Can You Tell A Story In…

I hope your week is going well. Here’s your Thursday story challenge:

Can you tell a story in 35 words using the following words in it somewhere:

  • LAKE
  • COUPON
  • PUPPET
  • TUBA

Last week’s challenge was to write a story in 51 words using the following three words in it somewhere:

  • ROADWORKS
  • MILLIPEDE
  • BEER
  • WI-FI
  • TAROT
  • SCARF

Here are your fantastic stories:

Therapy Bits:

The millipede scurried past roadworks, dodging cones like a drunken soul seeking beer. A stranger in a scarf read tarot cards by flickering lamplight, promising lost WI-FI would soon return. Asphalt fumes curled heavy, but destiny whispered: every detour, even through tar and wires, might reveal the path.

Christopher Farley:

I was in the pub trying to get the football result but the WI-FI wouldn’t work. Felt an idiot sitting with my Charlton scarf. Couldn’t hear with the roadworks. Some woman read my tarot and said they’d win. They lost 4-0. I was so drunk even a millipede would’ve been legless.

Nicola Daly:

‘This country’s going to the dogs – WI-FI’s down, can’t afford to buy a beer, and a millipede could get through these roadworks faster,’ he grumbled.

‘Never mind, dear,’ she said, tying his wrists to the steering wheel with a scarf. ‘Don’t move. I’ll be right back with the tarot cards.’

‘Nooooooooooo.’

Graeme Sandford:

“Sorry I’m late: roadworks on the bypass.”

“You’re a millipede, you only came from the garden.”

“Oh. Right. Is the WI-FI on?”

“No. The wasps chewed through it after too many beers.”

“Typical! Didn’t need a tarot to see that happening.”

“Right. Hang your scarf on the hook.”

“And my boots—?”

Mark Fraidenburg:

Fortune’s Fall

Milli, the millipede adjusted her scarf, her legs clicking toward O’ Malley’s.

Finally, decent WI-FI to share her tarot reading; The Fool reversed, warning against recklessness. She ordered a beer, tweeting, “reckless, HA,” She scoffed.”

Outside, dodging roadworks barriers in excitement, she plummeted into an unmarked hole.

The Fool, indeed.

Pensitivity101:

The scheduled roadworks was postponed due to the discovery of rare millipedes at the site.

It was the talk of the pub as patrons supped their beer in front of the huge WI-FI screen running the story.

The fortune teller adjusted her scarf and smiling, turned over the next tarot card.

Murray Clarke:

Millie, the millipede, hadn’t seen her sister for ages. After checking her trusty tarot cards, she set off. Unfortunately, on the A666, she hit some bad roadworks, lost WI-FI, and the satnav malfunctioned. Finally, Millie arrived, gave her sister the scarf she’d knitted, and together they enjoyed a couple of beers.

Kim Smyth:

Jeff was having a beer and trying to get his WI-FI to work, when a millipede slowly walked on the chair rail next to him. Adjusting his scarf, he rose and started walking to his tarot card reading. The roadworks blocked one alley, but he found the next street clear.

Dawgy Daddy Responds:

Beer and wine make everyone whine if enough is drank. As the buzz started to wane a millipede wearing a scarf and reading tarot cards appeared near a WI-FI hot spot. After talking to him I hired him to design the roadworks plans for the new city being built next month 

My Mind Mappings:

The roadworks blocked traffic so I walked into a tavern with no WI-FI and ordered a beer. A millipede crawled across the bar in front of me. In the corner I saw a tarot reader wearing a bright red scarf. She waved me over and whispered, “Delays aren’t accidents, they’re invitations.”

John W. Howell:

Looking over my Tarot cards and a map trying to figure out the latest city roadworks project, I discovered a millipede taking a walk on the map. I was forced to scarf my beer and connect to WI-FI to report that the millipede has discovered a better way into town.

iMartist:

He Made The Right Choice

Humphry Hemmel, Roadworks Supervisor, was all about style. He wore a lime green ascot or a fancy scarf. As he was leaving he glanced at his Tarot deck. Two cards were ominous, one Death the other a Milipede. Just then his WI-FI cut out, so he stayed home & drank beer.

Christine Mallaband-brown:

Oh no, the Wi-Fi is playing up!

