For this year's A-Z Challenge I have selected a word from the dictionary for each day and written a story around it with a 100 word limit. For extra interest I have chosen words that are unknown or unfamiliar to me. All definitions are from the Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus 2007 Edition. Today's word is: Lour.
Lour: 1. (of the sky) Look dark and threatening. 2. Look angry or sullen; scowl.
The
sky was louring, as if Heaven itself disapproved of what he had done. Which of
course it would do. He headed for home after disposing of the shovel by
chucking it in a thick clump of trees.
As
he drove, he thought of what he could have done differently. He hadn’t meant to
kill him, but Nigel just pushed things one step too far. It was self-defence
really, although the police wouldn’t see it like that. And as the clouds burst
and rain hammered the car like angry globs of spit, it looked like God didn’t
either.
Intense and dark. I like that word, too.
ReplyDeletePerhaps Nigel should have returned that Teletubbies DVD box set he borrowed sooner, eh? :)
ReplyDeleteVery atmospheric. No one ever seems to bury a corpse on a nice, clear evening do they? Very bad planning :-)
ReplyDeleteAnnalisa, writing A-Z vignettes, at Wake Up, Eat, Write, Sleep
God does have rather a dim view of murder, or so we are led to believe ;) I wonder what Nigel did?
ReplyDeleteTasha
Tasha's Thinkings | Wittegen Press | FB3X (AC)
Sorry dude, it's still murder.
ReplyDeleteLoved that, especially the ending: "It looked like God didn't either".
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard that one, but great use of it!
ReplyDeleteMethinks someone may find the shovel on a night when the sky isn't louring. Did I use that right?
ReplyDeleteI am making a note of this word because I am always trying to find a new way to a dark sky. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteYour story was awesome. Great visuals and appropriately dark.
What a useful word. The only time I've heard it before was in China last year when I ate some! It's a type of small fish cooked on a skewer there!
ReplyDeleteEvocative choice for L. Great flash fiction piece as well. That's a lot of story in just two paragraphs.
ReplyDeleteCool word. You've done a great job with this story and the whole challenge. You're quite good at flash fiction.
ReplyDeleteWhat a chilling story. And another great word.
ReplyDeleteThat Nigel had it coming :). He just didn't know when to stop! I love this word and must use it in my next book. Everyone will have to go and look it up,
ReplyDeleteNice use of the weather! I enjoy including weather in my scenes. He probably should have buried the shovel too. :)
ReplyDelete"angry globs of spit" - love it!
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of this word!
ReplyDeleteOoo. Dark tale. I love it.
ReplyDelete~Patricia Lynne aka Patricia Josephine~
Member of C. Lee's Muffin Commando Squad
Story Dam
Patricia Lynne, Indie Author
Another word I've never heard of. Great use of it as God looks down on a killer.
ReplyDeleteOh, I like that one! :)
ReplyDeleteI feel a bit lour myself today. :) Great itty bitty story.
ReplyDeleteLove learning new words, will have to try to remember this one.
ReplyDeleteNice metaphor :)
ReplyDeleteSophie
Sophie's Thoughts & Fumbles
FB3X
Wittegen Press
Love the word and the ending for today :D
ReplyDeleteMars
Curling Stones for Lego People
Lour is a new word for me. Sounds like some kind of relative of leer. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Nick - great snippet using "Lour" .. love the word Lour - it sounds like it means ... cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteOr it rained to wash away the taint of the crime...
ReplyDeleteMaybe the rain will be disposing of the evidence and he won't get caught.
ReplyDeletebetty
Thanks, everyone! I liked today's word. It reminds me of "glower".
ReplyDeleteAn adjective, heh? And a dark one. Where have all these words been hiding, Mr. Webster?
ReplyDeleteGood one! I'd like to see the backstory on that. Great word, too.
ReplyDeleteA dark and foreboding word and story. I like this word and it is new to me. I loved the piece, as well. He hadn't meant to kill him. That's catchy and hooked me. Sorry I've been MIA for a few days. I am back and have internet service so I won't have to miss any more of your cool word choices.
ReplyDeleteAngry gobs of spit - I love it!
ReplyDeleteI love how the ending tied it all together. What a wonderful word!
ReplyDeleteHi Nick. Thank you for introducing me to this lovely word and the flash which used it so well. :-)
ReplyDeleteI like your word-inspired stories.
ReplyDeleteYvonne
Great story. Throwing that shovel in the trees will come back to bite him in the arse.
ReplyDeleteOoh...great story! Totally drew me in. I love your theme of choosing a random word that is unique. Definitely increasing my vocabulary here.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun theme, using new words to create vignettes. I especially like lour. Nice!
ReplyDeletelove the word! and the story is so vivid.
ReplyDelete