Prompts for 3 October 2025 from
andWrite about a sandwich
tumultuous turning of time
“it’s not like you to be late”
A character who has a secret talent
Silence
James pushed the soggy sandwich toward the figure across the table. Mayo soaked through the white bread; the cranberry sauce stained the turkey slices red as slaughter. The lettuce was wilted and curled.
“It’s not like you to be late,” he said, his voice wavering slightly.
The hooded figure reached for the plate without looking up. Long fingers picked out the meat, leaving the soggy remainder to disintegrate further now that the support of the slices was gone. James watched in silence as his companion raised the meat toward its mouth without showing its face. James always wondered how this particular associate managed to consume food invisibly, as if swallowing shadows. It must have been some secret talent required by the group with which it was affiliated.
James continued to wait for the figure to give him his instructions. It might have been an hour. It might have been a minute. The ticking of the clock sped up and slowed down to James’ ear. In the tumultuous turning of time in the silence, James tumbled in uncertainty. Finally the chair on the other side of the table pushed back. The long fingers that plucked the turkey from the soggy mess of a sandwich laid an envelope in front of James, turned, and disappeared through the door.
James breathed. His gift of sandwich, however devolved, had not been rejected. He had an assignment—and another day to live.
You are so good at this.
Well done.