Alana shifted, quick step and stomp, nearly stumbling. A drop of sweat ran down the powerful slope of her nose, around the edge of her nostril, and dangled, tickling and stinging. She blew once, twice, and the drop sailed into endless blue skies, evaporating in the shearing heat.
Her shoulders ached with having taken on the weight of the world for her sketchy cousin, Atlas.
Dammit! He’d promised to pick them up a couple of Popeye’s chicken sandwiches, then be right back. The lines must be really long.
A feather floated, settling on her sweaty upper lip.
It tickled.
© Liz Husebye Hartmann (2021)
Carrot Ranch Prompt (07/08/2021): In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story that features feathers. It can be a single feather or more. Where did the feather come from? Does it hold meaning to the character or story? Go where the prompt leads!
Valley of the Trolls 
‘A drop of sweat ran down the powerful slope of her nose.’ Brilliant image!
Your story made me smile, Liz.
The 21st century meets mythology.
‘Her shoulders ached with having taken on the weight of the world for her sketchy cousin, Atlas.’
This happens to so many people so much of the time.
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May the sneeze be her awakening…
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Popeye’s Chicken! I feel an earthquake coming on. Great reimagining of mythology, Liz.
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What in the world happened? Atlas shrugged but Alana sneezed.
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Blame Ayn Rand.
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I liked the scene of the feather settling on the upper lip. I could just feel the tickle and wait for it … the next sneeze. 🙂
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🤗
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This piece had me grinning. I love the change-up, where the feel grew from solemn and poetic to modern and snarky. Fabulous, just fabulous Liz.
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Thank you, Rebecca!
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Ha! That doesn’t bode well for any of us. I hope Atlas comes back soon, but suspect he won’t.
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Popeye’s chicken sandwiches are reputed to be…The Bomb. 😆
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Oh dear, the old ‘I’m going to get some Popeye’s’ ruse… Heaven help us because I don’t think Atlas is coming back. This was a fun story!
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