Sacha Black challenges us to write a story, poem, prompt, or theme, using just 52 words (no more, no less). This week we have to include the following words –
Time, Juice, Stack, Pigeon
Look away now if you’re one of the faint-hearted. I bring you, Flutter.
Their time had come.
Poor things. The odds had been stacked against them. They had no chance, but revenge was sweet.
As the group of pigeons prepared to feast, the first sunset of this new world was spectacular.
Human juice would at last flow. The eyes were the first to be pecked.
Thank you to the great Alfred Hitchcock for getting me through this tough challenge. Yes, I know they are crows and not pigeons in the clip, but pigeons didn’t feature in the movie, The Bird.
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Hugh's Views & News 
Oh my, you certainly accomplished the task with flying colours! 😀
Thanks, Melissa. Glad you enjoyed it.
Haha! I love it! 😀
Thank you.
Brilliant, Hugh! I love your take on the prompt, from your word choice to the plot, POV, and Hitch angle. Just rewatched “The Birds” recently and did so with the kids, shielding youngest from the bloody parts. You also have to see (if you haven’t) Mel Brooks’ “High Anxiety,” because it, lovingly I think, spoofs “Birds” so well (not to mention Vertigo, NbN, etc.).
Thanks, Leigh. That’s so kind. I’ll check out the Mel Brooks spoof. Only he could do spoofs of Hitchcock movies. I’m sure they are very funny.
Oh my! 😮 And this comes right after a friend sent me a video of a wake of vultures that has taken over her town! They’re everywhere; on roof tops, telephone poles . . . They had to call animal control. The video was so creepy. It would have gone perfectly with your story. Well done!
I’m glad I don’t live in that town, Vashti. Does make me think that an earlier comment that said ‘their time will come soon’ is true. Thank goodness there are no vultures where I live. 😀
Me too!
Before I even read your story, this movie came to mind. This movie freaks me out more than almost any other horror flick I’ve seen. I watched less than half of the video before I started getting goosebumps and started squirming. To this day, whenever I see a group of birds anywhere…… I am waiting…. lol
‘The Birds’ is one of the scariest movies I’ve ever seen. Some people think birds will have their day. I hope I’m long gone before that happens.
Recently I was telling my kids that they need to see the movie. We always joke about the movies I forced them to watch that traumatized them as children.
Eh, birds had their chance—as dinosaurs! 🙂 Who knows, though; as you suggest, Hugh, once humans are gone . . .
Hearing what’s going on in the world, it may not be long before they have their time (again), Leigh. I’ll have to try nad make myself a pair of wings. Although, I won’t be eating worms. 😳
Reblogged this on The Owl Lady.
HaHA!! Love it! Any species of bird can get whipped up into “flutter frenzy.” I have been to the school house where the movie was made. Only a couple of hours away north of San Francisco. I cannot NOT look up just to make sure when walking around that area! I have a brave hummingbird in my back yard that is not afraid of me and will fly right in front of my face. Have you seen the size of hummers’ beaks?? And a seagull let lose on my grandmother years ago as she walked in downtown San Diego. Another story for Glimpses 2? This one with the eye pecked out? LOL!
Oh, I’d love to visit that location of the school that featured in the movie, Terri. Talking of ‘eyes pecked out’ that was one of the most frightening moments of the movie for me. I think I was about 10 years-old when I first saw that scene. It’s been etched on my mind since then.
I’m sure your hummingbird is a friendly chap. I’ve seen seagulls attack people as well, but I think that has something to do with the rubbish many of our fellow humans leave behind. Maybe there’s a story in there somewhere?
Your brain is a very scary place Hugh – I’d rather not think about birds like that 🙂
I know, but I do love that movie, Claudette. Mr Hitchcock is a real inspiration to me.
Great take on the challenge. And yes, The Birds…still scary to me. We live on a road that has been “acquired” by Canadian geese…they have our respect, even as they block the road.
I know what you mean, Van. Some birds, you just don’t mess with them. 😀
OHHHHH MY DAYSSSS!!!!! I LOVE THIS ENTRY! It’s horrifying but genius. I can’t believe you mashed all those things together so well. fantastic entry.
It was tough, believe me. Thank goodness Mr Hitchcock came to my rescue. 😀
you absolutely nailed it. One of my fave entries so far.
eeewwww sicko… marvellous
Thank you. 😀
A great post, Hugh. I hated that movie, The Birds. It gave me nightmares for weeks when I saw it as a child.
