Esther’s Writing Prompt – Strike
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This is a little fiction story I wrote back in 2019 for a photo prompt challene:
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Hey, what are you looking at?
Yes, I’m a mannequin, a real live mann – e – quin. I’m real, and I see you.
Don’t believe me?
I used to be a real man, but I was down on my luck and looking for a job. They were hiring at this one place for a live statue, or mannequin, as you may call it.
Wonderful, I thought, getting a paycheck for just standing there for a few hours. So I applied, and got the job.
I had no problems the first few weeks, but then something weird happened. We had a power outage at the store. It was caused by a lightning strike, I think I heard them say.
But, when the power came back on, I was unable to move. I was frozen in place, and it was a bit embarrassing, being dressed in this outlandish steam punk outfit. People who used to glance my way on a normal day, would now stop and stare intently at me. And, I could do nothing about it. I couldn’t even speak. I could move my eyes, though, and I’d glare at them, hoping to cast an evil eye their way.
It’s been a week now, since the unthinkable happened. I’m still here, and there have been many doctors, scientists, and others who have come to try and fix me. I wish they’d hurry up with a cure.
Come on, come on, come on … I’m getting hungry, and my nose itches, but there’s no way to let them know. How much longer must this go on?
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Thanks for visiting! Peace ☮️
© 2019 & 2025 BS

