Wednesday, 4 September 2019

DISGUISED - 100 word story

Loved this week's Friday Fictioneer's photo prompt. Never mind the shelves - it was the plant that sparked my imagination.


PHOTO PROMPT © Penny Gadd


DISGUISED

When Xognan was posted to the planet called Earth to study the highest life form he was aghast. The project would swallow nine million xano-years of his life and he regretted signing up with Planet Discovery. He'd only done it because the pay was good.
Xognan wasn't overly happy with the flimsy disguise he'd been given either.
Hey-ho.
Now he sat high on a shelf in what these lifeforms called a 'house'. Fine filaments on Xognan's limbs caught microscopic bacteria to feed on. He nervously relied on the lifeforms to water him.
And he studied their behaviour with undisguised astonishment.
I hope you enjoyed this story and I look forward to your comments. 


If you wish to read more Friday Fictioneers stories, you can find them listed HERE


If you'd like to join in the challenge, you'll find all the information posted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields 


- her blog is listed on 'My Blog List' on the right hand side of this page.


On a final note - I always attempt to visit the blogs of everyone who comments on mine. If I haven't commented on yours it's either because I haven't been redirected to your blog when I've clicked on your name or because you have a wordpress account that requires me to sign into wordpress first. 
Please check and amend your settings. Thanks.
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56 comments:

  1. Iain Kelly4 September 2019 at 13:44

    I bet he can't believe what he is seeing! Good fun.

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  2. Rochelle Wisoff-Fields4 September 2019 at 14:34

    Dear Susan,

    Sounds like a rough assignment. Hope the life forms keep him watered. Fun Story.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

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    1. Susan A Eames4 September 2019 at 16:03

      Yes, it's all a bit nerve wracking for the poor little alien. :)

      Delete
  3. Tannille4 September 2019 at 15:48

    Poor ET. The horrors she/he must see ��.

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  4. Linda4 September 2019 at 18:03

    Oh, I love this. From the perspective of a space alien, human behavior probably does seem beyond strange :)

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    1. Susan A Eames4 September 2019 at 19:51

      He he - I find it pretty strange a lot of time myself so goodness only knows what a little alien would make of it. Thanks for commenting, Linda.

      Delete
  5. tedstrutz4 September 2019 at 21:26

    He nervously relied on the lifeforms to water him. ... Love it!!!

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    1. Susan A Eames5 September 2019 at 10:46

      Thanks for the feedback, Ted. Glad to know it worked for you.

      Delete
  6. C. E. Ayr4 September 2019 at 21:31

    Entertaining piece, Susan!

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  7. Dale4 September 2019 at 21:58

    Horrid assignment, if you ask me! Let us hope they are not like me and are better at keeping him alive!

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    1. Susan A Eames5 September 2019 at 10:48

      Nerve wracking for our little alien to say the least. Glad he's not observing humans in your house, Dale. :)

      Delete
  8. Jade Li4 September 2019 at 23:24

    I'm sure HQ will approve his report recommendation of condemned.

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    1. Susan A Eames5 September 2019 at 10:48

      I wonder which aspects of human life astonish him the most. :)

      Delete
  9. Neil MacDonald5 September 2019 at 00:13

    But the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy labels the planet as "mostly harmless"

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    1. Susan A Eames5 September 2019 at 10:49

      Ah yes! Harmless, but nonetheless astonishing. :)

      Delete
  10. draliman5 September 2019 at 07:59

    Poor Xognan, stuck there watching our weird behaviour unfold. Good job he isn't relying on me to water him, I'm a bit forgetful :-)

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    1. Susan A Eames5 September 2019 at 10:49

      And it's not like he can jump off that shelf and go elsewhere!

      Delete
  11. Darlene5 September 2019 at 09:22

    I love this! It does look like something from another planet!

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    1. Susan A Eames5 September 2019 at 10:51

      Thank you, Darlene. As soon as I looked at the plant I saw a little figure with legs and multiple arms. :)

      Delete
  12. Keith Hillman5 September 2019 at 10:34

    Not the most exciting job but at least the pay's good! Nice one.

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    1. Susan A Eames5 September 2019 at 10:52

      He he - it needs to be well paid considering the potential danger. Thanks for commenting.

      Delete
  13. Subroto5 September 2019 at 11:21

    Poor Xognan is kind of a big dill, probably not a good thyme to be on this planet.

