
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“.
Pingback: The Discovery – Part 2 | Trent's World (the Blog)
People are just people, no matter their socio-economic standing. And kids demonstrate that fact so well before they learn who and what they are “supposed” to be. Inspiring story!
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Yes, Carlos is just as much of a person who deserves respectable as the “distinguished ” scientist.
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Leaves us with another tale of how one man’s trash is another’s treasure. Nicely done.
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Thanks.
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Fascinating. Treasure in a trove of what looked like junk.
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Look beyond the surface and you may find real treasure, or, as in this case, an important scientific discovery
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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.
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Yes, exactly what I was shooting for. Sometimes we need to look in the least likely places to make that discovery
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Oh, the joy of discovering genius! Lovely to have a happy ending. Now, if only the child actually WANTS to make art!
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Happy endings are a rarity in Friday Fictioneers. I am sure the child is an Artist in his own way.
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As a fellow Edwards, I identified with the good doctor. I wouldn’t have expected anything notable. I’m glad he found something that impressed him.
Great story man 🙂
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I guess you Edwards’ have a bit of a cynical side. 😎 I’m sure that whatever he found, I am sure it was special.
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Your descriptions were so well done, I was totally walking with them. And am left, as all of us, wondering just what it is!
Excellent job, Trent.
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Thanks, Dale. As I said to the others, I want to know as well….
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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!”
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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 ;)
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NOT the Shrubbery! ARRG! HAhahahha
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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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Please write a sequel if possible. I want to know more :)
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I want to know as well! I’m not sure if a sequel will ruin it or through it into a different light…
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A different light sounds intriguing
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Maybe, but be aware that by “different” I may mean that I will be a bit of a smart-aleck and do something like trying to discover who ruined the prized shrubbery ;)
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I was wondering when the mythical “Twig of Power” was going to reappear in our world…
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Yes, it is back! I need to start collecting possible explanations…
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What is it that changed everything? Is it a shrub or mold?
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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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I like how we are walking with the doc and the setting is so vivid – and then we can feel his elation and wonder what happens next / hmmmm
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Thanks Y. I am wondering what happens next myself ;)
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Hah – now you must trust the process and maybe revisit the story again later ✌️
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Yeah, and I will go to an unexpected place (I hope) if I do revisit….
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:)
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Nice! Now I want to know more. Excellent literary ‘hook’! (Go Carlos!)
Na’ama
Here’s my contribution, if you’re interested: https://naamayehuda.com/2018/10/03/the-gift/
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Thanks! I think we all want to know more – I certainly do ;)
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Good for Carlos. Bring Dr. Edward down a notch or two!
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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….
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Dear Trent,
You leave me wanting to know what Dr. Edwards discovered. From the comments I have an inkling. ;) Nicely done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I want to know too! Thanks.
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Well, if it changes “everything”…that’s a whole lotta change coming.
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If it is “everything”, well, obviously not just a run of the mill discovery. Even The Matrix is small potatoes…
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From here the story can branch in many direction… maybe it’s a magic wand
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It is a magic wand that creates a new story out of the same beginning on every wave ;)
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Intriguing, Trent, what happens next?
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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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Any meaning I try to put into what the discovery really was pales in comparison to what you might imagine.
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Bit of mystery Trent which left me wanting to know more. Please explain!
Well done.
Best wishes,
Rowena
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“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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Kids are always smarter than given credit for.
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They are.
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Lovely story, Trent! I like how you give us lots of back story with the science projects created by penniless children.
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Thanks Penny!
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Great flow to this piece.
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Thanks
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