Well, it's time to get a kickstart on the weekend again, and what better way to do that than to provide two new prompts from our prompt guru, Comicfan. Why not give them a try and share them with the community in the Prompt Forum!

Prompt 212 – Creative
Tag – List of Words
Use the following words in a story – sword, tuna fish, compass, flip flops, and a star.

Prompt 213 – Creative
Tag – First Line
“You want me to do what?”

I was looking through the prompt responses and for today's feature prompt, I decided on a response to Prompt 192: Use the following words in a story – baseball, handcuffs, torn pants, dollar bill, and a nun. Labrador did a wonderful job with this prompt and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

 

 

 

Perceptions

The boy that sat across from me looked back with defiance in his eyes. There was no way anyone would change his mind.

 

I’d watched him and his buddy come in as I sat near the window with a cup of coffee in my hands. They’d been laughing and congratulating each other on a baseball game well played. Their boisterous attitude affected the other customers as they claimed a table near the kitchen. Smiles replaced frowns. Those that had been yawning earlier had come alive with the welcome exuberance of youth. The town wasn’t so large yet that an afternoon ballgame couldn’t grab the attention of the small crowd.

 

That had changed about midway through the boys early dinner.

 

With a shout of outrage, the larger of the two pushed away from the table. “Forget it, Toby. I won’t sit here another minute with a disgusting faggot. As far as I’m concerned, you are as good as dead.”

 

As he stalked toward the door, the patrons began to murmur. The sound grated on my nerves like fingernails on a chalkboard. I heard the waitress shout his name, but he only shook his head and kept walking.

 

On the way to the door, he had to pass my table. I took the opportunity and grabbed hold of his arm before he could escape.

 

“Sit.”

 

I didn’t raise my voice but kept it at an even tone. Still, he knew not to go against my command. So he sat.

 

To read the rest of this short story and to leave Labrador a review, go to Labshorts- Chapter 6:Perceptions.