Bats: 99 word Challenge

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© irene waters 2018

I came too; lying on the ground, my eyes shut tight. I don’t know if I could have opened them. I didn’t want to. The bright purple light made me feel at peace and the forest that was drawn on this backdrop was calming. Verdant green. Mystical. My breathing slowed. My pulse dropped lower and lower. 

Bats. Hordes of black spots alighting from the forest. ‘No! My mouth is not a bat cave,’ I wanted to shout but the words froze on my lips. 

“Lizzie”

‘Lyssivirus’ I thought before a shake penetrated my consciousness.  Eyes opened.  Yoga meditation embarrassment.

In response to Charli’s prompt where she asks:

April 12, 2018, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story that includes a bat. You can use an association to the winged, cave-dwelling critter, or you can explore the word for other meanings. Bonus points for including a bat cave. Go where the prompt leads.

Respond by April 17, 2018. Use the comment section below to share, read and be social. You may leave a link, pingback or story in the comments.

If you want your story published in the weekly collection, please use this form. If you want to interact with other writers, do so in the comments (yes, that means sharing your story TWICE — once for interaction and once for publication). Rules are here.

About Irene Waters 19 Writer Memoirist

I began my working career as a reluctant potato peeler whilst waiting to commence my training as a student nurse. On completion I worked mainly in intensive care/coronary care; finishing my hospital career as clinical nurse educator in intensive care. A life changing period as a resort owner/manager on the island of Tanna in Vanuatu was followed by recovery time as a farmer at Bucca Wauka. Having discovered I was no farmer and vowing never again to own an animal bigger than myself I took on the Barrington General Store. Here we also ran a five star restaurant. Working the shop of a day 7am - 6pm followed by the restaurant until late was surprisingly more stressful than Tanna. On the sale we decided to retire and renovate our house with the help of a builder friend. Now believing we knew everything about building we set to constructing our own house. Just finished a coal mine decided to set up in our backyard. Definitely time to retire we moved to Queensland. I had been writing a manuscript for some time. In the desire to complete this I enrolled in a post grad certificate in creative Industries which I completed 2013. I followed this by doing a Master of Arts by research graduating in 2017. Now I live to write and write to live.
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33 Responses to Bats: 99 word Challenge

  1. I had the words frozen on my lips experience.

    Liked by 2 people

  2. LucciaGray says:

    What a nightmare! That shouldn’t happen during meditation 😂

    Liked by 2 people

  3. It HAD to happen at exactly that time 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

  4. I love your imagination – and your flash – Irene 🙂 ❤

    Liked by 2 people

  5. Not sure why my profile pic didn’t show up and that strange image…trying again and hopefully sorted now!

    Liked by 2 people

  6. Jules says:

    I have a yoga CD with three different programs. One is for meditation.
    I think I ought to get back into that habit at least a couple of times a week, when I get home.

    Your story though reminded me of wakeful dreams – when you think you are awake and aren’t.
    Not always a nightmare, but most often are.

    Liked by 2 people

  7. Sounds like hallucination rather than meditation – yikes! Clever about the Lyssavirus.

    Liked by 2 people

  8. BTW – those bats are huge! and scary.

    Liked by 2 people

  9. robbiecheadle says:

    A very unique take, Irene. I can just picture this happening.

    Liked by 1 person

  10. Pingback: For the Bats « Carrot Ranch Literary Community

  11. Charli Mills says:

    I laughed so hard I think I did belly-laughing yoga! The play on her name getting called and her thinking it was the virus is great comedic timing!

    Like

  12. Norah says:

    Not a very calming meditation, Irene. I’d be embarrassed too. Great story.

    Liked by 1 person

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