Everyday Canvas

When Suddenly…WdC's Prompts

Prompt: I was reading a writing prompt on Writing.Com when suddenly...

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I was reading a writing prompt on Writing.Com when suddenly I found myself inside the novel, Armageddon by Leon Uris, that I had pledged to read in "CLOSED!The Monthly Reading Challenge" .


“Between friends,” the Russian said with his thick accent, “this whole squabble is becoming costly. I hate that you Americans made us impose a Blockade, but you can’t continue on with the Airlift during the winter.”

“What?” I was flabbergasted. “Where am I? What do you mean by blockade and airlift? And who are you?”

“Hey, are you putting me on, Sean? I am Igor Karlovy, your Russian pal.” Igor Karlovy laughed, “This must be one of those doomed American jokes. Okay, I’ll go along with it. You are in Berlin of 1948, and you perfectly know what’s happening with the Blockade and your hopeless Airlift.”

“That’s what you think. The Airlift was successful and your side gave up. I remember from my history lessons. Just why did you call me Sean?”

“Because that’s what your name is.”

“But I am a she!”

“Okay…I knew Americans were fruitcakes,” Igor stiffened. “If you’re not Sean who do you want to be? You have to be somebody.”

I had a choice? “Hilde,” I said. “Because she is so beautiful.” Then, I changed my mind. “No, I want to be Ernestine because she’s serious and a reader…”

Igor tipped his fingers to his cap and he looked like he thought it was time for him to go. “Aufwiedersehen, Sean, Hilde, or Ernestine! Well, whoever you are!”

Shocked by his abruptness, “Joy!” I yelled, “I am Joy.”

“Yeah, sure!” he said as he was exiting. “And I am Cleopatra! Wait till I recount this conversation to Marshal Popov!” I was still hearing him talk to himself outside the door. “Crazy Americans! Bats in the belfry! With lopsided brains! Nuts! They’re all nuts!’

“And we won the Cold War, too,” I yelled after him.


“What did you say? What happened with the cold war?” My husband said. “Are you talking to yourself, again?”

And suddenly I found myself in our living room, looking at my laptop’s screen, at WdC’s prompts.