Today’s prompt is from writer, illustrator and all-round good egg Debbie Ridpath Ohi, who shares one of her Daily Doodles with us today to help inspire a story. Thanks, Debbie!
The Prompt
It Wasn’t Me!
Tips from Julie
- Use the words or picture in any way that seems right to you
- If you’re not an animal person, you don’t have to use the dog.
- If your’e not an animal person, you should consider using the dog anyway. (Hey, this is about stretching yourself, right?)
Debbie Ridpath Ohi (http://DebbieOhi.com) writes and illustrates books for young people in Toronto, Canada. She is the illustrator of I’M BORED by Michael Ian Black, published by Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers, chosen by The New York Times as a Notable Children’s Book. Debbie has current and upcoming book projects with Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins and Random House. More info about Debbie and her projects: http://debbieohi.com. Her blog for writers/illustrators:http://inkygirl.com. Twitter: @inkyelbows.
Ooh, I wish I’d seen the doodle before writing my story. I was wanting to write what I did so I ignored the prompt. But I have the skin of a goat as a rug in my house, so the Doodle would have been perfect, even if it’s a cat toy.
http://guptacarlsonshortstories.blogspot.com/2013/05/a-really-good-life-and-one-awful-day.html
“‘It wasn’t me!’ right? How many times have I looked at you with this adorable expression? What is it going on now–two, maybe three years? I can see you’re getting pretty tired of this kind of behavior.
I’ve heard what you’ve been saying when you think I’m not listening. ‘What are we going to do about Puddles?’ By the way, did I ever thank you for giving me that name? ‘Puddles.’ So I left a few on the floor in my puppyhood. For that I should go by ‘Puddles’ for the rest of my life? Sheesh!
Okay, okay, I’ve gotten off track here. Meanwhile back at the ranch where Granny’s–well, you know what Granny’s doing. Anyway, I’ve heard what you said. That Puddles isn’t a puppy anymore, and that you heard on PBS that ‘affection-deficient’ dogs display aggressive tendencies that include chewing things that they know they shouldn’t have their mouths around, and that you’ve been doing everything you could to show me–Puddles, right. I still can’t get over that–that you love me.
But despite that I’m still trashing your stuff, right? The Florsheim shoes, the Gucci bag, that Coach purse. Ruined, right? And we’re talking three, maybe four figures here. I can tell that before too long you’re going to tune out Melissa Block and get corporal on me. I can see it, we dogs pick up on that real quick. What’s it going to be, a rolled-up newspaper? the back of your hand? Hey, take your best shot. I’m built for it.
But before you get physical, I want you to mull just what ‘It wasn’t me’ really means. Because, hey, here I am, Puddles, standing over–What was this doll’s name? Muffin or something, right?–and I’m telling you, it really wasn’t me. I’m not the perp here. No pun intended, but you two are barking up the wrong tree.
It was Rags. ‘Rags,’ there’s another name for you. What is it about you two and these names? Anyhoo, I’ve been covering for Rags, for what, about the past year and a half? Sure, yeah, I mauled your stuff when I was a pup, but I grew out of it, we all do. Rags. You remember Rags, don’t you? He’s the dog you’ve kept down in the rec room ever since you got me. Yep, good old, faithful Rags. He’s going on fourteen now, flatulent, shedding all the time, thinking he’s no good to nobody. Yep, that’s good old Rags.
You see, what they said on ‘All Things Considered’ is spot on. Poor old Rags, shunted off to the side, has been mangling your stash. I don’t think he means to. Hell, I don’t even think he’s conscious of what he’s doing. That makes the situation all the sadder, you know? What, you think he might have been trying to frame me? Man, that just goes to show how far off you are. Hell, if Rags really had it in for me, he’d just pop me. I probably would, if things were switched around.
Not old Rags, though. No, sir. Dog wouldn’t hurt a fly. You know what brought on Muffin here losing her ear? Rags and me, we heard what you said last night. That thing about ‘maybe it’s time we talked to the vet about putting Rags down.’ That’s how it works with you humans, right? Dog gets old, starts to fart up the place, that’s it, right? End of the line.
Anyway, when Rags heard that, he shuffled down the stairs. I wanted to say something to him, but I couldn’t find the words. This morning, I found Muffin on Rags’s blanket. Ear was off, I guess Rags ate it. Anyway, long story short, I brought Muffin up, dropped her on the rug and waited to shine my ‘It wasn’t me!’ look on you.
That’s about it. Maybe by ‘fessing up I’ve dug Rags’s grave. Sure hope not, though. But you know, before you call the vet, I hope you’ll think about something. It wasn’t me that trashed your things. And, you know, it wasn’t Rags, either. Not really, anyway. Well, then, who was it? Huh? That’s what I want you to think about. Okay, I’m done here. You want something I’ll be down in the rec room. With Rags.
Nice Story. I liked the way you fit the picture prompt in there. It worked very well and such a long story too. Mine will probably be a lot shorter.
Cathy
Ah! I just found this today! I wish I had known about it before. Rats!
Join us anyway! You can still do 8 or 9 stories before the month is out!
I did do this prompt; it was Natalie I decided to change. So confused. So many stories. Would like to share. Sarah C
Lulu
They gave him her favorite toy, and he tore at it until the corner ripped and bits of catnip spilled over the kitchen floor. Now he looked up at her with his eager eyes as if asking her to play. The fur on her back rose, and she moved closer to the edge of the counter.
Lulu doesn’t play.
In another room someone said, “I’d better check the puppy. I can’t find Lulu.”
She leaped.
Lulu doesn’t share.
Someone pulled her off the whimpering intruder and carried her into the bedroom.
“Bad, Lulu. You scared the puppy.”
Lulu doesn’t care.
Wow–due to some health issues with my dog I didn’t get on yesterday. However, I made up for it by combining yesterday’s and today’s 🙂 http://starvingactivist.wordpress.com/2013/05/23/story-a-day-may-s-22-and-23-the-importance-of-paying-attention/
Oh look! It’s Natalie’s missing dog! 🙂
Ha, that’s what I thought too when I first saw this prompt.
Does anyone know what that gray thing in front of the puppy is? Is it a puddle or something else like a piece of food? I think he tinkled, but looking at the shape, I’m not sure.
It’s a toy with an ear missing—a cat toy, I think.
Thanks, Julie, I was way off. I just couldn’t tell what it was, but something on the object looked like a patch or thread or something.
Thanks again.
Cathy
Ha! I didn’t think of that when I put them in this order!