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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. February Story Chat: The Trophy Cabinet – Marsha Ingrao – Always Write avatar
    February Story Chat: The Trophy Cabinet – Marsha Ingrao – Always Write

    […] Hugh W. Roberts […]

    Reply
  2. Marsha avatar
    Marsha

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

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

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

      Reply
      1. Marsha avatar
        Marsha

        LOL! The mental picture makes me smile. :)

        Reply
  3. Jules avatar
    Jules

    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!

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

      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.

      Reply
      1. Jules avatar
        Jules

        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 ;)

        Reply
  4. fictionspawn Aak avatar
    fictionspawn Aak

    At least her armpits will shine.

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

      …but hopefully not stick together.

      Reply
      1. fictionspawn Aak avatar
        fictionspawn Aak

        A small price to pay :D

        Reply
  5. dgkaye avatar
    dgkaye

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

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

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

      Reply
      1. dgkaye avatar
        dgkaye

        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

        Reply
  6. 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
  7. 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
  8. 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
  9. 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
  10. 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

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