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. Marsha avatar

    LOL Someone was horsin’ around with her! :) Good thing she wasn’t a long haired cat purring with hair spray under her arms! :)

    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar

      That’s true, although I don’t think she was purring after spraying under both arms, more like growling.

      1. Marsha avatar

        LOL! The mental picture makes me smile. :)

  2. Jules avatar

    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!

    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar

      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.

      1. Jules avatar

        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 ;)

  3. fictionspawn Aak avatar

    At least her armpits will shine.

    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar

      …but hopefully not stick together.

      1. fictionspawn Aak avatar

        A small price to pay :D

  4. dgkaye avatar

    Well done Hugh. And ouchee on the pits, lol. You nailed the fairy tale bonus component. :) x

    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar

      I’d forgotten about that bonus, Debby. Thank you for reminding me. Now I’m off to spray my armpits.

      1. dgkaye avatar

        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

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