copyright Linda Kreger
“Come on, team!” Larry bellowed. “There’s no “I” in Sisyphean!”
“There’s a ‘y’ though,” I said, ignoring the fact that there obviously was an “i”. “As in, why should we try?”
“I’ve got a good feeling about today,” he said, just like every day.
We sighed and started shoving the rock. “That’s it!” Larry screamed as we approached the top. “You’re almost there. Three more feet!”
Ryan slipped. The rock crashed back down.
“Good effort, team,” Larry said. “Let’s break for lunch and try again this afternoon. Just stay positive. At least we’re out here getting exercise, unlike Team Prometheus.”
The Mythological Punishment Olympics is a pretty depressing spectacle. Here are some of the teams in contention:
The Green-Walled Tower 
August 29th, 2019 at 2:58 am
“Bumpity doon in the quarry gaed whuddrin the pitiless whunstane”
August 29th, 2019 at 6:55 pm
haha, exactly. I guess where they take lunch is where they “sat on the heather a hanlawhile, houpan the Boss didna spy him.” 🙂
August 29th, 2019 at 3:15 am
I like his optimism! Love the idea of the mythological olympics 🙂
August 29th, 2019 at 4:28 pm
Me too. 🙂
August 29th, 2019 at 6:52 pm
Yeah, I’m not sure how you would win. Maybe they’ll make a reality show like this at some point. I wouldn’t be surprised. 🙂
August 29th, 2019 at 5:18 am
Wow, this was so inventive. Great take on the photo prompt. sWell done!
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
August 29th, 2019 at 6:51 pm
Thanks, Susan. I’m glad you liked it.
August 29th, 2019 at 7:32 am
Dear David,
Perhaps if they’d chosen a different name for their team. 😉 You have a great way of stepping out of the box. Great use of the prompt. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
August 29th, 2019 at 6:51 pm
Thanks, Rochelle. It’s funny how the mind works. Sometimes I struggle to come up with a story I like but this time as soon as I saw the picture, the words “Team Sisyphus” popped into my head.
August 29th, 2019 at 8:48 am
I like the MPO. I would not like to be on team Prometheus, but when Sisyphus teams up with the Danaides, who knows what will happen. What an original take, I love it.
August 29th, 2019 at 6:50 pm
The Greeks sure loved their tales of endless, pointless toil. I guess working in a modern day office building would be like hell to them.
August 29th, 2019 at 4:03 pm
One more time! We’ll get it in just one more try! Hoo boy, lots of blood, sweat and tears in that one.
August 29th, 2019 at 4:27 pm
“I’ve got a good feeling about today…” This is you all over…that positive prospective you carry with you some would recognize as grace,
You’re so good at flash fiction David. You sure have the gift of pith. 🙂
August 29th, 2019 at 6:49 pm
Thank you, my friend. This is just the team leader Team Sisyphus needs, I think. I wouldn’t want to be in that position, but hopefully I would make the best of it. 🙂
August 30th, 2019 at 4:40 am
I’m certain you would. 🙂
August 30th, 2019 at 5:03 am
Did I mention, you’re such a good writer? Can’t say it enough. Shalom indeed. 🙂
August 30th, 2019 at 12:34 am
To be successful, there needs to be a cheerleader on the team. Story is full of struggle over and over again but not making any progress. But at least someone is positive!
August 31st, 2019 at 12:12 am
What a fantastic take, David. Talk about stepping outside of the box.
Loved it.
September 9th, 2019 at 7:12 pm
Thanks, Dale! Glad you liked it.
August 31st, 2019 at 4:22 am
Larry is a good leader. But he is not seeing the trouble is about to erupt. Pushing a rock after lunch! It is nap time.
September 9th, 2019 at 7:11 pm
Haha, good point. 🙂
September 1st, 2019 at 2:44 pm
There is always a new beginning… and never an end, in a way it could be worse.
September 1st, 2019 at 2:57 pm
Inventive take on the prompt. Wonderfully written.
September 2nd, 2019 at 10:42 pm
Too funny!
September 9th, 2019 at 7:10 pm
Thanks! 🙂
September 3rd, 2019 at 12:02 pm
Poor team Prometheus. I wonder what they had to go through. The Greek namesake had to go through torture. Well done, David. 🙂 — Suzanne