The Discovery

53 Replies
sandras-shells

PHOTO PROMPT © Sandra Crook

“This way, Dr. Edwards.”

The man sniffed and wrinkled his nose, but did follow me.

I noticed every scuff on the floor as we navigated our way around tables.  The “science projects” created by penniless children must have looked like trash heaps to my distinguished guest.

Carlo’s table was shoved in a corner.  The mold on the wall behind it grew faster than the custodians could clean.

Dr. Edward’s sour expression melted.  His eyes grew wide, his jaw dropped.  He grabbed what appeared to be an ordinary branch off of an ordinary shrub.

“My God, this changes everything!” he whispered.

— —

Word count = 100

Friday Fictioneers is hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields.  This week’s prompt is here and uses a photo © Sandra Crook.  Read more or join in by following the InLinkz “linky“.

53 thoughts on “The Discovery”

  1. Pingback: The Discovery – Part 2 | Trent's World (the Blog)

  5. 4963andypop

    We immediately got a whiff of this scientist’s distatste for such amateur pursuits as a science fair. Love the irony of him finding something critical to his own scientific pursuits in the midst of such mediocrity.

    Liked by 1 person

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  9. Jelli

    I envision that the branch is from a tree long thought to be extinct. What a wonderful discovery. Or is it that the boy and the man share a similar love of knowledge about our natural world. A great take…and like others have said, I shout “SEQUEL!”

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      That was one of the possibilities I was thinking about. i want to warn you though – if I do a sequel, I may do something silly like having Dr Edwards trying to discover who was destroying his prized shrubbery ;)

      Liked by 1 person

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        1. trentpmcd Post author

          Yes, and poor Carlos was blamed, as usual. Now there is proof that the shrubbery was really destroyed by… oh, by the way, I am in Ohio right now, so writing on my tablet., so I can’t finish the statement until I am back at a real computer….

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      Good question. Is it an herbal cure for cancer, proof for some esoteric theory in evolution, a new family in botany? Whatever I say, I’m sure the mystery of imagination is stronger.

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      Both Carlos and the village teacher who recognized that Carlos made an important find and reached out to a specialist. Hopefully Dr. Edwards thinks twice wrinkling his nose (or turning it up) at these people again….

      Liked by 1 person

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      Whatever you want,,, Is Dr. Edwards going to find a new cure for cancer based on this plant? Or perhaps he is a crackpot and is going to use it to “prove” the existence of the lost continent of Atlantis. Or…

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      “Explain” – I was feel ornery and wanted to leave a big mystery ;) Thanks. Any meaning I try to put into what the discovery really was pales in comparison to what you might imagine.

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