“Suzi, you spelled it wrong – again!”

“No, I didn’t. I know perfectly well how to spell, Mother. Your nuns have pounded it into me. 12 years of catholic school – and I survived!” Suzi muttered as she typed on her notepad. “Mothers can be so exasperating.”

“Seriously, Suzi. You have SCANDAL misspelled. You used a K again.”

“Mother, it means the same thing. I’m just trying to make my point with the name of my blog. If you don’t catch the eye, people won’t pay attention. Suzi’s SKANDAL grabs that attention.”

Suzi’s mom shook her head and sighed. “Well, I guess you have a point. I know I read your blog, and I tell other people about it, too. We all like to see who has the latest scandal in our little town. You find the best dirt.”

“Well, people just make it so easy, Mom. And, I haven’t been sued . . . yet. Like Argus Hamilton said, ‘If it’s not true, it’s libel.’ Politics are fair game. You remember what it was like when you ran for school board.”

“Yeah, I do. Lots of mudslinging for a job that only paid $200 a month. Glad I’m thick-skinned. Wish you’d been writing then. Might’ve saved me some heartbreak to have a counter-point or two.”

“I know, Mom. But you did great. You had a good showing. Maybe someday you can run again.”

“What?! And have my name show up in Suzi’s SKANDAL!? I don’t think so, my darling. I love you and all that, but I’d rather read about OTHER people’s scandals and not mine. Write on, Suzi, write on.”
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The Trifecta Weekly Challenge was to write between 33 and 333 words on SCANDAL. These are mine . . . where are yours?

It worked!

The trap set up in the kitchen had been the brain-child of Jason. He and Molly had strung metal utensils across the doorway between kitchen and dining room. Metal pots and pans were hanging from the ceiling at different intervals and at different heights.

There was no escaping the cacophony that now rang through the hallways of the mansion.

The game was afoot!

Molly smiled back at Jason and they ran with child-like glee back towards the Maid’s quarters. Cursing followed closely behind them as Berta hit the soap suds mid-stride.

“You little hellions! I will blister your backsides when I catch you.”

Giggles erupted from the 9 year old twins nearly giving away their hiding place.

“Shhhhhh” they whisper-shouted to each other. “Don’t let Nanny find us.”

Silently the two crept out of their hiding spot, catching the eye of Berta as they did so.

“Come back here! For this you will go to bed without supper. Your Papa will hear of this when he returns from his business trip.”

Meekly the children came forward, accepted swats on their backsides and climbed the steps to their room. Berta didn’t notice the twinkle in their eyes as they obeyed, but she did hear their chattering as they settled in for the night.

Wearily she climbed into bed, jumping out almost immediately.

“Insects!!! You hellions have put insects in my bed!” Berta shook and patted and danced about her room while Jason and Molly shrieked with laughter from their beds.

“Papa will be angry,” Molly said.

“I know,” replied Jason. “But didn’t we have fun?”

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Trifextra Week Eleven challenge: write between 33-333 words using (in order) the following three words: cacophany, soap, insects. I hope you enjoy Jason and Molly’s adventure.

Dustin whistled while he worked
Though others thought him a jerk
He sang in and out of tune
Throughout the month of June

He whiled away the hours
What’s yours is mine is ours
We’ll party hearty till dawn
I’ll even mow the lawn

If I only had a brain

The Trust it was a-formin’
In the early hours of morning
They gathered well past noon
The answer will come soon

Dustin fiddled with the wires
With nuts and bolts and pliers
Still he whistled his little tune
As July slowly overtook June

When I finally have a brain

Marietta brought him coffee
The kind flavored of toffee
She sweetened it just so
Knowing all that she did know

For Dustin was a whistler
He wasn’t much of a kiss-tler
But she loved him, ‘deed she did sir
And waited for him to notice her

When he finished with the brain

Oh, look my darling Marietta
It took so long, I’d better
Wash off my dusty fingers
And bring on the lusty singers

For yes it is so true now
I can tell everyone just how
I’ve placed nut and bolt and wiring
They’ll look to me for hiring

I’ve invented the perfect Brain

Epilogue: Dustin worked in his attic for many a year while Marietta mourned her (might as well be dead) newlywed husband. She played her favorite movie over and over and went slightly mad as Dustin picked up the tune and whistled incessantly . . . if I only had a brain.

Dustin, as is the wont of many a slightly mad inventor, hardly noticed the days passing, or the love of his life passing in and out of the room. He pined not for what he knew not. He knew not Marietta pined for him.

But he finally had a brain worth selling.

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Ahhh – those brainy edtors at Trifecta have invited us to sharpen our wits and our number two pencils to come up with a piece 33-333 words using the word BRAIN in the third definition:

3: something that performs the functions of a brain; especially : an automatic device (as a computer) for control or computation

And, all I could think of was the lines from The Wizard of Oz. Hope you enjoy.