It still gives me nightmares, Robbie, especially the scene of the man with his eyes pecked out. Yikes! 😱
Well done, we all know their day will come, maybe sooner than we think.
That’s a frighten thought. Maybe my piece of flash fiction will come true then?
Yikes! LOL. Good one, Hugh. That’s a heck of a specific challenge, but you did it. 😀
One of the toughest writing challenges I’ve done, Teagan. Took me six days to come up with this. 😮
Fabulous! Reminds me of The Birds. Chilling.
That’s where I got the inspiration from. Thank you, Mr Hitchcock.
Well done on a very tough challenge. I am glad that I continued reading (despite your warning)!
Thanks, Donna. It was a tough challenge this week. The next one is out tomorrow.
Brilliant post Hugh, by the way don’t you think there should of been pigeons in the birds concidering how many pigeons there are about !! 🙂 😉 ❤
Thinking about it, I don’t remember there being as many pigeons about back then, Willow. Now, there does not seem to be as many black crows. I find pigeons quite funny to look at. I’d see their roles more in comedy than horror. 😀
Thank you for the great feedback on this challenge. It was a tough one.
Yes it was! As for pigeons yes they are fun to watch 😰
Mmmmhhh, yummy!!! 😁
Ready for dessert, now? 😟
One time last year, in the Autumn I remember I walked near a towering hay stack. I heard a little bird call, nothing much, just half a twitter. I took my shot gun out and killed it and cooked it later for my dinner – pigeon pie cooked in grape juice (wine).
Never tasted Pigeon. It’s something I’ve never really fancied trying.
Me neither Hugh. I just made it up.
I did think it didn’t sound like you, Andrew. I mean, cooked in wine juice? But great entry for the challenge.
You did good there Hugh!!! A little macabre… will we need to worry about the pigeons in London at the Bash???
Don’t worry, Ritu, I’ll have a word with them. 😀
Lol thanks!!! Though if we bring baked delicacies… they may want to visit us anyway!!!
That’s why I’m begging Geoff not to bring cake. 😱
Oh but we need his cake… maybe we’ll need pigeon security lol!!!
When I saw the words, I couldn’t imagine…..I should have known better 😀 Excellent, Hugh!
Thanks, Cathy. A tough challenge from Sacha, this week. It took me a while to go the way I did with this story (given the words we had to use).
That was pretty sinister, Hugh! You rose to the challenge perfectly! 🙂
Thanks, Judy. Alfred Hitchcock helped me with this one. ‘The Birds’ was one of the first movies I watched of his. To this day, it still scares me.
I have seen it too and it frightened me to death!
You have captured the spirit of it beautifully and in so few words!!! 🙂
52 words is tough, Judy. I’d almost given up on this challenge but didn’t want Sacha to defeat me. 😀
I know, I felt the same! Mind you, I hope she doesn’t get any tougher!!! 🙂
As a seagull-loving, Brighton-living resident I have to say that I’ve never heard of any attacks on people that werenot food related. In other words, unlike the pigeons in your spine-tingling story, they are not out to get you, but they are partial to a tasty sandwich if you haven’t protected it between two paper plates (and even then you better only nibble at the edges). They are clever birds with attitude. They are also good parents. And most summer days you can hear them tell off their ungainly teenage offspring, while at the same time keeping them well-fed and out of danger….peaceful co-existence is possible but a challenge when combined with outdoor eating and the use of black plastic rubbish bags. Pigeons, however, are a different story
I agree, Bridget. Isn’t it the case that if it wasn’t for all the rubbish we humans leave behind, then these birds would not have started to bother us? I always despair at the rubbish left on any beach after a warm sunny day. Even with bins provided, some always fail to take their rubbish with them.
The prompts looked tough…your response made it all flow!
Thank you. This was one of the toughest challenges I’ve tried. Given the words, we had to use (and the number of words we were allowed to use), I think those that have entered this challenge have all done extremely well.
I’m sure…:)
There was, this morning, a BBC report about Seagulls attacking people, Hugh
I’ve heard about that happening before, Chris. When we lived in Brighton, I often witnessed those attacks happening. Thank goodness they seemed to avoid me.
It’s supposed to be lucky if they successfully dive bomb you and hit the target (your head) LOL
And there was me thinking that was when they managed to poop on your head, Chris. 🙄
That’s It Hugh – (Slaps forehead and falls backwards off branch) 😀