May 8, 2008
Response to Writer’s Digest Writing Prompt: Unusual Side Effect 5/6 - 5/12
The government has issued a warning that a particular (and common) household item is having an unusual side effect on children. Worse yet, you own this item. You rush home to check on your kids. When you get there, you’re shocked to find that your kids have … . Write this scene.
Please limit your response to 500 words or fewer.
…constructed a large obelisk out of marshmallows. I wondered where they had gotten so many. The object was sitting on top of the dining room table and almost reached the ceiling. Hovering above was a halo of compact fluorescent light bulbs.
The candle was also hovering above the obelisk, smack in the center of the halo. It was lit and fumes were rising from the flame. My wife, Darla, had mentioned she had bought it at Grab-Mart last week. Now I remember. She also had bought a case of marshmallows to see if she could make one thousand crispy rice treats.
The swinging door from the kitchen slowly opened and out walked my daughter, Katy. She wore a shoulder harness connected to an ironing board. Darla was sitting on top of the board in the lotus position. Shouldering the other end was Jason, my son. Darla was wearing Jason’s football helmet and sat silently with her eyes glazed over. Katy and Jason were chanting “Marshmallow.” The three of them were oblivious to my presence.
I tried desperately to recall what the radio announcer had said that others had done to counteract the effects of the candle. It had something to do with Pam® and Spam® but I couldn’t remember. I went to the kitchen and turned on the television to the twenty-four hour news channel.
“Repeat. If you have any “Out-of-This-World” Scented Candles at home, destroy them at once. Thousands of viewers have sent camera phone photos of people under its control. These people have constructed large obelisks out of marshmallows, jelly beans, French fries, or a combination of these materials. One viewer, Stanley Johnson, of King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, has reportedly solved the mystery of how to stop this madness and is currently on the line. Stanley?”
“Thanks. First, take some Spam®. I tried potted meat but it didn’t work. Mix it in a red, plastic bowl with any kind of Pam®, with olive oil or any other additive, as long it is not generic. Mix them well and then take a jar of Smucker’s® strawberry jam. Not jelly now. You must follow this to a tee. Mix in the whole jar; you cannot add too much.”
I began to look for these ingredients in the cupboards.
“After you have it well mixed, take a spoon and fling some of it directly at the candle. Immediately the trance will be broken. But don’t take too long. The scent will get to you, too.”
I found the ingredients and mixed them according to Stanley’s instructions. I began to feel woozy and crave marshmallows but I was determined not to fall under the candle’s power. I hurried into the living room with the bowl and spoon. My family was standing in front of the obelisk with their arms raised. I aimed a spoonful at the candle and let it fly. The mixture hit the candle and doused its flame. Immediately, Darla and the kids turned towards me and….
