The Carrot Ranch July 15, 2021, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story using the word meltdown. You can use it to describe an event or emotional reaction. You can create a new meaning or explore the word origin. You can Go where the prompt leads! Respond by July 20, 2021.

Not again! My spell had failed. I gazed at the mess covering my newly painted kitchen walls. Green goop ran like rivers into puddles on the floor.

How could this be? I’d followed the recipe from my mother’s ancient Grimoire. There were no herbal substitutions.

“Oh, this is really bad,” my husband muttered from the doorway. “What did you forget this time?”

My meltdown was now complete! How dare he insinuate that my memory was failing! “Nothing. I forgot nothing,” I answered frostily.

“Oh,” he answered. I’ve got that eye of newt you asked me to get for you.”

40 thoughts on ““The Meltdown,” #FlashFiction”

      1. Indeed! I tried making a pavlova with salt instead of sugar once. Who would have thought salt and castor sugar would look so similar? 😂

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          1. Needless to say it was inedible. Actually it was unmakeable. I knew as soon as the salt went in. It didn’t have nearly the same effect as sugar. Now that’s an experiment in chemistry. 🤣

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  12. I just learned of this fantastic word ‘Grimoire’ when I was reading a fiction book about Salem Wiccans.
    I think your story reminds me of why I don’t bake. You really do need to follow instructions when you bake!

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      1. My baking forays include adding extra fruit, applesauce instead of water and an extra egg… to box mixes. Usually it takes just a bit longer to bake but comes out nice and moist.

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          1. I suppose though it doesn’t help in the last five or ten minutes to sprinkle the top with brown sugar… but it is yummy and folks think the loaf pan cake is ‘special’ that way 😉

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