Motes danced in the morning’s first sweltering rays. Hektor savoured two plain, poached eggs, resolving to take some home one day.
His mind’s eye showed his home’s rituals, worlds away, mrul-filled bowls steaming. He smelled its comforting decadence.
Soon.
Outside, planting seedlings, Hektor trained his mind toward his Earthen students, out too, exploring, growing.
He smiled. Like sprouts, humans also need their sunlight.
Then, his mind darkened.
Something distant, unseen, entered the atmosphere.
His pot crashed on pavement.
Blind, disconnected.
Utterly naked.
Stranded among a world of human sprouts, Hektor gathered the broken pot…
…and got to work.
© 2021 Rebecca Glaessner
May 20, 2021, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story about naked gardening. Is it the veggies or the gardener who is naked? Go where the prompt leads!
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Rebecca Glaessner Author 
Interesting, Rebecca. Hektor seems to be of another world and away from home and what’s familiar.
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That he is. He’s one of the persistent kind though, determined to do good and push onward wherever he finds himself. Glad you enjoyed this one!
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I like that he’s determined to do good. One of my kind. (I don’t always live up to my expectations though. 😉)
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It’s the same for us all, I’m sure. We are mere humans, doing our best. His kind however, I’m curious to see where it leads him. Every day his character grows deeper on the page for me though I’m not entirely sure who he’ll end up being in the end. This craft of ours is always full of mysteries and surprises. A never-ending journey of discovery.
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So true, Rebecca. I guess that’s another thing we love about it, another thing to keep us engaged.
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This is what came to my mind; the longing of your character as if he were ‘alien’ but also a creator in blending RNA and DNA…
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Oh I like that one! Fascinating take Jules. This character is the same as the one from Little Things, so you may be onto something there, actually! Thanks for stopping by.
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I liked this line a lot: “Like sprouts, humans also need their sunlight.” So true…
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It is true, isn’t it? Thanks for leaving your thoughts Michael, I appreciate it.
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Wow, you really own your genre and meld each prompt to progress the world-building you do. The emotion of longing contrasts with the action of teaching. Well done.
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Thanks Charli, I’m glad the worldbuilding and character’s emotions shone through in this one. The weekly flash fiction practise has done wonders for my skill in writing sci-fi.
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Powerful piece, Rebecca.
Even those of us who are exiled by choice still feel the occasional longing for home…
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Thanks Ceayr, I like that you felt that. I’m familiar with the same longing, it’s deeply human whether we choose the distance or it’s forced on us, it’s healthy to desire a home, a family, a place to belong. I think that makes some of the best characters.
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I’m not quite sure what’s going on but I feel Hektor’s homesickness and desperation.
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I’m glad you felt that! He’s aching for home but determined to push onward.
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That’s what I got.
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