Catherine Stine's IDEA CITY

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Tuesday, September 27, 2011

A Tiny Story about a Huge Mama Squid


Welcome!

I wrote a 200 word piece about a mama squid for Rachael Harrie's 2nd Platform-Building Challenge. Here are her rules: 200 words or less. You must use the word imago in the title, and these words in the body of the story: lacuna, miasma, synchronicity, and oscitate. Well, of course I had to look up lacuna and oscitate! But I knew the rest. Anyway, enjoy.

The Baby Squids' Imago Settles In

Mama pressed her 1,300 unborn ones close as she swam toward the schooner. It had sunk in deep waters where predators were few. She propelled through its porthole by oscitating her mantle outwards then inwards. Running a stream of saltwater through the delicate infant sac, she settled it into a wooden chest filled with shiny gems. A miasma of bubbles shimmied up and out through the porthole.

Mama was hungry, but before she ate, she needed to make sure her embryos were safe. Peering around with eyes that sucked in the dim light, she searched for famished sharks and tuna. None. Safe. Next, she searched for food.

Along the rotted wall, algae grew. She propelled up gently, as to not disturb her spawn, and jetted over. The lacuna of the pliable greenery hid pearly fish. With four of her limbs, she stuffed as many as she could hold in her beaklike mouth.

Satisfied, she undulated back and spread onto her precious cargo. Soon, she felt tiny nudges and twitches. Raising slightly, she saw hatchlings, transparent and quivering. She was so lucky to have found this sanctuary in time. Ah! The sweet synchronicity of life.


34 comments:

  1. Well it did one thing for me . . . made me want to read on! Well done!

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  2. Wow, not an easy challenge with those words! Great job, Catherine. You go the words in there and made it interesting. Kudos!

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  3. I love the imagery in this entry! It's so well written. Good job. :)

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  4. Squids freak me out a little less after reading this. Great job!
    Mine is #3.

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  5. I love that you wrote about a squid! Great imagery.

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  6. What a beautiful motherly tale. You did a great job connecting us with the emotions of a squid. Fantastic job. I'm a new follower from the campaign. Thanks for stopping by my blog. :)

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  7. What a sweet story! And very well written, too!

    Great job!

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  8. I love the idea of the mama squid! Very unique!

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  9. A fun read with seamless use of the challenge words. Well done, Catherine!

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  10. New follower from the campaign here. :D I have to agree with Jen--I like squids a lot more after reading this. Great job! And good luck with the challenge.

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  11. I love that we learn about squids and you used the words seamlessly. Great job!

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  12. I've never said "Aww..." about a squid before. Now THAT's art.

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  13. Catherine, I love the way you describe the underwater scene. It's wonderful.

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  14. Yeah, squids are so gross and weird that they're cute in an almost scifi way. Thanks, you guys for the kudos, and I'll be checking out more of your flash fic too.

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  15. You did it, Catherine! I'm impressed. You've got my vote on the campaign challenge!

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  16. Fantastic! I've always wondered what goes on in the perspective of a squid. You've taken care of that no problem.

    Great job, Catherine! :)

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  17. I haven"t seen anything like this yet :) great job!

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  18. Sweet squid story :)

    Thought I'd let you know 10yr old Matilda blogged a review of your book A GIRL'S BEST FRIEND at Paper Dolls - Teen and Tween Book Reviews

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  19. What an interesting and sweet story. Who would have thought of a squid story! (Well, you did, of course.) Enjoyed your take on this challenge!

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  20. I have to agree, very sweet story with the mama squid. I like it, the imagery is beautiful, and I can see mama and her babies hanging around the treasure chest guarding it for a long time while the schooner guards them.

    Beautiful story with those difficult words :-)

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  21. Charmaine, I'm so flattered. Tell Tilly it is an awesome site and interview! I'm glad she enjoyed the story.

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  22. I love the perspective! :) Squids are amazing creatures.

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  23. Very sweet and happy ending. Fantastic use of the challenge words.

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  24. Let's hear it for deft language that makes the image of mama transcend the image of squid . . . and compresses a very large creature into a delightfully compact story.

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  25. Beautiful imagery. Great job with the challenge.

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  26. I liked how original this was. Great job and I could picture this perfectly! I'm 125.

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  27. Catherine, I love your blog! What a fantastic header!

    AND .... I really enjoyed your entry. This was so unique and, well, tender. Thank you!

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  28. Oh, this was very different from any other entry! I just love the ocean setting and your mama squid with precious cargo. I'll be voting for yours. :0)

    The Write Soil

    Mine is #50.

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  29. What a beautiful setting ! I could see it in my mind's eye ! A delightful story which highlights the universality of maternal instinct !
    My entry at no.#185

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  30. Thanks, Dawn, and everyone, for your much appreciated feedback!

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  31. I just met a young woman who's a mixed media artist. On her website is a wonderful fabric/found object squid! It looks sort of maternal to me... It's under "new work." The website is www.katcope.com

    check it out!

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  32. What a unique and wonderful piece. I could identify with the maternal instincts of the squid. Well done!

    #189

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