My hubby bought a scarf instead of a scart cable for the TV and I can’t order the right thing. He also changed the password to millipede, it was tarot one . He can drive through the roadworks while I have a beer or three!

Let’s Write:

Road to Nowhere

A millipede, wrapped in a cosy scarf, was trying to cross the road during some intense roadworks. A massive truck whooshed past. Shocked, he dived into a pub for a beer and free WI-FI. Checking the tarot cards, he sighed, ‘The road to success is paved in tar…’ What a bummer!

Annette-Rochelle-Aben:

Behind the Wheel

Melancholy, Millicent was more creative than the average millipede, after a beer or two, that is. Her WI-FI inspired energy would go in and out with the weather but as soon as she felt that spark, she would  scarf down food and get back to work on her roadworks tarot deck.

Linking People 2003:

A unique parrot wearing a scarf and his millipede pet walked down a road. Unexpected roadworks swayed their way into a cafe. A soothsayer read a tarot card that the parrot would find WI-FI and beer there. Parrot was happy, sipping his beer and sharing snacks with his millipede friend.

Tessa:

The millipede crossed the street to the roadworks building. He knew the guys were having beer and spilled. The crew gathered to use the WI-FI and he enjoyed listening to the tarot readings alot. He found the long scarf and climbed up it til he reached the counter and the beer.

Lily’s Corner:

I pulled up my scarf as I walked down millipede alley, since roadworks were blocking my usual route. I entered my favourite retro WI-FI cafe, “I’ll have a root beer float.” 

Gees magees, I knew I didn’t need a tarot to know roadworks would be going on for a long time.

Ann Edall-Robson:

Stopping at the Millipede Pub for a beer and tarot reading put her behind schedule. She zoomed down the country road, top down, scarf flying behind like a windsock. The last thing she remembered, after checking the WI-FI screen on the dash, was a DETOUR – ROADWORKS sign, and someone screaming, “STOP!”

Rall:

The guys sat by the roadworks wearing scarves drinking beer on their break. No WI-FI working out here so no phones or internet. They had forgotten how to converse. Fortunately one of them had a pack of tarot cards so apart from the millipede crawling up his leg they had something to talk about.

Margaret G. Hanna:

The Tarot reader dealt the cards on her silk scarf. She turned up The Tower. “You will experience upheaval.”

The next day, Roadworks tore up the street in front of our house. We were stuck. Nothing to do but drink beer, use the WI-FI, and watch them proceed at millipede pace.

The Elephant’s Trunk:

Video Zombie Apocalypse

Home from work, I discovered my family had turned into zombies! Harry was playing Atari Millipede, Janice was into Tarot Realms on her PC, Ben’s game was Roadworks Simulator, and my wife was watching scarf-knitting videos on YouTube. No wonder I can’t get WI-FI service when I want to play Beercade!

***

58 responses to “Can You Tell A Story In…”

  1. She sat on an island in the lake playing her tuba, when a puppy swam by with a glove puppet and coupon in it’s mouth. The puppy had never seen a musical mermaid before …

    Liked by 8 people

    1. Very good use of the prompts. A fun story, Kevin.

      Like

      1. I’m glad you found my story fun, Esther. And thank you for the prompt

        Liked by 1 person

  2. nikidaly70 Avatar
    nikidaly70

    Stuck on the M6 on his way to the Lake District, Bojo the Clown entertained the drivers by playing his tuba. Badly. A puppet could do better. Someone gave him an out-of-date coupon for McDonalds.

    Liked by 10 people

    1. You now have me feeling sorry for Bojo 😂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. nikidaly70 Avatar
        nikidaly70

        🤣
        Naaaa….

        Liked by 1 person

    2. Claire Jones Avatar
      Claire Jones

      I skipped past the lake into town, to purchase a tuba. I felt an idiot when the lady in the shop explained my coupon had expired, I only had enough money to buy the puppet!

      Liked by 6 people

      1. Great story, Claire! Thanks you for joining in 😄

        Like

  3. Kate in Cornwall Avatar
    Kate in Cornwall

    “I’m not your puppet!” Screamed enfant terrible musician, Henri du Coupon.

    Rejecting demands for his most famous composition, Gimme Brass, he threw his tuba into the lake at Glyndebourne. Countless fans dived in after it.

