August 31: Flash Fiction Challenge

Posted on September 1, 2017 by pensitivity101

This week’s challenge:

https://wordpress.com/read/feeds/12307624/posts/1578245899

August 31, 2017 prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story that includes a speller. It can be one who spells or a primer like Lawrence once had. You can deviate from the primary meaning if magic catches your imagination. Go where the prompt leads.

I got sick and tired of people spelling our name wrong, so Hubby taught me the phonetic alphabet.
He would test me at every opportunity until it became second nature, and I still use it today over the phone.
A double glazing company lost our potential contract for getting our surname wrong.
There was no excuse really as my type written enquiry letter had shown it IN CAPITAL LETTERS below my signature.
There are times though when the Spelling Challenge is a riot of hilarity.
Imagine getting a letter addressed to Mr and Mrs Sierra Mike India Tango Hotel.

About pensitivity101

I am a retired number cruncher with a vivid imagination and wacky sense of humour which extends to short stories and poetry. I love to cook and am a bit of a dog whisperer as I get on better with them than people sometimes! We have recently lost our beloved dog Maggie who adopted us as a 7 week old pup in March 2005. We decided to have a photo put on canvas as we had for her predecessor Barney, and now have three pictures of our fur babies on the wall as we found a snapshot of my GSD so had hers done too. From 2014 to 2017 'Home' was a 41 foot narrow boat where we made strong friendships both on and off the water. We were close to nature enjoying swan and duck families for neighbours, and it was a fascinating chapter in our lives. We now reside in a small bungalow on the Lincolnshire coast where we have forged new friendships and interests.
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10 Responses to August 31: Flash Fiction Challenge

  1. Dinata Misovec says:
    September 1, 2017 at 3:28 pm

    I love this! I have also faced name spelling (and pronunciation) issues my whole life with my name.I also use the phonetic alphabet, but can’t help but use elephant and valentine.

  2. Michael says:
    September 2, 2017 at 10:27 am

    Names get spelt wrong and it drives us crazy I think…

  3. Charli Mills says:
    September 4, 2017 at 5:05 am

    That’s a good one, Di! Why is it that simple names can become complex? I can’t tell you the times I’ve given my name — Mike India Lima Lima Sierra — and it still gets misspelled! But now I want stoneware with that call sign!

  4. Deborah Lee says:
    September 4, 2017 at 11:50 pm

    It’s one reason I’ve always preferred my maiden name – Shaw – it takes a real idjit to misspell it. And there are plenty of idjits out there…

  5. Irene Waters 19 Writer Memoirist says:
    September 5, 2017 at 1:50 am

    Haha. Love it. Even my simple name is often spelt incorrectly. I now say Waters without the L.

  6. Norah says:
    September 5, 2017 at 11:42 am

    Hilarious! I often have to spell out my name too. And I’m surprised how many can’t copy it correctly from the written word. 🙂

  7. Pingback: Spelling « Carrot Ranch Literary Community

  8. robbiesinspiration says:
    September 16, 2017 at 7:33 pm

    This is very amusing. Most people get my name right but not my sex. I get letters and emails addressed to Mr Robbie Cheadle all the time.

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