99 Word Stories

“The Meltdown,” #FlashFiction

Colleen M. Chesebro

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.”

Published by Colleen M. Chesebro

Colleen M. Chesebro grew up in a large city in the Midwest. Keen on making her own way in the world, she joined the United States Air Force after graduation to tour the world and find herself. To this day, that search continues. 💜 Today, she’s a Michigan Poet who loves crafting syllabic poetry, flash fiction, and creative fiction and nonfiction. Colleen sponsors a weekly poetry challenge, called #TankaTuesday, on wordcraftpoetry.com, where poets learn how to create traditional and modern forms of syllabic poetry. 💜 Colleen’s syllabic poetry has appeared in “Hedgerow, a Journal of Small Poems,” and in “Poetry Treasures,” and “Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships,” including several other online publications. She’s also received several awards for her flash fiction pieces from the yearly Carrot Ranch.com rodeo events. 💜 Colleen created Unicorn Cats Publishing Services to assist poets and authors in their book publishing needs. 💜 When she's not writing poetry or crafting short stories, you’ll find her digging in her garden, or playing with her two unicorn cats, Chloe & Sophie. Most days you can find her writing poetry on wordcraftpoetry.com. 💜

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

          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. 🤣

            Liked by 1 person

  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!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

      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.

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply

          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 😉

            Liked by 1 person

  13. Pingback: Meltdown « Carrot Ranch Literary Community

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