Probability of Probably Not Grasping Probability Equation

There was a 50% chance my parents were right:  I’d need Algebra in my adult life.

Until today, with this Trifextra challenge, they were wrong.

There’s a 100% probability I’ll never tell them.

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This is my entry for the Trifextra weekend challenge.  Here’s the challenge they gave:

Andy Rooney created something called “The 50-50-90 rule: anytime you have a 50-50 chance of getting something right, there’s a 90% probability you’ll get it wrong.”  We want you to give us your own probability equation.  Use whichever numbers suit you, and make it about whatever you like, but give us something to think about.  In 33 words, of course.

I’m mathematically challenged.  I barely made it through the required math courses for my degree and I still count on my fingers.  Imagine my horror to see the Triefextra weekend challenge involved writing a probability equation.  A probability equation on a writing website?  That’s just cruel!

The backhand of the challenge was softened by the fact I got my first ever first place win for Truth of Promises, which I submitted for the weekday challenge.  I appreciate everyone who stopped by to read it.

Candy Or A Kiss?

Millicent’s bet:

First to swings, wins.

He yanked her ponytail

And ran.

She skunked him.

Couldn’t swallow his pride,

Had to weasel out of the kiss instead:

Seven was too young for marriage.

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I tried to get in the mind of a seven-year-old boy for the Trifecta weekend challenge, which is community-judged this week.  Poor guy never considered he might lose (to a girl)!

If you like it, please visit the Trifecta site on Sunday (after 8PM Eastern time) to vote.  If you don’t like my entry, you should still visit the site to vote because I promise you’ll find something you do like among the entries   The writing prompt given is:

This weekend we want you to write a 33-word response using the
name of an animal as a verb.  Some examples are: to dog, to snake, to bear,
to duck. . .you get the idea.  Write about anything you want and use whichever
verb tense you need, but give us an animal as a verb in there somewhere.

In honor of Trifecta, I used three animals.  I’m either an over-achiever or a suck-up…you call it 🙂

Oh, I almost forgot – if you want to write your own entry, check out the Trifecta site by clicking on the Tricycle picture to see full instructions.  Happy writing (and reading!)

Chameleon

Lilly Hampton wore her practiced ‘I’m interested’ face while the couple bickered in front of her.  On the desk, her cellphone vibrated.  She couldn’t resist tapping the screen with her pencil eraser to view the text.

I need an appointment.  Available tonight?

A discreet check of her watch revealed that the McScreimers’ time was almost up.  She felt at home surrounded by rising voices and flaring tempers; both were synonymous with her childhood.

“David.  Mona!” Her voice sliced their argument like a dagger through silk.

Both turned to Lilly, appearing surprised they weren’t alone.

“Infidelity isn’t a marriage-breaker,” Lilly said once she had their attention.  “You can work through these issues and find harmony.”  I know.  I’ve been married for thirty years.

The couple looked skeptical.

“This week, I want you both to write down promises you will do to make your marriage stronger.  We’ll talk about it next week.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Hampton,” David and Mona said in unison and stood to leave.

She replied to the text.  Six-thirty.

Lilly typed her notes in the computer, the glow from the screen casting shadows that crawled across her bookcases and stretched over her framed certificates on the wall.  She felt at home with solitude.  At six-thirty, a light rapping on the door interrupted her thoughts.  “Michael.”  She smiled, pulled the glasses off the bridge of her nose and dropped them on the desk.

He closed the door behind him, and then took her in his arms.  “Am I late for my appointment?”

“You’re right on time,” she said before her lips met his.

The phone rang, interrupting their passionate greeting.

“Heart and Home Counseling,” Lilly answered.

“I made chicken piccata.  Will you be home soon?”

She turned away from Michael.  “I’m wrapping up my notes.  I’ll be another hour or so.”

“I’ll put it in the fridge then.  Love you.”

“I love you, too,” Lilly said.  She hung up the phone and slid into Michael’s arms, feeling at home in her lover’s embrace.

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This was written for the Trifecta writing challenge.  This week, the challenge was to write a 33 to 333 word response (mine squeezed in at 333 words) using the following word and definition:

HOME (noun):  (a) a familiar or usual setting : congenial environment; also :the focus of one’s domestic attention <home is where the heart is>(b) : habitat

If you want to give the challenge a try, check out the complete guidelines on Trifecta’s site – just click the tricycle picture.

Ice Cream

Sweet confection,

We go way back.

Childhood treat-

Sticky fingers,

Soggy cones.

Teenaged angst-

Frozen therapy,

By Haagen-Dazs.

Mommy’s late-night indulgence-

Perverse hybrid,

Of habit and friend.

My expanding waistline,

Exposes this affection.

 

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The fact that I chose to write about ice cream should be a red flag that the relationship has crossed into unhealthy territory.  (Not to mention that I just used “ice cream” and “relationship” in the same sentence.)  That I have three open cartons and arranged a photo shoot should earn me mandatory admittance into an in-patient program.  It should. Yet still I’ve got my freedom….and a craving for chocolate fudge brownie ice cream.  Rats.  I don’t have that flavor…

I guess this is what happens when a childhood reward becomes a teenage confidante and finally, my secret stash of after-the-kids-go-to-bed sweetness. 🙂

This is my entry in the Trifecta weekend challenge:

“Give us 33 words (exactly) that tell us three different uses for one object.  But don’t just tell us that a can opener can be used to 1) open cans, 2) open beer bottles and 3) break a window in case of a fire.  Tell us a story, like Lead Belly did, if you can.  It won’t be easy, but you guys are far beyond needing easy prompts.

Example by blues musician Lead Belly: You take a knife, you use it to cut the bread, so you’ll have strength to work; you use it to shave, so you’ll look nice for your lover; on discovering her with another, you use it to cut out her lying heart.

 

Mystery – Novel’s First Line

She kneeled, her back pressed against the searing metal of the Suburban’s door, hoping it would shield them from gunfire, praying her smile would stifle the wail she saw in her toddler’s eyes.

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This is my entry for the Trifecta Weekend Challenge: What we want you to do this weekend is to give us a 33-word opening line to your book. That’s it. Make us want to read the next 333 pages of your work.

This beginning is from my first novel – a mystery that takes place one hot, Phoenix summer. It has not been published, but I still hope one day it will. Dreams keep writers writing, you know!