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Look Before You Leap #flashfiction

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Hugh W. Roberts

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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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52 responses to “Look Before You Leap #flashfiction”

  1. Liesbet @ Roaming About avatar
    Liesbet @ Roaming About

    I wonder whether she’ll grow wings next and fly away, since her arms are already in place to do so. Well done, Hugh! :-)

    Reply
    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
      Hugh W. Roberts

      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.

      Reply
  2. Liz H avatar
    Liz H

    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!

    Reply
    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
      Hugh W. Roberts

      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.

      Reply
  3. seaangel4444 avatar
    seaangel4444

    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

    Reply
    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
      Hugh W. Roberts

      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.

      Reply
      1. seaangel4444 avatar
        seaangel4444

        LOL Thank you, Hugh! I am as well! LOL Returning hugs to you! Thanks, Hugh! Cher xoxoxo

        Reply
  4. Norah avatar
    Norah

    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.

    Reply
    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
      Hugh W. Roberts

      Thanks, Norah. I’m sure the princess will find somebody to blame. Unless, of course, whoever it is, helps in getting her arms down.

      Reply
      1. Norah avatar
        Norah

        🤣 Indeed!

        Reply
  5. James L avatar
    James L

    Ha ha, easily done I’ve sprayed lynx deodrant on face thinking its shaving cream!

    Reply
    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
      Hugh W. Roberts

      I’m glad it happens to us men as well, James. That must have been rather sore if it went into your eyes.

      Reply
      1. James L avatar
        James L

        Luckily just on chin and cheek. I make sure just to spray on my hand first now!

        Reply
        1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
          Hugh W. Roberts

          That’s a good idea, James. Better to be safe.

          Reply
  6. Terri Webster Schrandt avatar
    Terri Webster Schrandt

    Good thing Princess Glitter Reins’ arm hair is in place now, LOL! Good one, Hugh, humorous and twisty!

    Reply
    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
      Hugh W. Roberts

      I wonder if it was the version that gave 24 hours hold, Terri?
      Thank you.

      Reply
  7. willowdot21 avatar
    willowdot21

    Been there , done it got the t-shirt 💜💜💜

    Reply
    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
      Hugh W. Roberts

      I’m glad somebody has come clean about this.

      Reply
      1. willowdot21 avatar
        willowdot21

        Lol I am always doing strange things….I think it makes me interesting 💜

        Reply
  8. Clive avatar
    Clive

    At least it wasn’t Gorilla glue…

    Reply
    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
      Hugh W. Roberts

      Can you imagine what the princess would have done if that had happened? Straight to the tower for the prankster.

      Reply
  9. Erika avatar
    Erika

    You never know… I mean, perhaps at that time, she could create a new “hairstyle” in the Kingdom…lol

    Reply
    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
      Hugh W. Roberts

      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.

      Reply
      1. Erika avatar
        Erika

        Ah, yes, right!!

        Reply
  10. Esther Chilton avatar
    Esther Chilton

    I wasn’t expecting that!

    Reply
    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
      Hugh W. Roberts

      Good. Another twist then? I like it when my stories come with a twist.

      Reply
      1. Esther Chilton avatar
        Esther Chilton

        They’re the best ones!

        Reply
  11. JT Twissel avatar
    JT Twissel

    And you’ve never accidentally sprayed your armpits with hairspray?

    Reply
    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
      Hugh W. Roberts

      Let me think about that. Umm, no. Not yet, anyway.

      Reply
  12. Retirement Reflections avatar
    Retirement Reflections

    This quick story made me laugh out loud. The ensuing comments made me laugh even louder. Thank you for the morning uplift!

    Reply
    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
      Hugh W. Roberts

      I’m pleased it made you laugh, Donna. It’s not often that I write comedy.

      Reply
  13. Sadje avatar
    Sadje

    Ooooops!

    Reply
  14. D. Avery @shiftnshake avatar
    D. Avery @shiftnshake

    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!

    Reply
    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
      Hugh W. Roberts

      Cool. I enjoy giving people a laugh, D. It makes a change from frightening people with my endings.

      Reply
  15. Gloria avatar
    Gloria

    Mmmm……perhaps someone paying her back for some trickery in the past. Hee hee hee!

    Reply
    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
      Hugh W. Roberts

      Yes, probably the naughty knave. He’s always playing tricks in the kingdom of Glitter Reins.

      Reply

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