by David W.
Member since:
February 16, 2006

ALAS, I KNEW HIM WELL. Genre Shorties Prompt -- Week 83

October 10, 2011 05:34 PM UTC (Updated: October 10, 2011 05:47 PM UTC)
views: 0 | 16 people recommend this | comments: 52

 

Genre Shorties Prompt -- Week 83

The central theme of this week's prompt is the word bacon. But it cannot be served as food. I also want you to use the words platypus and lime and dentist, and set your 100-word story in a museum, library, or mausoleum.

Why? Because I can.  >:-)  But mostly... because YOU can. You guys are great, quirky, creative little story-tellers!


=======================

Your story may be serious or lighthearted or as silly as you like so long as it is 100 or fewer words.

Post your stories to Genre Shorties.  Please read other folks' entries!

This is a moderated group and only articles posted for the prompts are accepted.




ALAS, I KNEW HIM WELL


© 2011 by David Wainland

100 words

I’m Wolf Blitzer for CNN coming to you from the limestone tomb of Sir Francis Bacon, famed author. Bacon died in 1626 and it was here in this mausoleum he was to spend eternity. Sometime later, around the fall of 1681 his body was removed and replaced by Sir Harbottle Grimston, Master of the Rolles. In the process they removed the head and put in storage at Trinity College, Cambridge.

Today a report released by noted dentist and anthropologist, Bill Shakespeare, descendant of William, that the head was in fact of Yorick the Platypus once owned by his esteemed ancestor.

Comments: 52

Tracy Fabre Oct 10, 2011, 5:41pm UTC
Very informative! And totally believable. TOTally.

I really like Bacon's pantaloons.
David W. Oct 10, 2011, 5:49pm UTC
Oops, a little mistake and corrected. the body was disinterred in 1681 not 1861. I do hope Bacon is not upset by this flip flop.
jeanne clarke Oct 10, 2011, 7:44pm UTC
hey, he might wanna wear the flip flops....
David W. Oct 11, 2011, 10:30am UTC
They do go well with pantaloons.
ann c. Oct 10, 2011, 5:43pm UTC
Alas, poor platypus.
David W. Oct 10, 2011, 8:09pm UTC
Yes, poor thing, they introduced him to Henry VIII and that's the result.
Bernard C. Oct 10, 2011, 6:01pm UTC
A duck billed Platypus? From Ye Olde England, perhaps? I know him well :-))) LOL

Thanks for submitting to
The Surreal Circus.
David W. Oct 10, 2011, 8:10pm UTC
Wow Bernard, you've been around for a long time.
Kasey Klein Oct 10, 2011, 6:26pm UTC

Thanks for posting to Short Story and More!
A. F. Stewart Oct 10, 2011, 6:47pm UTC
So Francis Bacon lost his head? Alas poor Francis.
David W. Oct 10, 2011, 8:02pm UTC
One of those little known tragedies.
☃ Shannon K. Wendt Oct 10, 2011, 7:15pm UTC
Alas, poor Yorick!

Great read as usual David. LOVED the take on "bacon".
David W. Oct 10, 2011, 8:03pm UTC
Actuality I prefer mine with eggs, but the prompt said, "Not as food."
elizabeth evans Oct 10, 2011, 7:22pm UTC
Too funny.

Thanks for sharing with Tombstone Stories at the Triple Name Club.
David W. Oct 10, 2011, 8:10pm UTC
Thank you, Elizabeth.
Pam Brittain Oct 10, 2011, 7:25pm UTC
What color was it?
jeanne clarke Oct 10, 2011, 7:45pm UTC
the head or the body?
David W. Oct 11, 2011, 10:26am UTC
The tomb was white, Francis' head and mood were gray, the platypus, before, beige. In later years, skull white.
Pam Brittain Oct 11, 2011, 1:16pm UTC
Ohhhh, profound and deep with knowledge of the past.
jeanne clarke Oct 10, 2011, 7:45pm UTC
did you ever see the guy who parodies Wolf on SNL? That's all I could think of when I started reading this.....
David W. Oct 10, 2011, 8:01pm UTC
Sorry, I'm in bed by nine.
jeanne clarke Oct 10, 2011, 8:18pm UTC
it's available online....I never watch the show except for the clips on the internet or at the website.....Wolf. I dunno, you don't look like a wolf to me....
David W. Oct 10, 2011, 9:31pm UTC
Lest you believe what I wrote, sometimes I make it to 9:30. Oh wait, that's what it is right now. I guess I'll have to watch the Rest of Dancing With the Stars tomorrow. zzzzzzzzzz
jeanne clarke Oct 10, 2011, 9:46pm UTC
ooh my - way past your bedtime! I won't tell you if Chaz Bono makes it through....or what Cher is wearing in support of him.
David W. Oct 10, 2011, 11:26pm UTC
I got out of bed to see what your comment would be. Chaz looked like Rocky reborn and Cher looked like the gypsy she sang about.

