Saturday 24 March 2012

Robert reads a letter - Mrs. Jenny Matlock's Saturday Centus - Week 99

Jenny MatlockLink
Welcome to Mrs. Jenny Matlock's Saturday Centus Week 99. Saturday Centus is a writing challenge that requires participants to write their own text to a given prompt using (this week) exactly 100 words. This week's prompt is 'I'm living the dream, man...'

Here is my text:

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A thermometer was thrusted under Robert's tongue while he was reading a letter:

Bobby-Boy,
I've done it! Yes! My invention works, and I have...


Robert put the letter down and looked up at the ceiling and then at the IV-stand and all the different apparatus, and then finally at his legs in plaster casts.

The thermometer was removed as Robert blurted, 'Can I have pen and paper?'

'Lucky your hand's alright', quipped the nurse, 'Want an envelope too?'

'Please', said Robert and continued reading:

I'm living the dream, man. You should...

Robert closed his eyes and fell asleep.

[Text Copyright 2012 Christina Wigren. All Rights Reserved]

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Word Count according to WordCalc: 100

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Best wishes,
Anna



First Commenter:

Miracle Makin' Mommy




P.S.
I've been asked about Robert's fate, so here are som answers:

This is a completely fictional text. The idea for the bed-ridden fellow, Robert, is inspired by James Stewart's role of 'the photographer 'Jeff' in Alfred Hitchcock's film,
Rear Window. The idea that Robert's old classmate sends him a letter that discribes how he is living the dream (and not Robert) is inspired by a supporting character in Frank Capra's film It's A Wonderful Life.

Here are Mrs. Jenny Matlock's instructions:


The prompt this week is: 'I'm living the dream, man...'
n...


Number of words: 100 EXACTLY including the 5 words of the prompt.
Style of writing: Any so long as the total word count is EXACTLY 100 words
Pictures: As many extra pictures as you like


The regular restrictions apply: PG, no splitting of the prompt, play nicely and visit the other entries, any style or genre of writing you prefer.

Please display my link button or just a hyper-link back to Saturday Centus. Be careful to link your SC URL to the Linky and not just link to your main blog.

E-mail me directly with ???'s or ask your question in a comment and I will do my best to get back to you as soon as possible.

Feel free to link up anytime between now and next Saturday!

9 comments:

MiracleMommy said...

Ohhh, well done, I need more than 100 words! What is the invention? What happened to Robert? lol

Unknown said...

This is a fictional story that I made up for Saturday Centus. I don't know what the invention is. It could be anything, plastics or polyester cloth or something for computers. The invention itself is not important; but the fact that it has made him a successful man. (In reality, many inventors get riped off by the middlemen.

I was inspired by ideas from two films, first, the film It's A Wonderful Life with James Stewart, who plays George Bailey, a character who is too much of a nice guy and never gets to go to college or realise his dreams because he was always helping someone or being considerate. One ofhis classmates becomes a successful businessman, while George works at the same job at thebuilding and Loan.

The idea about suddenly and temporarity becoming an ivalid is an idea that I have taken from Alfred Hitchcock's film Rear Window in which a photographer (also played by James Stewart) breaks his leg in an accident that happens while he his taking a photo for a magazine. He is bedridden for six weeks at home, during which time he thinks that one of his neighbours has committed murder.

I have taken these two ideas and reused them in a slightly different way. My idea is that the letter-writer has been lucky, while the letter-reader has had bad luck, but, hopefully, only temporarily.

What happened to Robert? He has both his legs in a cast so he has had an accident, but will mend.

Thanks for stopping by!
You are First Commenter and get an extra link!

Best wishes,
Anna

Judie said...

Hmmm, I was hoping that Robert was only having a bad dream, but it looks like he was LIVING that bad dream! Good one, Anna!!

21 Wits said...

Oops, ppor Robert, maybe he needs another or different invention...or something!

Once Upon an Equine said...

Noone gets enough rest when in the hospital. I feel for your character, Robert. He needs his sleep. Besides, with two legs in casts, he'll have plenty of time to read and and reply to his letter later. Sleep now, before the nurse returns.

Jim said...

Hi Anna ~~ I like your fiction (mine is fiction too). I am sure that Robert did a lot of sleeping and dreaming that first day after his surgery.

I dreamed for four months with my knee joint replacement. Either the dreams or pain, my choice.
..
Jim's Saturday Centus
..

Judee said...

Different and interesting, I love how creatively you did this. And good for him for falling asleep, lol.

If you have a moment:
http://writetuit.wordpress.com/2012/03/25/saturday-centus-living-the-dream/

Unknown said...

Well done, Anna. So much to understand between the words means lots said in so few words.

Jenny said...

Bravo! I loved the twist on this Anna. Your imagination takes us such interesting places.

I love that he survived the invention process!

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