Photo Prompt: (C) Kent Bonham
“But how do we build it?”
Zack scratched his tousled head and smiled his goofy grin, spreading the vellum over the rock table.
“That’s not the question, Zack,” said Sparky. “The question is what will it do?”
Etched on the ancient parchment were arches and wheels, columns and sprockets.
Zack passed the plan under the scanner –a battered dustbin lid suspended on the bare ribs of an old umbrella – but the readout remained blank.
“I dunno,” Zack said, “is this a building or a machine?”
“Maybe both,” said Sparky. “Don’t matter. It’s the making that counts.”
Friday fictioneers is a weekly challenge to write a 100-word story in response to a photo prompt. You can find It here.
Neil MacDonald Author 
That’s great. Mars, here we come! Or maybe 1885. You don’t know if it’s a time machine or an interdimensional spaceship until you test it, right?
LikeLike
Or the design for a new electric toothbrush?
LikeLike
Or perhaps even the key to a boy’s imagination
LikeLike
Dear Neil,
With names like Zack and Sparky I have to wonder where these plans will take them. 😉 Intriguing piece that fires the imagination.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
I loved this! Zack and Sparky sound like a couple of young boys I knew growing up. They designed rockets. One did as a career.
LikeLike
If the rocket flies, does it still count?
LikeLiked by 1 person
of course it does!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Now this reads like it’s going to be fun. And it is. I’d actually like to read more about these two.
LikeLiked by 1 person
With the right photoprompt they may be back
LikeLike
Cool.
LikeLike
This is so much like Bill and Ted’s bogus adventure with the exception of not knowing what the thingamob is or does 🙂 good one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
*thingamabob lol
LikeLike
Ah, yes, it’s the making that counts, indeed!
LikeLike
I’m glad you got it, Paula
LikeLike
Intriguing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The making is often the most fun, especially with someone you enjoy spending time with.
Great story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanka Carol
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fun stuff… who knows what it will be… imagination the only thing stopping them…
LikeLike
The inside of a child’s head is a wonderful thing
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sparky’s got a good head on his shoulders. Focus on the process rather than the product. Writing’s a bit like that. Lively dialogue and satisfying ending.
LikeLike
Yup, I had writing in mind when I wrote that
LikeLike
Cool, childhood fun! The end result is only limited by their imagination.
LikeLike
Ah! a bit like the journey, isn’t it? I liked this alternate universe of your characters a lot. And the description of the scanner is marvelous.
LikeLike
Travelling hopefully
LikeLiked by 2 people
I love this, and especially the scanner. The tao of Sparky.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A little imagination is all you need to create anything! Good story Neil.
LikeLike
And a shedload of money of course
LikeLiked by 1 person
That helps!
LikeLike
Gee! Think I’ll try and make one myself! 🙂
LikeLike
The wonderful thing is the contraption you make will be almost totally unlike the one anyone else makes, even though you both follow the same plan
LikeLike
That’s true. A good reason to definitely give it a try!
LikeLike
This is a fun read Neil. I wonder at the design myself… Invokes such curiosity.
LikeLike
Thanks
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love that Zack wants to know how to build it, and Sparky wants to know what it will do. A perfect combination for young inventors dealing with esoteric designs. Loved the story!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks
LikeLiked by 1 person
My pleasure! 🙂
LikeLike
A great thought-provoking story! I’m still thinking about the plans and what that may make with them. 😄
LikeLiked by 1 person
Interesting take on the prompt… a bit of steampunking perhaps.
LikeLike
Oh god, I do hope not
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great story!
LikeLike
Thanks
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh gosh! The purpose always matters! What if they are building a robot of doom?
LikeLike
I guess then it must have been written so
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was a great story. It left me asking “What next?”.
LikeLike
🙂
LikeLike
I love that last line – “Don’t matter, it’s the making that counts.” Writing can be like that.
LikeLike
Thanks, Liz
LikeLike
What is it? What will it do? I don’t know — it’s the makin’ that counts.
Smiling I am at this idea as it fits well with Friday Fictioneers, right? What do you see? I don’t know, what do you see? Not sure. Well, it’s the makin’ that counts! 🙂
Recently back from two months in Bermuda — just getting back to Friday Fictioneers.
LikeLike
Right indeed
LikeLike
And when you’ve made it, it will turn out to be whatever your imagination wants it to be! Good story Neil
LikeLike
Thanks. I’m glad you liked it
LikeLiked by 1 person
Simple and neat. Could be developed or left as it is. Complete in itself yet with potential for expansion!
LikeLike
Thank you. The’re not greater compliment for 100 word piece than “complete in itself!
LikeLike
Fun voice in this.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Dawn
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know Zack and Sparky, they belong to my club, they are just great characters, sadly Sparky keeps blowing things up and Zack then rebuilds them. Love your story.
LikeLike
If I ever write about them again I’ll have Sparky blow something up
LikeLike
Great fun tale, loved the last line.
Sparky and Zak sound like my two boys – they regularly made stuff when they were younger and we were never sure just what it was they had made, but applauded their ingenuity in making it.
Well done.
LikeLike
I’m glad you liked it Dee, especially the last line
LikeLiked by 1 person
The minds of what are presumably kids, of a certain age, where imagination runs wild – love the details of the scanner – and how the challenge isn’t necessarily to understand, but rather to create. Great tone and ambiance set here 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks
LikeLiked by 1 person