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    1. Susan A Eames5 September 2019 at 11:46

      Ha ha - so someone had to make a few puns!! :)

      Delete
  14. Sandra Crook5 September 2019 at 11:34

    If he lived in my house he'd have a very short life span, either being parched or drowned. Good idea and nicely done too.

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    1. Susan A Eames5 September 2019 at 11:47

      I'm afraid I've done my fair share of 'house-planticide' too, Sandra. Thanks for commenting.

      Delete
  15. Birgit5 September 2019 at 16:53

    That is a funny story and I wonder if he can walk off that shelf when the humans are sleeping or away. he can get into the fridge to eat, turn on his favourite soaps and figure out a ray to give trump the death ray

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    1. Susan A Eames7 September 2019 at 10:50

      Nice idea Birgit, but sadly, he's stuck until his Planet Discovery employers release him from his contract. :)

      Delete
  16. theministryofshrawleywalks5 September 2019 at 18:34

    Ha!! What a grim assignment, but if he will be greedy, its quality of life which is important.

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    1. Susan A Eames7 September 2019 at 10:51

      Ah but maybe his quality of life on his planet isn't too great?

      Delete
  17. Nobbinmaug6 September 2019 at 00:50

    Good one. I can easily see that plant as an alien life form. Xognan of die in my house. I am bad at watering plants, and my roommate is worse.

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    1. Susan A Eames7 September 2019 at 10:52

      I saw a little creature the minute I looked at the plant. Good job he isn't in your house!

      Delete
  18. Solothefirst6 September 2019 at 00:59

    Haha OMG the things he will see. What a job to have! I hope they do remember to water him. fun story

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    1. Susan A Eames7 September 2019 at 10:52

      I shudder to think what he's seeing. Thanks for commenting.

      Delete
  19. liz young6 September 2019 at 08:15

    Fun story, Susan!

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  20. Brenda Cox6 September 2019 at 10:53

    I love your take on the prompt. Very clever and fun story!

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    1. Susan A Eames7 September 2019 at 10:53

      Thanks for the kind comments, Brenda - glad you enjoyed it.

      Delete
  21. plaridel6 September 2019 at 16:45

    i'm not sure xognan will enjoy his big paycheck relying on humans to water him to survive. :)

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    1. Susan A Eames7 September 2019 at 10:54

      Yes, he knows he's in a delicate situation to say he least!

      Delete
  22. Woman Walks Max6 September 2019 at 19:56

    An inventive take on the prompt Susan, I could imagine reading more episodes of your story.

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    1. Susan A Eames7 September 2019 at 10:54

      Now there's a thought - it would lend itself to a longer story, wouldn't it?

      Delete
  23. lisarey1990@gmail.com6 September 2019 at 22:23

    Very fun take!

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  24. Jo Hawk7 September 2019 at 19:46

    It does look like an alien life form. Nice story

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    1. Susan A Eames7 September 2019 at 20:38

      Yes, that's what I saw the instant I looked at the photo. Thanks for commenting, Jo.

      Delete
  25. margirene8 September 2019 at 06:29

    What an engaging narrator; he sounds so human - I can't imagine why he was so astonished by what he witnessed in the 'house'. Lots of fun.

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    1. Susan A Eames8 September 2019 at 10:35

      Thanks for the feedback, Margirene. I should think most human households hide their fair share of astonishing behaviour when they don't think they're being observed! :)

      Delete
  26. Eugenia Parrish8 September 2019 at 21:06

    "undisguised astonishment". Perfect phrase -- I often feel that way myself when observing the dominant life form of this planet. Well done.

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    1. Susan A Eames8 September 2019 at 22:02

      Ha ha - too true! Thanks for commenting, Eugenia.

      Delete
  27. brudberg9 September 2019 at 19:58

    I just imagine all the things he might see... (no that would be too terrible to ponder)

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  28. P.S. Joshi11 September 2019 at 05:05

    I enjoyed this sci-fi story, Susan. I love it that "the pay was good". I wonder what astonishment on a plant looks like. :D --- Suzanne

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    Replies
    1. Susan A Eames22 October 2019 at 20:33

      Thanks for commenting - with apologies for the long delay in replying, Suzanne!

      Delete

Many thanks for commenting. I appreciate your feedback.

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