Creative writing in one hundred words is the idea. Word press says I have 99, Microsoft Word says I have 100. Don’t care. I’m only in it for the fun!
As always, thanks goes out to Rochelle for her constant procurement and supply of picture prompts to get us going each week!
PHOTO PROMPT – Copyright – Georgia Koch
~*~
For Friday the 23, 2015
Puff and Nonsense
It was dusk and she needed to get home before dark. She’d been warned about the Trolls that lived under the bridge. It was said that if you didn’t have the toll to pay them that you would be taken to live with them forever.
Nonsense, she told herself. Little kid stuff to send you running to get home on time and to give you nightmares. I’m not a kid anymore, she thought. Running at a quick trot she started to cross the bridge and thought she heard a growl…
Thinking better of it she decided to take the boat.
~*~
Words: 100 (I’m going with Microsoft Word on this one. 😉 )
For some really great takes on this week’s prompt look HERE.
Notes on Fairy Tales:
Fairy Tales are found in every culture. They are almost always didactic, cautionary, or seeking to explain something in nature that wasn’t explained before our scientific minds sought to solve it.
For a child it is easy to believe, and for some of us it is hard to give up the make-believe of our youth. I jumped into bed every night after turning off the light until I was well into my teens. Laugh if you will, but who here still believes in ghosts, the chupacabras, or aliens?
I am taking liberties with Georgia Koch’s photo to show you how I came to my story today.
Do you see them? There are two hiding under the bridge. The one in the middle of this crop is seated in the shadows. The larger of the two, just left of center, is standing up.
FYI, The ability to see these images is called Pareidolia, and almost all of us have this ability. OK, some of us are better at it than others, so don’t feel bad if you can’t see those trolls. You can read a bit about Pareidolia: HERE
~*~
Thank you Georgia for sharing your lovely photo art with us!
~*~
And for those who may not know the original Norwegian Folktale about a Troll under the bridge you can read it: HERE
~*~
Life on the Farmlet 
Love all the creativity!
Thank you!
Wonderful retelling of a great fairy tale, and I really enjoyed the explanation and new word: Pareidolia!
It’s the retired teacher in me…
and thank you!
No matter how hard I try, I don’t see any trolls. I’m not surprised though. Raised the way I was, anything imaginary or something unexplained would get one in a heap of trouble! I’ll take your word for it that they are there… and I loved your story. You have a great sense of humor, Lynda!! 🙂
Lori, try this:
Go to the link I’m going to give you and then press control button down, hold it and tap the + key about 5 times. This will enlarge the image. The one sitting kinda reminds me of Gollum in TLOTR.
The experience of Pareidolia is sort of like looking at impressionist art (in this one think pointillism). 😉 Let me know if this helps you! And thank you!
No trolls in the photo for me — but I’m with you when it comes to the history of jumping into bed when I was a kid, before “something” got me. Even in high school, there was something about coming up the stairs from the basement that was a little nerve-wracking, since the stairs were pretty dark after the basement light was turned out.
Don’t tempt the chupacabra!
Linda, read my instructions to Littlesundog/Lori and see if this helps you. 😉
LOL, now that I think on it, I similarly haven’t been able to swim in the ocean, or a non lit swimming pool, since the movie “Jaws”!
My heart speeds up, feeling her anxiety as she toys with the idea of taking the bridge. Brings back memories of being terrified of a dark basement. Ok. To be honest, I’m still terrified of a dark basement. Nice take on the prompt!
Chris
LOL, Chris, I’m glad to know I am not alone in this grownup version of childhood fear.
Glad you liked it!
Very creative take on the prompt, Lynda. Well done.
Thank you, Sandra! I looked at it first thing in the morning and then came back mid afternoon… Suddenly there they were and the story was done!
Bravo!
You’ve made me smile! Thank you, Annie!
Dear Lynda,
I like what you did with this photo and for the origin in your mind (and now irretrievably in ours) of the trolls. Very imaginative, funny and well written.
Aloha,
Doug
Dear Doug,
I’m glad you enjoyed my little tale of trolls. It was a one take write and I didn’t think it was all that good. My, how you and the rest of the visitors have surprised me on this one! 🙂
Thank you, and Aloha,
Lynda
Dear Lynda,
What a fun take on the prompt. I think your MC is wise in opting for the boat as opposed to the bridge. Of course there’s no such thing as trolls under the bridge, but why take chances. Nicely done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Dear Rochelle,
Indeed, why take unnecessary risks where the possibility of trolls may exist! Glad you enjoyed my little tale.
Shalom,
Lynda
Very cool little tale, and thanks for the link on pareidolia (I love how you learn stuff on #FF :)) – I remember seeing monstrous faces in my bedroom curtains as a kid (it had a grape vine pattern on it) – kept me up some nights as the moon shone through.
Yeah, I’d take the boat too.
Cheers
KT
Thank you, KT!
I don’t believe I would like your bedroom curtains either. Just for fun, here is the creepy face in the wall scene from The Haunting
This one had me going when I was a pre-teen! 😉
I’d have never noticed those trolls if you hadn’t pointed them out, but now I can’t unsee them!
Isn’t that the way, Bill? I had a pecan (wood) cabinet door that faced the commode in our house in Claremont, CA. One day I noticed an image of Gandalf standing there with his staff… After that I couldn’t unsee him either. 😀
I see the trolls! and am wondering if the boat is any better choice! Yikes!
(nicely done!)
Hi Laurie, yes the boat is certainly best, because she doesn’t have to even go near the bridge to cross. I doubt trolls move that fast as they kind of lumber when in motion. Being in water would slow them down even more, don’t you think? 😉
(Thank you!)
Trolls always frightened me.
They are brutes!
Thank you for reading, Sally.
I was more afraid of werewolfs and vampires.. but a great way to educate kids to stay safe.
True enough, Björn, and thank you!
Trolls under bridges have become part of our family fun over the years – we never cross a rickety footbridge without checking, and they’re definitely there, in the picture. I love your story.
Thank you, Margaret! I’ve been thinking about seeing the trolls vs. not seeing them. Sorta like that old question about a tree falling in the woods and no one being there to hear it… then does it make a sound? (paraphrased badly)
Anyway, if you can’t see the Trolls then do they really exist? Conversely, if we can see them does that mean we’re in danger? ;P
Now there’s something to ponder. I’ll be very vigilant from now on, and if I ever actually see one, I’ll be sure to let you know the answer to that question.
Cheers
Marg
LOL! Please be careful out there, Marg!
Lynda, I sort of see the trolls but I like to see weird things. Good job and imagination on your story and she was smart to take the boat! Nan 🙂
Yeah, me too Nan. 😀 I would have opted for the boat as well. You can never be too safe where trolls are concerned.
MS Word counted correctly; it’s 100 words.
Sometimes you just have to wait with the WordPress editor if you’re typing it in, as it updates periodically. Clicking Save Draft/Update will force everything to be updated.
Thank you, Adam. 🙂
Haha…cute story.
Thank you, Dawn!