    Liked by 8 people

    1. I could just see this playing out, Kate!

      Like

  4. […] Can You Tell A Story In… – Esther Chilton […]

    Liked by 1 person

  5. […] Esther Chilton’s challenge gives us these words: […]

    Liked by 2 people

  6. There was a huge, colorful puppet show at the lake. You needed a coupon to get in. At the door was a man holding a tuba and playing happy songs. The crowd was getting restless.

    Liked by 8 people

    1. You’ve worked the prompts in well once again, Tessa.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Thank you. IT is something I can do well.

        Liked by 1 person

    • LAKE
    • COUPON
    • PUPPET
    • TUBA

    As a tuba player in the Lake Puppet orchestra, I couldn’t understand being denied admission to the concert in which I’m playing because I had no coupon for entry.

    Liked by 7 people

    1. Neat story, John.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Thank you, Esther.

        Liked by 1 person

    1. A really good story. I enjoyed it 😊

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Thank you Esther! 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

    2. 🙌Great tale (sorry I was unable to post my comments on your site)

      Liked by 2 people

      1. Oh, thank you so much Poetisatinta! 🙂

        Liked by 2 people

      2. You are welcome ( it’s Ange by the way) 🩷

        Liked by 2 people

  7. Oh, this sounds very intriguing. I will have to give it some thought. 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    1. They really are fun 😊

      Liked by 1 person

  8. The Tuba player was like a puppet, hands flapping everywhere.. He had a coupon for tea and sat by the lake washing his socks…. Then an ice cream to soothe his overstretched nerves…. Brassed off!

    Liked by 6 people

    1. Great story, Christine 😄

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Thank you a bit random…..

        Liked by 1 person

  9. […] her “Can You Tell a Story In…” prompt today, Esther Chilton has challenged us to tell a 35-word story using the words lake, […]

    Liked by 3 people

  10. […] Can You Tell A Story In… […]

    Liked by 1 person

  11. […] Can You Tell A Story In… […]

    Liked by 2 people

  12. […] Esther Chilton’s Can you tell a story in 35 words using the following words in it somewhere: […]

    Liked by 1 person

  13. […] This week Esther asks us to write a story in exactly 35 words…a tall order 😅https://estherchilton.co.uk/2025/08/28/can-you-tell-a-story-in-302/ […]

    Liked by 1 person

  14. Great set of words Esther, I have another story that is dying to come out so I’ll be on to that in a min…😃

    https://poetisatinta.wordpress.com/2025/08/29/can-you-tell-a-story-5/

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Really enjoyed it 🥰

      Liked by 1 person

  15. […] This week, Esther asks us to write a story in exactly 35 words, using: LAKE; COUPON; TUBA & PUPPET, here is my second attempt https://estherchilton.co.uk/2025/08/28/can-you-tell-a-story-in-302/ […]

    Liked by 1 person

    1. This is brilliant!

      Like

  16. practising his tuba
    down by the lake
    he found a coupon
    under the bench
    free entry to a puppet show
    with andre rieu conducting
    decided against it
    too intellectual for his taste

    Liked by 4 people

    1. That’s excellent!

      Like

  17. I really must get my eyes tested. With a coupon I bought a puppet tuna and took it to the lake. I thought it was a bit heavy. Tuna indeed, nothing sinks like a tuba.

    Liked by 4 people

    1. Very witty, Chris.

      Liked by 1 person

  18. His luck was in .With his coupon he could choose a life-size puppet or a brass tuba .He chose the tuba. As he sat by the lake practising, even the fish swam out of earshot .

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Clever story 😊

      Like

  19. aerobson Avatar
    aerobson

    A coupon in the mail was responsible for the gathering of musicians at the retreat. The lone sound of a tuba echoed across the lake. Would they master Puppet on a String before the recital?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I love how you’ve added that song in!

      Liked by 1 person

  20. […] for Esther’s Can You Tell A Story In – #302in exactly 35 words using these four promptwords: ‘coupon’, ‘lake’, ‘puppet’, and […]

    Liked by 1 person

  21. […] grocery markets will make or brake a recipe and the same is true for prompts. Sue and Gary, Di, Esther, Shweta and John all are top shelf groceries where I shop for only the best ingredients to mix my […]

    Liked by 1 person

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