Happy New Year! Here's my first Thursday Prompt story of 2020, based on a word I pulled at random. Enjoy!

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Climenole

A Thursday Prompt story
© 2020 by Walter Reimer


Prompt: remind


“Hey, Dan! Wait up a minute.” The badger stopped, still looking at his computer tablet’s screen. “Dan? Dan?” Earth to Dan!”

“Yeah, I’m listening,” Dan said, still looking at his tablet. His ears twitched as the squirrel caught up to him.

>SMACK<

Whatever hit him, it wasn’t very heavy, and felt like soft fabric. But it had hit him on the left side of his muzzle.

The badger reacted, dropping his tablet and spinning away, left paw pressed to his face and his right fist clenched and poised to hit back. “Jason! What the fuck, huh?”

The squirrel had a small – beanbag? – attached to one end of a wooden dowel. He had his phone out and was scrolling across it one-pawed. “You have a date with Laurie at six, for dinner.” The badger gaped at him as the squirrel pocketed the phone and looked at him. “It’s almost five o’clock.”

“So? What the fuck is that?” Dan asked as he picked up his tablet, keeping one eye on the squirrel. Fortunately, it had landed on the grass beside the sidewalk, and nothing appeared broken. “What’s going on?” he demanded, eyeing his roommate.

“This?” Jason brandished the object before resting it on his shoulder. The beanbag looked like it was covered in mauve velvet. “It’s a beanbag on a stick.”

Dan gave an exasperated growl. “Why did you hit me with it?”

“Oh.” The squirrel nodded sagely. “It was Laurie’s idea.” The badger gave him a blank look. “She decided she’d had enough of you, so she called a meeting.”

“A meeting? Had enough of what?”

Jason scratched his chin. The beanbag remained at right shoulder arms. “You get so wrapped up in what you might be doing that you tend to neglect things. Like the time you didn’t shower for a week, or do your laundry.” He gave the badger a lopsided smile. “Mustelids aren’t exactly perfume factories, you know.”

“Dude, not cool,” Dan said, “and I was working on something – “

“And you’ve stood Laurie up twice. This month.” Dan blinked. “Yes, you did. So she called us all together yesterday – “

“Who?”

“All your friends, including me. And we decided that we’re going to help you, so you don’t miss out on things. Like life.” He shrugged. “Just break your concentration, so you can have a life.”

“Yeah, okay, but that – “

“This?” Jason smiled. “It was Laurie’s idea. She said she read about it in a book, so if you want to make something of it, you’d better talk to her.” The squirrel grinned. “We all have one.”

Dan’s eyes widened. “All of you?”

“Yeah. Laurie made them.” Jason started to turn away, and paused. “Just remember, you have a date at six.” Another quick glance at his phone. “It’s five after five now.”

“Thanks.”

“It’s what friends are for.”

“Yeah? So’s this.” As Jason headed back down the street, the badger gave him a swift kick to the rear.


end