Look Out, Monsters About!

Reads: 697 | Likes: 1 | Shelves: 1 | Comments: 8

A short story inspired by the picture prompt from 'Prompting' page 3. Dialogue only, with reference to a certain canned non-alcoholic drink.

Look Out, Monsters About!

“Do you see them, Paul.?”

“See what, Baz?”

“If you saw them you’d know what I was talking about. Look, straight ahead!”

“Baz, my eyes are facing forward and I can’t see anything odd.”

“Really? You can’t see the two of them. Jeez, you must be blind or something!”

“Oh, yeah. Well maybe you’re delusional. You know what they say about that stuff you keep insisting on pouring down your throat. How bad it is for you!”

“Paul, look at the label. No alcohol, zero calories.....what can be so bad about it?”

“You tell me! You’re the one that’s seeing things.”

“Nope! You’re the one that’s so blind you can’t see what’s in front of your face!”

“Okay, Baz. Tell me what I’m missing, would you.”

“I don’t know, maybe it would be better if we crossed over the road first.”

“Hell, no, Baz. I’m not crossing to escape your invisible monsters.”

“But that's what they are Paul. Monsters!”

“Oh yeah! Well, tell me what they look like then.”

“One’s pink, the other purple....Huff and Puff, they’re called.”

“Aha! Dragons, is it!”

“I knew you could see them!”

“There’s nothing there, not a thing. The names kind of gave it away, although I suppose they could have been wolves.”

“Very funny, Paul. I’m crossing over anyway. No point tempting fate.”

“Oh, come on then, but you keep consuming that stuff like that, you’re going to see monsters everywhere, Baz.”

“On the other hand it might just save me from those you miss. And stop whistling that song!”

“I like ‘Puff, the Magic Dragon.”

“Well, I don’t, Paul. So cut it out!”

Submitted: April 24, 2018

Flash Fiction humor drink dialogue picture-prompt

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Comments

Jeff Bezaire

A story worthy of the challenge! It's tricky pulling off a completely dio story, but you've succeeded in spades, my dear! Nice piece.
Yeah, energy drinks may have no alcohol and no calories, but they do have three to five times the caffeine, as well as harmful artificial sweeteners, among other things. I drank them for a while before switching to coffee and I developed heart palpitations . . . they're not the best way to boost your energy levels.
Something that stood out in your story that I enjoyed - maybe I'm reading too much into it, plus the sign of the times is affecting me - is who is right and who is wrong in this instance. It stands to reason that the one not knocking back the energy drinks is right, but each character is so sure that they're right. It made me wonder. I enjoyed that.
A fine write, Hully!

Tue, April 24th, 2018 5:36pm

Author
Reply

Thanks, Jeff. I had no idea how to use this pic, but then there are cans over here called 'Monster' and I thought why not try to link the two.
Personally, I have never liked soft drinks at all, even as a kid. I didn't drink anything other than water until I was about 12, when i started to drink.....coffee!
Thanks for the wonderful comment and I'm glad you enjoyed the story!

Tue, April 24th, 2018 10:45am

Mike S.

I can see them, what does that say about me? Excellent, Hull!

Tue, April 24th, 2018 6:16pm

Author
Reply

I guess, that means you're open-minded, Mike! Thanks for giving this a read!

Tue, April 24th, 2018 11:19am

Vance Currie

Entertaining dialogue, Hully. It would be fun to pretend to see monsters, just to draw one's companion into a futile argument, or at least see how they react.

Tue, April 24th, 2018 8:10pm

Author
Reply

You see, there is this drink called 'Monster' that is totally non-alcoholic but is rumored to do all sorts of bad things. I thought it would be a different way of using the picture. Thanks for reading, Joe.

Tue, April 24th, 2018 1:16pm

moa rider

Sounds like a herbal mixture Mama Hullabaloo. But you never know, Baz might have a bladder infection! Usianguke

Tue, April 24th, 2018 8:59pm

Author
Reply

Ha! It's one of those high caffeine and other things drinks....some people are supposed to have some weird reactions.
Thanks for giving this a read!

Tue, April 24th, 2018 2:13pm

T. E. Jackson

A story built solely on dialogue... I've not seen it before, but based on what you've done with it, I like it. Excellently written. Had it's humorous moments as well. But yes, energy drinks, nasty things. I never drank them often, but I was quite the soda freak as a child/teenager haha.

Tue, April 24th, 2018 11:25pm

Author
Reply

Thanks for reading, T.E. Someone posted a story they had written for a challenge a while ago that had to be dialogue only, and that's where I got the idea from. Glad you enjoyed it!

Wed, April 25th, 2018 3:00am