And we’re back to the wonderful world of Friday Fictioneers. This week’s image looks a bit nasty, and I chose to stay away from horror for that very reason. Still, I hope you enjoy.
Thanks to Madison Woods for hosting this little gathering, and to you for reading.
As always, comments, criticism, and half drunken rants are not only welcome, they’re encouraged.
The Dare
Billy plucked a juicy grub from the dirt; it wiggled helplessly on his open palm. “Dare ya!”
Eddie shook his head. “No way!”
“You’re such a panzy.”
“I am not!”
“You’re nothing but a big ol’ chicken!” Billy tucked his hands under his armpits and flapped his elbows. “Bawk, bawk, bawk!”
“Fine! Give it to me.”
Billy extended his arm and opened his clenched fist. A handful of guts oozing from the squashed bug greeted the boys. Billy squealed with delight.
Eddie’s lunch pressed at the back of his throat, begging to be released.
“Well go on. Eat it, wuss!”
—
Read the glorious writings of the other Fictioneers by clicking the image below.
Adam Ickes 
August 2nd, 2012 at 10:36 PM
No thank youuuuuuu…I’m a wuss 😉
August 2nd, 2012 at 11:11 PM
me two…I am sitting this prompt out…can’t bare to look at the picture…that’s how much of a wussy wuss i am lol. Well done Adam!!!
August 3rd, 2012 at 4:22 PM
Yeah, me too. That is some peer pressure I would most definitely not give in to. I’d probably be the one trying to get the other kid to eat it though.
August 2nd, 2012 at 11:40 PM
Yuck. Just… Yuck.
I’m shocked you didn’t go horror; I was anticipating it. Great story though. I can’t get by how gross it is. Nothing is coming to me.
August 3rd, 2012 at 4:24 PM
The best horror comes when it isn’t expected. It was expected here, so I just floated down stream on my raft until next week, then BAM! psycho axe murderer. Crap, I just gave next week’s story away.
August 3rd, 2012 at 12:31 AM
Hi Adam. Came across your book title again on Boomie’s blog. I’ve been meaning to buy the App. Must do one of these days.
August 3rd, 2012 at 4:26 PM
No pressure. I don’t need to feed my kid or anything. She can live off dirt and twigs, right? Hehe, just kidding. That’s what I have a day job for. If you do end up picking it up, I’d love to hear your thoughts on it, good or bad.
August 3rd, 2012 at 7:11 PM
hehe. I mostly certainly will. Now that you’ve dared me! 😛
August 3rd, 2012 at 12:59 AM
haha, such a common childhood dare, nice.
August 3rd, 2012 at 4:27 PM
Very common. I’ve taken part in this one on multiple occasions, but I’m proud to say I’ve never eaten one myself.
August 3rd, 2012 at 2:38 AM
I think I’d prefer staying a wuss!
August 3rd, 2012 at 4:28 PM
You and me both! No eating bugs for this guy!
August 3rd, 2012 at 3:17 AM
I’m on Team Wuss. Very realistic re-play of childhood. Nice one.
August 3rd, 2012 at 4:29 PM
I think that’s the general consensus today. We can write all sorts of gross things, but when it comes down to it, we’re all members of Team Wuss.
August 3rd, 2012 at 5:34 AM
Boys will be boys.
August 3rd, 2012 at 4:30 PM
That they will. I should know. I was that age once and things like this happened regularly.
August 3rd, 2012 at 5:44 AM
To me this little tale is horrifying…but fun and true to life. Just curious, did you draw from a personal life experience? Well written as always.
Mine’s here: http://www.rochelle-wisoff.blogspot.com/2012/08/wild-life.html
August 3rd, 2012 at 4:31 PM
I don’t remember one specific instance that this came from, but I know it happened on more than one occasion. I used the entire collective of those incidents as inspiration.
August 3rd, 2012 at 7:05 AM
Ewww! But a great depiction of adolescent banter. Good job.
Here’s mine: http://unexpectedpaths.com/friday-fictioneers/try-not-to-notice/
August 3rd, 2012 at 4:34 PM
A day without calling a friend a chicken and/or a wuss was a day wasted in my younger days. That was part of being a boy. Part of growing up. Good times. Looking around and seeing all the things little boys do and remembering all the things I did makes me happy that I have a little girl instead. I know they come with their own quarks, but the devil you know is worse than the devil you don’t.
August 3rd, 2012 at 8:52 AM
A great use of the prompt Adam.
Had my stomach going just thinking about it.
I loved the line, ‘Eddie’s lunch pressed at the back of his throat, begging to be released.’ I had a vision of the bug praying to be let go.
August 3rd, 2012 at 4:35 PM
Thanks, Mike. Hope you were able to keep your breakfast down!
August 3rd, 2012 at 5:55 PM
I love how so many people have gone for eating this goo. Such gross minds we writers have. Also the theme of young boys – they really must be made of slugs and snails! You draw these two very well.
I’m over here: http://elmowrites.wordpress.com/2012/08/03/friday-fiction-torment/
August 3rd, 2012 at 10:59 PM
Yeah, eating the nasty goo seems to be a common theme among today’s stories. Weird that so many of us went there, not sure what that says about us. haha
August 3rd, 2012 at 8:02 PM
oh god that’s gross. really gross.
August 3rd, 2012 at 11:00 PM
It may be gross, but it happens all the time, which kind of makes it even more gross.
August 3rd, 2012 at 10:18 PM
This is everyday horror (although in some countries, it’s just lunch.) Good job!
August 3rd, 2012 at 11:02 PM
“Everyday horror”, I like that phrase, but you are correct. In some parts of the world a nice, juicy grub is probably considered a delicacy.
August 4th, 2012 at 12:55 AM
Brings back painful memories of childhood and makes you wonder why on earth we used to do that to each other!
August 5th, 2012 at 8:47 AM
I take it you’ve eaten a few bugs in your day? I’m really not sure why we used to do such things to our friends.
August 4th, 2012 at 8:10 AM
Ick. Boys…I hope I never see mine doing something like this. Ick. So very real to life. Excellent writing.
I’m here: http://frommywriteside.wordpress.com/2012/08/03/the-invasion/
August 5th, 2012 at 8:47 AM
You may not see them doing it, but chances are it’ll happen anyway!
August 5th, 2012 at 1:49 PM
I’m quite sure you are right!! LOL
August 4th, 2012 at 4:37 PM
Nope, this I’ll pass on eating on those nasty things. But I did enjoy your telling of the story. Nicely done, Adam.
http://russellgayer.blogspot.com/
August 5th, 2012 at 8:49 AM
You and me both! No bugs for me, thank you very much!
August 4th, 2012 at 10:14 PM
Great minds think alike. I had the same take. Great job and good dialogue.
August 5th, 2012 at 8:52 AM
Poisonous slugs are a level up from a juicy grub. Still, either way it’s disgusting.