Copyright Beth Carter
It ran once before it died.
I built it out of anything I could find: an old toaster, grocery carts, poolside cushions, abandoned tires. I fastened my father’s watch behind the wheel to measure how far I went. I’m not sure why I bothered; it’s clear a digital watch is required.
I don’t know exactly where I am. Women wear petticoats, and sewage lines the roughly hewn streets. It’s America, but I’m not sure when.
The components I need to get home don’t exist. I forgot about that. Is that odd?
I’m going to die here. I feel like I just started living.
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That’s a great take on the prompt – very imaginative.
thanks!
Time travel via car. If the narrator was this innovative, perhaps s/he will figure out how to make do with what’s around.
Fun story, although maybe not for the narrator.
janet
Dear Flossie,
I hope she figures out how to get back to where she started. The ending line is the exclamation point for me. Well done. Applause!
Shalom,
Rochelle
thank you!
Oh wow… an Alien in America… cool story!
thanks!
Lovely subtle time travel – “It’s America, but I’m not sure when.” – a brilliant line. 🙂
thank you!
88 miles per hour, that’s all it needs. Just a little push.
🙂
‘I feel like I just started living.’ That’s a really cool line. If she’s anything like Doc, she’ll figure it out.
ha, thanks!
in this line: “it’s clear a digital watch is required.” why is a digital watch required?
also, here: “Women wear petticoats and sewage lines the roughly hewn streets.” a comma is needed after “petticoats.” otherwise, it sounds like women are wearing petticoats and wearing sewage lines. it doesn’t immediately read that sewage is a subject and lines is a verb, showing what the sewage is doing. compound sentences need a comma before the conjunction.
i like the onset of panic that is coming at the end. well done.
thanks for the notes! I said a digital watch because they usually include date as well as time.