 25, 2014 at 7:49 am
Hi, Cee. Sweet of you to say that. Have an enjoyable day. 🙂
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June 24, 2014 at 10:11 pm
Oh Lord Tess, please don’t tell me their are getting Mom a stripper. 😉
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June 25, 2014 at 7:53 am
I never thought of THAT. I must file that idea away. 😛
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June 24, 2014 at 10:12 pm
Tess \I love this piece. We had several surprise parties from my Grandma in her mid 90s/ People would say what if she dies of a heart attack? I would say then she is going to go happy. She loved parties. 🙂
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June 25, 2014 at 7:54 am
Ha ha ha. I do love a feisty lady! No rocking chair for HER. 😛
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June 25, 2014 at 8:40 am
She had the wonderful ability to adjust to new surroundings and always find purpose. She lived to be almost 97. At 95 she would tell me that she had to make her rounds and visit the “old people” as they needed cheering up. Those folks were often a decade or more younger. It was all about her attitude.
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June 25, 2014 at 7:03 pm
What a gal. She was rock and roll. Probably that’s what kept her around so long. ❤
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June 25, 2014 at 7:04 pm
I definitely agree Tess. 🙂
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June 25, 2014 at 7:23 pm
Ha ha.
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June 25, 2014 at 1:36 am
Very well done coming up with something so clever for this impossible prompt!
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June 25, 2014 at 7:56 am
I was lost. I didn’t think I’d come up with anything at all. Thank you for reading and commenting, Gilly. 😛
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June 25, 2014 at 2:26 am
I couldn’t imagine holding a surprise party for my mum, she would whinge why all the people are there …you did well as usual hun ❤ x
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June 25, 2014 at 7:57 am
Thank YOU, Jen. Nice to see you. I LOVE surprises. Too bad your Mom wouldn’t. Did she at one time, in her younger days?
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June 25, 2014 at 8:08 am
Hello Tess, I think she did when she was younger, now they scare her, the unfamiliar, out of routine, but she had her good times. Hopefully she still remembers most of them ❤
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June 25, 2014 at 7:02 pm
Yes, of course. ❤ ❤ ❤
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June 25, 2014 at 3:49 am
The most important to us all, mums… loved mine and still do… 😉
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June 25, 2014 at 7:57 am
You’re a good son. 😮
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June 25, 2014 at 6:39 am
Knowing my mother, who is 75 and quite healthy but HATES surprises, I think this is one the few things that might kill her. Well done, my friend.
Hugs from Ecuador,
Kathy
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June 25, 2014 at 8:02 am
Oh no. Then you would be the good daughter, like Tracy, and not want to have a surprise party like Ellen insists on. I wonder what Ellen is trying to prove? 🙂
Thank you for visiting, Kathryn. Nice to see you.
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June 25, 2014 at 7:00 pm
I knew a surprise party after 70 might be dicey. 😀 😀
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June 25, 2014 at 10:17 am
Wry grin. 🙂
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June 25, 2014 at 7:07 pm
Wry? I’ll give you Rye. It’s a party so let’s clink…
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June 25, 2014 at 4:13 pm
What is the surprise I wonder, apart from the shouting? I love a party and hope to even when I’m 85…I’ll just be glad to get to that age hopefully 😀
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June 25, 2014 at 7:17 pm
Just keep on dancing, Sherri and follow that yellow brick road…
😛
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June 27, 2014 at 6:26 am
Oh yes…that I will my friend 😮
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June 27, 2014 at 8:41 am
😛
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June 25, 2014 at 10:10 pm
You leave us hanging from the beginning and the end. I love your crafty wit! 🙂
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June 26, 2014 at 9:17 am
You warm the cockles of my heart. Thank you for your kind words and for reading, Debby. 🙂
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June 26, 2014 at 10:57 am
❤ 🙂
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June 26, 2014 at 11:07 am
❤ ❤
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June 26, 2014 at 3:11 pm
Tess – You are indeed the queen of 100 words!
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June 26, 2014 at 5:33 pm
Gee, Sheri. You are too generous. I don’t have a kingdom, there I cannot be queen. Maybe I’ll find a fairy tale where I can be the wicked queen. 😛
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June 28, 2014 at 9:02 pm
Never will you be wicked. What would Lady G say?
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June 29, 2014 at 2:36 pm
I would NEVER be wicked to her. She makes me smile and I think we need each other, or make a good team, or have just fallen into the happen of enjoying each other’s company. She sleep now, to preserve her youthful attributes. 😀 ❤
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June 26, 2014 at 4:08 pm
Tess, I enjoyed this use of the non-prompt. I wouldn’t have thought of a party so great idea. 🙂
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June 26, 2014 at 5:41 pm
Thank you, WW.This was a tough one. 😛
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June 26, 2014 at 4:47 pm
Oh my the tension in this is palpable, and that’s good writing! As usual. ❤
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June 26, 2014 at 5:21 pm
Again, thank you, Paulette. Your words inspire me. ❤
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June 26, 2014 at 8:09 pm
Hi Tess,
This is a fun story, and I love the conversation that it prompted. Have you ever seen Elmore Leonard’s “Get Shorty”? I think that is the movie with a an old crime boss climbing lots of stairs up to a place where the mob is waiting to surprise him, and the thinkable occurs.
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June 26, 2014 at 8:48 pm
I have only seen parts of that movie. I should catch it on Netflix because I pay monthly but don’t watch because I’ve not time. Silly. Now I am curious. 😛
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June 27, 2014 at 10:53 am
I love surprises! The only surprise party ever thrown in my honor did include everyone yelling at me, which surprised me, but did not involve walking into a dark room. When I see that in movies I always think wouldn’t that be odd, who doesn’t leave a light on when they plan on coming home after dark *shrug*. Great story and use of the prompt 🙂
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June 27, 2014 at 6:03 pm
Thank you, kind bookreader. 😛
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June 28, 2014 at 8:52 am
I loathe parties and can’t think of a worse thing than a surprise party! It will never happen though, thank goodness. But I love your little story – had me hooked, though I’m still puzzling about the invoice.
Jude xx
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June 28, 2014 at 10:11 am
Maybe they were in a party store and the two people were going to setup for the party? Would that work?
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June 28, 2014 at 11:16 am
Mmm… must be a language thing. So they are paying for two people to come and organise the party? I think it was setup that got me. When I did have parties I always catered for them myself.
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June 28, 2014 at 12:31 pm
These days moms don’t do birthday parties at home for their kids. They go to McDonald’s. Same with adults. They have have a party at home but have dishes and glasses and decorating done by someone else. 😀
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September 14, 2014 at 4:50 am
I confess I don’t like surprises.
Lovely twist 🙂
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September 15, 2014 at 11:12 am
Me either, and more so as time progresses. 😮
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