Copyright – Sandra Crook
Archibald revved up the engine and smiled at the sweet sound his beloved motor made.
‘Good God, man. Are you truly going to pass through the vortex on that monstrosity?’
‘By Jove, she’s coming, Alfonse. Is it ready?’
Alfonse nodded and stepped away from the motor, giving it a long sideways look that spoke envy. Next to him the vortex shimmered, swirled around like bluish air.
‘In three, two, one. And now!’
Archibald adjusted his goggles, stepped on the pedal and zoomed through the warm air; a tingling feeling consuming his whole body.
On the other end, he blinked his eyes open and gasped.
Other vehicles sped past him, swerved around him; shiny, four-wheeled ones with sleek lines, honking loudly in trumpet-like noises.
Archibald looked down at the motor that used to be his pride and his chest deflated.
—
Done for Friday Fictioneers.
This week, for the first time since I started participating in this challenge, I decided to relinquish the struggle to keep my words inside the one hundred word limit. Please forgive me, don’t hunt me down and punish me! The thing is, I had it at 100, but the story was incoherent. There’s too much plot for so few words; or maybe I’m still too unskilled to pull it off. Either way, this week I have given you 137 words of Steampunk. Hope you enjoy it.
Sandra's scribbles 
We’ll give you a note this time, but shape up for next week! 🙂 But there are some pretty easy things you could do to cut words and still keep your enjoyable story such as “revved up the engine, smiling”)–cut one. “Giving it a long sideways look that spoke envy”…”with a long, envious look”–cut three. Anyway, just a couple ideas.
janet
Yup, you’re right, so right that it makes want to have another crack at it! Thank you 🙂
It’s a modern chitty chitty bang bang or Wind in the Willows! Well done, very lively!
oooohh!! Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was my favourit-est film growing up!!
Thanks for your comment, Pirate 🙂
PS….http://yourligo.weebly.com/haibun.html if you’d like to …!
I liked this so much. Fun for me to read. A terrific romp from reality to fantasy!
Thanks so much for your comment Penny.
Poor Archibald…he was so proud of his fabulous motor. What a shock to see the future!
Yup: a tribute to all those men who sit around boasting about their wheels *wicked smile*
Couldn’t help but deflate along with Archibald’s chest…. Too, too sad for Archibald.
There’s nothing nicer than to ‘become’ the character… Three cheers to you; I became Archibald. 😉
Oh what a kind comment! Thanks a lot Carolyn, I’m very glad you enjoyed it.
I agree, a very fun read.
🙂 Thanks!
I had a lot of fun with that one.
Scott
Mine: http://kindredspirit23.wordpress.com/2013/04/10/4290/
I liked yours quite a lot too. Thanks for your comment Scott 🙂
You are welcome.
Poor Archie. He shouldn’t be worried though, his motor is fantastico and there will be some people with bright shiny motors who gladly swap. Now if the vortex can take him back to the turn of the twentieth century, he could join Modo and the Permanent Society and fight The Clockwork Guild.
Haha! 😀 Good one, Lyn. Thanks a lot for reading my story.
That was lovely..felt bad that his pride and chest was deflated though lol 🙂
Oh, don’t worry about that. A little deflation does good to certain people 🙂
All I saw was Emmett Brown and Marty Mcfly – really enjoyed this oh and over 100 (ssh I won’t tell anyone) 😉
Lol, well the connotations were there… (thanks for not telling)
You’re welcome 🙂
Dear Sandra,
This was a fun read. I could see the poor guy seeing 20th or 21st century cars for the first time and being a little intimidated, but hey, how many of those can travel through time? Clever. I’ll forgive the 37 words…this time 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
Hehe 🙂 Thanks ma’am for letting me off so easily this time round!
Entertaining and insightful.
Clever and enjoyable.
Oooh what a wonderful comment! Thank you.
I really got caught up in this – well done!
Thank you, Sandra. And thank you for this photo; very enjoyable prompt!
Very funny piece Sandra, I especially liked the dialogue and the names. Poor Archibald, I bet he wishes he had never left his time! 🙂
I bet he does! Thanks a lot for your comment.
D’oh. I feel bad for him. Hopefully he can hitchhike back through the vortex. 🙂
Or walk; his head low, cradling his shame… Thanks for your comment, David.
Great fun and I’d rather see 137 coherent words than 100 incoherent ones!
That’s what I thought 🙂 Thanks a lot for your comment!
Oh how easily our pride can be stamped down! I liked the flow and the transition from a feeling of superiority to nothingness.
Thanks Joe, glad you liked it.
This is a fun story. His machine was actually much sweeter….it travels through time.
I’ll tell him that, it might lift his spirits 😉
aww poor Archibald! i still think his time machine’s cool ^^
That’s kind 🙂 Thanks a lot for your comment KZ
That was fun 🙂
Thanks Alastair
Loved the feel of this tale, the tone is just right for a certain type of steampunk.
I started compiling some suggested cuts to bring it down to the 100 and found that Janet had already suggested them. Note to self – must read the comments!