Oh yes, it's 11:25Pm got to get back under the covers.
jeanne clarke Oct 11, 2011, 12:23am UTC
It's the eye of the tiger....oh, wait - that's Tracy's eye.....
JOHN BECK Oct 10, 2011, 7:48pm UTC
A classic in the annals of history by David Wainland, noted 17th century historian.
David W. Oct 10, 2011, 8:01pm UTC
That's Dr. David Wainland to you. I just published my paper on platypus heads and finalized my doctorate.
JOHN BECK Oct 10, 2011, 8:03pm UTC
Excuuuuuuse me!
jeanne clarke Oct 10, 2011, 8:19pm UTC
Lol @John Beck
Diane Huizenga Oct 11, 2011, 1:33am UTC
lol I didn't see that coming
David W. Oct 11, 2011, 10:27am UTC
Frankly, neither did I.
William Dotani Oct 11, 2011, 2:31am UTC
I'm not surprised. I figured as much. LOL.
David W. Oct 11, 2011, 10:28am UTC
It's amazing the things we find out as the centuries turn to years. Uh, switch that.
William Dotani Oct 13, 2011, 2:32pm UTC
Was the scientific method platypus influenced?
Patricia J. Oct 11, 2011, 7:15am UTC
Poor Sir Francis, replaced by an imposter, minus his head and all is not well!
David W. Oct 11, 2011, 10:29am UTC
He never should have claimed ownership of those plays. Shakespeare had his day in court.
Jane M. Oct 11, 2011, 10:43am UTC
Smooth news style you've got there. Excellent Shortie!
David W. Oct 11, 2011, 11:37am UTC
Thank you, Jane. After all, I am Wolf Blitzer aka David W.
Kay M Oct 11, 2011, 11:36am UTC
I learn so much from you!
David W. Oct 11, 2011, 11:37am UTC
Thrilled to be your teacher and mentor. :-)
Adelaide M. Oct 11, 2011, 11:38am UTC
Thanks for posting to Point Taken. Have a great day!
Angela A. Oct 11, 2011, 1:59pm UTC
This one seems so real, that it could be real. Love the "bacon" in this story
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Barbara H. Oct 11, 2011, 2:15pm UTC
...what about his CANADIAN ancestry?
David W. Oct 11, 2011, 2:18pm UTC
well, I guess it's all in how you slice it.
Heidi S. Oct 12, 2011, 10:37am UTC
Is the head kept in a jar labeled "Abby Normal?"
David W. Oct 12, 2011, 4:03pm UTC
Ah, a fan of Young Frankenstein. one of my favorites. It's always a possibility.
Ann Marcaida Oct 12, 2011, 11:15am UTC
No doubt Tracy is behind this insanity. Thanks for sharing with Gather's Best Writers and Artists.
David W. Oct 14, 2011, 7:51pm UTC
It is her fault, she brings out the worst in us.
Liz H. Oct 17, 2011, 9:02pm UTC
I had never suspected! Ah well...all's well that end's well!! ;)
Chick J. Oct 23, 2011, 10:11am UTC
I did think it was for real, till you remove his head. Thanks for fooling me.
Renita P. Mar 3, 2013, 10:19pm UTC
This comment is to let you know that your content has reached 100 views and has been removed from "100 Views." Thanks for posting.

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