Merry Christmas from the Green-Walled Tower! I hope you all had a great day yesterday. By the way, if you’re interested, go read my post about the time I was a real-life ghost. It just got Freshly Pressed, which was a great Christmas present for me.
copyright Douglas MacIlroy
Enlightening the Son
Searchlights combed the sky like Zen rakes, cutting graceful swaths across the obsidian dome of night.
“Get my son back this instant!” the president said, emotions colliding in his trembling voice.
“We can find him, sir,” the chief of staff said, “but while he has the artifact, we’re helpless. He flies faster than our jets and is virtually invincible.”
* * *
“What’s the spin?” the PR director asked later. “Is this good or bad?”
“We’ll find out soon,” the chief of staff said. “If we can make him a superhero, the next election’s in the bag. If not, start updating your resume.”
The Green-Walled Tower 
December 26th, 2013 at 8:47 pm
President Jonathan Kent, and his son Kal…that would be…strange. XD
December 26th, 2013 at 8:52 pm
Yes, that would add another dimension to things. 🙂
December 26th, 2013 at 9:13 pm
Dear David,
It’s all about politics, isn’t it? You have a knack for telling a larger story in few words. This one is testimony to that. Nice one.
Shalom,
Rochelle
December 26th, 2013 at 9:17 pm
Fantastic. Loved the completely unpredictable interpretation of the picture but liked the way you managed to subvert expectations even more.
December 26th, 2013 at 9:28 pm
Great take on the prompt David. I always know I’m going to see something different when I visit your site, and this week is no exception.
December 26th, 2013 at 9:44 pm
Thank you~ Sometimes I have to sit and think about a story for a long time before it all comes together. This one said “searchlights” to me right away and the rest went from there. That’s the cool thing about this group, that everyone can look at the same picture and get different ideas.
December 26th, 2013 at 11:03 pm
catch 22 situation! 🙂
win all or lose all!
December 26th, 2013 at 11:25 pm
yeah, pretty much. Here’s hoping the father didn’t spoil the son too much when he was young, or that he doesn’t have a grudge against anyone now.
December 27th, 2013 at 1:06 pm
agreed. 🙂
December 27th, 2013 at 12:04 am
Always a new angle here – yes, time will tell..good read, very!
December 27th, 2013 at 4:25 am
Superhero, super villain, or stupid kid out for a joyride? Only time will tell… Any way it comes out would make for a good story.
December 27th, 2013 at 5:33 am
You gotta love spin. Well done I like the idea of a possible gullible electorate. Trouble with spin though is it has a tendency to unravel.
December 27th, 2013 at 6:40 am
Oh this was a unique take.. really love the end — there is always a spin to put to an event….
December 27th, 2013 at 9:32 am
You are I were on the same page this week — a little bit, anyway.
December 27th, 2013 at 4:41 pm
So imaginative, David. I hope you had a nice Christmas!
December 27th, 2013 at 7:50 pm
Thank you! Yes, it was pretty good, considering I’m away from most of my family.
December 27th, 2013 at 5:50 pm
wonderful. your stories and concepts are always so fresh and unique. 🙂
December 27th, 2013 at 7:50 pm
Thank you. I try to find an angle that most people won’t be coming at it from. Of course, my wife would just say I’m crazy. 🙂
December 27th, 2013 at 11:39 pm
Very creative interpretation of the prompt, and a story that morphed in a cool and amusing way. Nicely done!
December 28th, 2013 at 1:55 am
I really loved this one, David. In fact, I think it’s my favorite of yours so far.
December 28th, 2013 at 2:09 am
Nice dialogue, clever story.
December 28th, 2013 at 12:00 pm
Congratulations on being Freshly Pressed!
DJ
December 28th, 2013 at 7:43 pm
Dear David,
Loved the Zen rakes. Congrats on being pressed. How does that happen? I guess one must write more than once a week and more than 100 words. Ah, well. Some other time.
Great story for the prompt and great author for the story.
Aloha,
Doug
December 28th, 2013 at 9:44 pm
Thanks Doug, I appreciate it.
Honestly, I don’t know how people get Freshly Pressed, but it seems partly random. I guess one of their editors comes across something and likes it. I’ve heard of people getting it their first month and others going years and years. Not sure.
I hope you have a good New Year~
– David
December 28th, 2013 at 9:12 pm
So true about the spin doctors.
December 28th, 2013 at 9:50 pm
ha – there is always more than one way of how things can turn out….and a good PR is half-won already…
December 29th, 2013 at 12:55 am
As always, clever and fun, Dave. I love the way you give us both. A good story with sharp twists.