February 4, 2021, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story that features a substitution. How might a character or situation be impacted by a stand-in? Bonus points for fairy tale elements. Go where the prompt leads.
Look Before You Leap – by Hugh W. Roberts
For hundreds of years, all had been well in the Kingdom of Princess Glitter Reins. Until the morning of her 42nd birthday.
“Do-be-do-do-do,” she sang while looking in the bathroom mirror.
“I’m so happy, happy, happy, and gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous,” she told her reflection. “Nothing can go wrong today,” she purred while grabbing a can of deodorant and spaying under both arms.
“Ohhhhh, that feels peculiar, but smells familiar.”
Turning the can around, the princess’s reflection looked horrified as the words ‘Hair lacquer’ met her eyes. Who the heck had substituted her deodorant for a can of hair lacquer?
***
Written for the 99-word flash fiction challenge hosted by Charli Mills at the Carrot Ranch. Click here to join in.
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Hugh's Views & News 
LOL Someone was horsin’ around with her! 🙂 Good thing she wasn’t a long haired cat purring with hair spray under her arms! 🙂
That’s true, although I don’t think she was purring after spraying under both arms, more like growling.
LOL! The mental picture makes me smile. 🙂
Reminds me of a time a Boss Lady hearing I was having difficulties at home invited me to live with her – but she said without her glasses she was sort of blind and that I wasn’t to be moving her things around. I never did take her up on her offer. Hmmm… a naught knave. He might not like being pranked back!
What a strange thing for her to have said to you, Jules. I’m not surprised you never took up that offer.
I think it was the knave too. Reminds me a little of some of the pranks I used to play on my unsuspecting parents.
My family is involved with the Volunteer Fire service (Those guys love to prank!)
When one of the ‘guys’ got married he was so afraid of being pranked on his honeymoon night that he made three different hotel reservations! Well that’s what he said anyway 😉
At least her armpits will shine.
…but hopefully not stick together.
A small price to pay 😀
Well done Hugh. And ouchee on the pits, lol. You nailed the fairy tale bonus component. 🙂 x
I’d forgotten about that bonus, Debby. Thank you for reminding me. Now I’m off to spray my armpits.
LOL Hugh. Omg, please don’t. Let’s just say I may have done that yearsssssss ago, kinda feels like superglue under the pits. Immediate rinse, don’t try this at home! LOL 🙂 xx
I wonder whether she’ll grow wings next and fly away, since her arms are already in place to do so. Well done, Hugh! 🙂
That would have been a fairytale ending for the princess, Liesbet. Given that butterflies only live for one day, I’m not sure she would have seen it like a fairytale ending though.
The butler did it, in the library, with the candlestick!
Sounds like she deserved the prank…hope she finally got the joke…or the hint!
Given the picture I built up of the Princess in my head as I was writing the story, I would expect she would have had the culprit sent to the tower.
LOL Well done, Hugh! I haven’t done quite that, but I have grabbed a tube of hand cream thinking it was the toothpaste! Thank goodness I realized it before my teeth became as soft as velvet! Hahahaha Cher xoxoxo
I’m glad you never got to taste that hand cream, Cher. I can imagine what your face would have looked like as you began cleaning your teeth.
Sending you hugs.
LOL Thank you, Hugh! I am as well! LOL Returning hugs to you! Thanks, Hugh! Cher xoxoxo
That’s so funny, Hugh. I wonder who she’ll find to blame. It couldn’t have been herself, of course. I wonder will her arms be stuck up all day.
Thanks, Norah. I’m sure the princess will find somebody to blame. Unless, of course, whoever it is, helps in getting her arms down.
🤣 Indeed!
Ha ha, easily done I’ve sprayed lynx deodrant on face thinking its shaving cream!
I’m glad it happens to us men as well, James. That must have been rather sore if it went into your eyes.
Luckily just on chin and cheek. I make sure just to spray on my hand first now!
That’s a good idea, James. Better to be safe.
Good thing Princess Glitter Reins’ arm hair is in place now, LOL! Good one, Hugh, humorous and twisty!
I wonder if it was the version that gave 24 hours hold, Terri?
Thank you.
Been there , done it got the t-shirt 💜💜💜
I’m glad somebody has come clean about this.
Lol I am always doing strange things….I think it makes me interesting 💜
At least it wasn’t Gorilla glue…
Can you imagine what the princess would have done if that had happened? Straight to the tower for the prankster.
You never know… I mean, perhaps at that time, she could create a new “hairstyle” in the Kingdom…lol
I’m sure she’s already done that, Erika. After all, a princess must always look her best. A bit like the actresses in the old movies where they get out of bed after a good night’s sleep, and every hair would still be in place. Plus, still with all their makeup on.
Ah, yes, right!!
I wasn’t expecting that!
Good. Another twist then? I like it when my stories come with a twist.
They’re the best ones!
And you’ve never accidentally sprayed your armpits with hairspray?
Let me think about that. Umm, no. Not yet, anyway.
This quick story made me laugh out loud. The ensuing comments made me laugh even louder. Thank you for the morning uplift!
I’m pleased it made you laugh, Donna. It’s not often that I write comedy.
Ooooops!
Aw, not having deodorant stinks, Princess Glitter Reins, but at least you’ll not have a hair out of place.
You gave me a laugh, Hugh!
Cool. I enjoy giving people a laugh, D. It makes a change from frightening people with my endings.
Mmmm……perhaps someone paying her back for some trickery in the past. Hee hee hee!
Yes, probably the naughty knave. He’s always playing tricks in the kingdom of Glitter Reins.