How the Cookie Crumbles

Life and scribbles on the far side of SIXTY-FIVE

100-Word Challenge for Grown-ups – Week #155

by 64 Comments


Come join the fun; click below for instructions:

http://jfb57.wordpress.com/2014/11/17/100-word-challenge-for-grown-ups-week155/

This week’s prompt:  … READ THE INSTRUCTIONS! … + 100 words

100wcgu-72

ROCKET MAN

Sydney stared at his news-printed hands and pant knees. Palms half-way to his lap, he froze. Rising from the floor with a loud sigh, he headed to the kitchen sink. Hands scrubbed, he grit his teeth and pulled on an earlobe, a habit from childhood when trouble brewed. “Dang-blasted contraption.”

The front door slammed and shoes clattered on the hardwood. Mabel’s nose poked around the hallway corner ahead of her. “Easy-peasy, right?” Her chin and smile wobbled.

Red-faced, Sydney held up the extraneous parts, his comb-over slipping.

“It’s a steam mop, not a rocket ship. READ THE INSTRUCTIONS!”

When have they made sense?

 

© 2014 TAK

Author: Let's CUT the Crap!

I'm getting a little LONG in the tooth and have things to say about---ouch---AGEing. I believe it's certainly a state of mind but sometimes it's nice to hear that you're NORMAL. I enjoy reading by the truckload. I'm a grandma but I don't feel OLD although I'm not so young anymore. My plan is to stick it out as long as I can on this lovely planet and only will leave it kicking and screaming!

64 thoughts on “100-Word Challenge for Grown-ups – Week #155”

Leave a comment

  1. Chatter Master
    November 18, 2014 at 6:22 pm

    I always keep the instructions handy. Just in case ! 😉

    Like

  2. kanzensakura
    November 18, 2014 at 6:35 pm

    Haha…just like a man!

    Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Tab®|PRO

    Like

  3. Sue Slaght
    November 18, 2014 at 6:42 pm

    Oh yes one can imagine that conversation happening. Instructions you say? 🙂

    Like

  4. The Writing Waters Blog
    November 18, 2014 at 6:52 pm

    We’ve all felt that way. You caught us all.

    Like

  5. teagan geneviene
    November 18, 2014 at 7:54 pm

    And now they’ve taken to making “instructions” without any words. I’m not sure which way is worse.
    Cute story Tess. Hugs! 🙂

    Like

  6. joannesisco
    November 18, 2014 at 8:30 pm

    reading the instructions takes the adventure out of it 🙂

    Like

  7. mihrank
    November 18, 2014 at 8:37 pm

    reading your instructions and your blog, articles is a new experience for me!

    Like

  8. Jacqui Murray
    November 18, 2014 at 8:59 pm

    I alwayss start by trying to intuit whatever it is. When that fails, I read. When that fails, I ask. When that fails, I start swearing.

    Like

  9. The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap
    November 18, 2014 at 9:29 pm

    I’m allergic to instructions. Unless there’s a diagram my brain jams. I laughed at the comb over part. My father used to do that with the little hair he had left, lol. 🙂

    Like

  10. Lucid Gypsy
    November 19, 2014 at 1:37 am

    I don’t understand instructions!!! I love the detail n this piece 🙂

    Like

  11. Rosie Amber
    November 19, 2014 at 2:30 am

    My men just hate to read any instructions.

    Like

  12. cobbies69
    November 19, 2014 at 3:55 am

    Just like a lot of people I know.. me!!!

    Like

  13. ramblingsfromamum
    November 19, 2014 at 4:33 am

    As my Mr. S tries to get a small digital clock to work 😀 mind you its a stupid clock! My pop put a BBQ together for me, he left out 6 bolts saying they weren’t needed, disregarding the instructions. Thankfully it held together!

    Like

  14. TanGental
    November 19, 2014 at 8:09 am

    Ah yes. To distract from the theme of male incompetence, I would point to the younger generation who also have no concept of the manual as a guide. ‘How does this work?’ ‘Where does this go?’ Since they, the under 25s, live by acronyms – LOL and OMG and JK we have introduced RTM to the household lexicon. Sometimes, esp on a Sunday morning it grows to RTFM. Read The Manual or… well, you get the picture. Lovely story BTW.

    Like

  15. heylookawriterfellow
    November 19, 2014 at 10:25 am

    Every word of this is wonderful, but that slipping comb-over nailed it. Comb-overs always look for ways to escape stressful situations.

    Like

    • Let's CUT the Crap!
      November 19, 2014 at 8:35 pm

      😀 😀 😀
      You have made my day, Mike. Thank you.
      That slipping comb-over is my Grade 12 high school teacher. How long has it been since that year? A century or two? Why did he decide to pop into my head yesterday? 😀 😀

      Like

  16. olganm
    November 19, 2014 at 12:08 pm

    Fantastic! It’s very true that some instruction books seem written by Google translate having a bad day. And I’m with Teagan, the ones only with pictures are even worse!

    Like

  17. Sherri
    November 19, 2014 at 12:39 pm

    Haha….this brings back some, how shall I say, rather stressful memories. Wonderful story Tess, love Mabel’s shoes clattering on the hardwood…like she means business 😉 😛 😀

    Like

  19. Geraldine
    November 19, 2014 at 4:47 pm

    you made me smile again, thanks Tess!!! 😉

    Like

  20. Glynis Jolly
    November 19, 2014 at 5:21 pm

    Although I do read the instructions when I get a new gadget, I don’t like reading them. In fact, I pretty much loathe them. But how else are you going to learn? Trial and error? I don’t like that idea either.

    Like

  21. D.G.Kaye
    November 19, 2014 at 8:56 pm

    Lol, it’s a man thing. Many men (like my hub) won’t even look at the destructions. 🙂

    Like

  22. authorleannedyck
    November 20, 2014 at 2:01 pm

    : ) Loved it, Tess. Thanks for adding a smile to my day.

    Like

  23. Kate Loveton
    November 21, 2014 at 11:49 pm

    This was on the money! Instructions? What the heck are they for? 😀 😀 😀

    Like

  24. Valentine Logar
    November 22, 2014 at 6:39 am

    Have you noticed, they are writing instructions in smaller fonts? Who can read those!

    Loved this one, Tess. You killed it.

    Like

  25. Delft
    December 16, 2014 at 6:43 am

    I bet they write them like that on purpose 😉

    Like