M is for Metal Monster

Day 13 of the challenge!

My theme is NIFTY NUGGETS. Little nuggets of writing based on a photo, a phrase and an object, which is designed to encourage lean, tight writing. I’m aiming for a word count of under 300 words.

Thank you to L.Diane Wolfe for providing the beautiful photo prompts.  You can visit her blog to check out more pictures.

METAL MONSTER

METAL MONSTER

PHRASE – ground cinnamon sprinkled over sugared toast

OBJECT – hoola-hoop

There is security in the scrumptious aroma of ground cinnamon sprinkled over sugared toast, first thing on a cool summer’s morning when the sun has already made an appearance, and you open your eyes to the sound of the stereo that is cranked up to a bearable level, just enough not to disturb the neighbour who is polishing his red ‘70’s Chevy that is already gleaming from the over exertion.

You throw the covers back, ready to start your Saturday morning, anticipating the hoola-hoop squad who will be waiting in the open field at 11.00 sharp, ready to continue with the weekend festivities.

The hoops spin around and around, faster and faster, till red, blue and green plastic circles blur as the wind rushes past your face, and you close your eyes, giddy and breathless, arms outstretched to defy gravity in a never-ending spiral dance…

At night, your dream transforms into the monstrous carnival ride that comes every year. Its convoluted metal claws reach into the sky, extend around and around in all directions.

The spiral dance is different now—

Round and round—

Up you go—

Sway from side to side—

Then down at an angle—

The monster plunges, taking you to a bottomless pit—

Falling— falling—

The earth rushes to meet you—

Carnival ride— up and down. Hoola-hoops– round and round.

The two merge in a reckless dance of frivolity.

— and is interrupted by the scrumptious aroma of ground cinnamon sprinkled over sugared toast, first thing on a cool summer’s morning…

32 Comments

  1. Patricia Lynne on April 15, 2015 at 11:05 pm

    That was an interesting narrative. Great job.

  2. Alex J. Cavanaugh on April 15, 2015 at 11:44 pm

    That would be a nightmare for me. I don’t do roller coasters.

  3. Trisha on April 16, 2015 at 12:45 am

    I love roller coasters. We only have pathetic small ones in my part of the world 🙁

    Mmmmm cinnamon sugar.

  4. L. Diane Wolfe on April 16, 2015 at 12:54 am

    It sounds like a fun ride to me. I can never get enough loops.

    • Michelle Wallace on April 18, 2015 at 11:52 am

      To my knowledge, you are the Queen Of The Rollercoaster Rides! 🙂

  5. Lynda R Young on April 16, 2015 at 1:07 am

    Ah, cinnamon sugar… yum!
    I love Diane’s photo!

  6. Celine Jeanjean on April 16, 2015 at 3:09 am

    Loved the description in the first paragraph 🙂
    I have to admit I now get motion sickness with most roller coasters so that would be my idea of a nightmare!!

  7. Rosie Amber on April 16, 2015 at 7:47 am

    Fantastic, I was on that ride with everyone else.

    • Michelle Wallace on April 18, 2015 at 11:54 am

      You are braver than I am.
      I don’t know if my stomach would take it…

  8. Hilary on April 16, 2015 at 8:11 am

    Hi Michelle – I had to do one roller coaster in Jo’burg because one person needed another bod next to him … wasn’t happy – but at least it wasn’t huge, as you mentioned … soft ones in South Africa!

    Love the thought of the hula hoops morphing into the roller coaster … not sure about the dream .. and then the cinnamon toast – gives us reality … the metal monster dash … cheers Hilary

    • Michelle Wallace on April 18, 2015 at 11:54 am

      I love your perspective… metal monster dash… interesting way of describing it!

  9. Alex Hurst on April 16, 2015 at 11:36 am

    I just went to Universal Studios and rode the scariest coaster I’ve ever been on… Hollywood Dream. Exhilarating, but I was definitely regretting it on the incline before the drop! Thanks for bringing me back to that moment. 🙂

  10. Susan Gourley on April 16, 2015 at 1:51 pm

    I’m not surprised L. Diane Wolfe took a perfect picture of a coaster. I’m not much for carnival rides but I love the toast with cinnamon sugar on it. Now I’m hungry for some toast.

    • Michelle Wallace on April 18, 2015 at 11:57 am

      Diane is the Queen Of The Rollercoaster.
      She’s been on the biggest and scariest rides!

  11. Tawnya on April 16, 2015 at 6:06 pm

    Wonderful writing! Now I totally want to go ride a roller coaster! Lovely picture too!

    • Michelle Wallace on April 18, 2015 at 11:57 am

      I believe it’s an amazing adrenaline rush!
      But not for me… 🙂

  12. C. Lee Mckenzie on April 16, 2015 at 8:20 pm

    My stomach reacted to the falling image. Roller coasters scare me and my stomach witless. Nothing worse than a witless stomach.

  13. Beth on April 17, 2015 at 3:13 pm

    my stomach flipped and flopped!! Love roller coasters and love cinnamon even more (I’d sprinkle it on everything if I could, I swear)

    • Michelle Wallace on April 18, 2015 at 11:58 am

      The thought of it makes my stomach flip and flop too! 🙂

  14. joylene on April 17, 2015 at 11:04 pm

    I’m such a chicken. This wouldn’t be fun for me either. The toast and cinnamon … a wonderful choice.

  15. Stephen Tremp on April 18, 2015 at 4:01 pm

    This is the weekend before the last full week of A to Z. You’re amazing for staying with us this long. Thanks for your commitment. You’re almost there. This event only happens once a year, so rest up and get ready for the home stretch!

    Stephen Tremp
    A to Z Cohost
    P is for Paranormal Vs. Supernatural

  16. Debbie D. on April 19, 2015 at 7:41 pm

    I can picture it all in my mind and smell the cinnamon toast, as well! Nicely done, Michelle. 🙂

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