Salt of the Earth / 2nd Campaigner Challenge

All I can say is WOW. This new challenge of Rachael's has definitely been the most difficult. I gave a bash at it but didn't do all of them. I chose #2, the 200 word short story/flash fiction based on all the prompts and #4, a poem using five sentences based on the prompts.  To view the rules and prompts, they are at the bottom of this post. 

My entries are:

# 2. (200 word flash fiction piece using all the prompts)

*****

Salt of the Earth

They have our son.

Those words echoed over and over as my soul shattered piece by piece. I held my breath as Jacob and I searched up and down the beach, flipping over trash and debris. Maybe he was just hiding. I noticed children scavenging through garbage. Was he with them?

Jacob motioned before lunging into the water and splashed around like a madman. He caught Isaac’s red coat. It was drenched with sand and poisonous salt, but still, no Isaac. I couldn’t go anywhere near it, if the salt were to contaminate the deep gash on my leg, I wouldn’t stand a chance.

My throat tightened. The ball Isaac found should have been my first clue. If only I had said no to the rare toy. They must have used it to lure him away. The Salt Spinners always took the healthy children.

Sobs erupted from my throat as I sat beneath the rusted bridge. Jacob returned, his wet hair full of salt and his eyes bursting with rage.

“I still have the Salt Spinner’s Pear, I can get to Isaac.” With a single toxic bite, Jacob burst into golden molecules.

Before I could stop him, he was gone.

*****

#4. (Poem in five sentences, each based on the prompts)

They sit beneath the bridge in complete despair,
     pondering the game of life and how it’s so unfair.

They watch their only child run with such glee,
     for even he can’t understand such deep misery.

Even the pears were once fresh with life,
     but are now so toxic and kill quicker than a knife.

Even the other children live on the lethal shore
     with nothing to eat and no one to love them at all anymore.

But if one were to actually eat a Salt Spinner’s Pear,
     would it really kill him or send him from here to there?

If you liked it enough to vote, please "like" me by clicking HERE. (this is a direct link, only click once because this page will stay the same)

To go to the Linky List page and view all of the votes and entries, please go HERE. (I'm #36)

The rules are:

1.  Write a pitch / logline for a book based on the prompts (less than 100 words)
      I am sooo not good at these. I attempted, but scratched it. I'll have to do without. :)

2.  Write a short story / flash fiction piece of less than 200 words based on the prompts
     Check!

3.  Write a poem with a twist using the prompts as inspiration (in less than 200 words)
     Haha! I'm only good for about one poem per challenge.

4.  Write a story / poem in five sentences, each sentences based on one of the prompts
     Check! (or at least my puny attempt at a poem)

5.  Write a poem / flash fiction piece (in less than 200 words) about the water pear *without* using the words "pear", "spoon", or "droplet"
     Umm, nope, couldn't get this one right either.

For added difficulty / challenge:

1.  Complete at least three of the above activities and tie them all together with a common theme
     I tried but no luck :( Although my two have a common theme. Bonus points?

2.  Write in a genre that is not your own
     Dystopian feel is definitely not my cup of tea. I like reading it, just not good at writing it.

3.  Ask Challenge Entrants to critique your writing.
     Okey dokey. Have at it my fellow campaigners! Just remember, it's choppy due to the word count limit. 
     Otherwise, have at it!

The prompts are:

Prompt 1: Two people are sitting together under the remains of a concrete bridge. Their backs are against a rusted bridge support. One person's leg is cut. The other person has wet hair.

Prompt 2
(Source)

Prompt 3
(Source)

Prompt 4
(Source)

Prompt 5
(Source)

©Alynza Smith 2012