DRABBLE TRIO by EMERALD QUEEN RATED FRC

These drabbles were written in response to the 2006 Tracy Island Writers Forum's Drabble Challenge. The challenge was as follows:

Choose three of the following six topics and write one drabble for each of the topics you chose. You will wind up with three 100-word drabbles on whichever three topics you chose. Here are your choices:

A) Scott during a rescue (could be his thoughts, someone observing him, something he's actually doing, etc.).
B) Virgil while playing the piano (again, could be his thoughts, someone observing/listening, etc.).
C) Gordon's and Alan's relationship as brothers (one or both of them thinking about it, one of them thinking about the other, someone else ruminating on their relationship, etc.).
D) Lady Penelope (either her thoughts or someone else's about her/what she does, etc.).
E) The Thunderbirds (perhaps the ship's actual POV or someone's thoughts about one or all of them, etc.).
F) Parody drabble (anything goes, parody style).

Drabble One

On Brothers and Smoke Screens
(Gordon's and Alan's relationship as brothers)

Smoke blinds me, but I know you're there.

I won't let go, you see.

I can't.

Your hands slip in my grasp, and I feel the pull of gravity tugging at you, trying to claim you.

You cough and splutter, crying at me to run while there's a chance, but my fingers tighten their grip as you try to make me let go.

Why are you being so stupid? Your life means as much to me as my own. I won't let go, even if it means sprawling here forever.

I'll never let you go, Gordon; you're my big brother.

Drabble Two

On Success and Loss
(Scott during a rescue)

He sighs with relief as they emerge from the smoke, but no-one notices. They're all busy being alive; being grateful.

An old man pats his arm, nodding at the crowds, but Scott barely notices. He's desperate to speak with his brothers.

"Never understand, do they?"

That makes Scott pause. The old man smiles knowingly.

"You come, you save them. That's how it goes. You can't lose, can you? Can't fail."

No, Scott knows, they can't fail.

"Lost any of your own yet?"

Scott shakes his head. The man grimaces darkly.

"You will."

Scott knows it, but they carry on anyway.

Drabble Three

On Dreaming
(The Thunderbirds)

When I'm older, I'll pilot a Thunderbird. I always thought I'd fly One; that silver arrow, intoxicating with speed, like a bullet.

Then, I thought it would be Three. Imagine it! Zooming into space, flashing past stars!

Four sounded even better, zipping around in a yellow submarine, like the Beetles.

Now, I know I was wrong.

I'll fly Thunderbird Two.

My hero flies Two. He's holding me, telling me everything. He says I need to stay awake to see her fly, but that's impossible. Everything hurts, and my eyelids are so heavy...

Besides, I can fly her in my dreams...