Most guys would have sent a card and a dozen red roses. Not Herbert. He dumped two kitchen chairs into the pond, one at either end.
“Herb,” I say, “there are two chairs in the pond.”
“Yeah. Happy Valentines.”
I just look at him
He grins. “When two particles are entangled, darling, you get spooky action at a distance. Even when we’re apart.”
Herb is a quantum physicist. He doesn’t see the world like other people. But, like most people, his socks are never entangled and he loses one member of the pair.
Entanglement is fragile and breaks down easily.
Friday fictioneers is a weekly challenge set by Rochelle Wisoff Fields to write a 100-word story in response to a photo prompt. You can find other stories here.
Fancy sharpening your skill with writing exercises? The Scrivener’s Forge offers a new exercise every month to hone one aspect of your craft. Take a look at this month’s exercise here
Neil MacDonald Author 
I’d put up with a few lost socks for a Valentine’s thought like that 🙂
LikeLike
Even though he’s batshit crazy?
LikeLiked by 3 people
Just mildy eccentric.
LikeLiked by 2 people
All the best people are!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wouldn’t be forgiven for this as a Valentine’s present, even if I was a quantum physicist. Best stick to flowers and a box of chocolates. Good fun.
LikeLiked by 1 person
She’s teetering on the verge of a collapse of her quantum state. Thanks, Iain
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh! You had me laughing at the thought of that crazy Valentines, then sad that they broke up (I think). You pack a lot into 100 words! Great job 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
She’s only thinking about it. Herb has time to redeem himself. There is a variant of the universe in which he does, and one in which he doesn’t
LikeLike
Dear Neil,
I’d prefer roses.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
A dozen on the way
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well done, Neil. There’s a lot of subtlety in this.
I love the idea of the guy with the misguided Valentine’s idea. How often does that happen and yes, much better to stick with flowers and chocolates.
I am quite often surprised at the couples who’ve stayed together despite the high divorce rate and having very quirky personalities. It’s quite baffling.
Hope you have a great week.
xx Rowena
LikeLike
I love this. I wrote a poem once called “Spontaneous Knotting of an Agitated String.” The physical reason for entanglement is simple: there are a lot more tangled states than untangled. It makes a great metaphor.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I understand there’s a hypothesis that entanglement is what creates space-time
LikeLiked by 1 person
He is a true romantic isn’t he? 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
he’s crazier than a box of frogs
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think my engineer husband would love this one because–well, it’s just the way he thinks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Read it to him and see
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ooops, I hope that last line doesn’t mean that the “entanglement” is over because of Herb’s odd sense of the romantic.
LikeLiked by 1 person
she’s considering ending it
LikeLiked by 1 person
Now that’s one Valentine’s idea I’m not going to try!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope that my wife is glad that I don’t think like that. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Unless she hankers after a quantum physicist
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love that you used “spooky action,” which is a real thing. Awesome.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Actually “spooky action” was Einstein’s derisory insult about quantum mechanics
LikeLiked by 1 person
If she wasn’t sure before Valentine’s Day… she is much closer now. Sometimes, it is best to stick with the “standards”… mind you, this could have worked had she also been a quantum physicist!
LikeLiked by 1 person
if she’d been a physicist too, she would have adored the gift. Sadly, she’s a brand consultant
LikeLiked by 1 person
Exackery… ah well, he did try…
LikeLike
Yep, another man who doesn’t quite get it, maybe she’ll be lenient this time. I think his second chances are fast running out though
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yup.He’s on a warning, not a promise
LikeLike
Relationships need more quantum physics – I’ve always said so! Great tale of an eccentric and unique individual. A good character, Neil
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Lynn. I’m glad you liked him. I’m rather fond of him myself
LikeLiked by 1 person
A great character, Neil. Quirky but believable with great potential I think
LikeLiked by 1 person
his socks are never entangled and he loses one member of the pair – Somehow I feel as if one member of the pair is on the way out. A delightful take on the prompt. (My father was an engineer. He maneuvered through life like this. I think that if he hadn’t had a deeply romantic side, my mom would have left him.)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Alicia. My father was a physicist
LikeLike
Pretty sure entanglement doesn’t happen at the macro-level.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s called love at macro-level
LikeLiked by 1 person
And the morale of the story is “Entanglement is fragile and breaks down easily.” Love it and the quirkiness of the story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much
LikeLike
I’m probably the only woman who would prefer a romantic thought such as this to a box of chocs or a bunch of flowers!
LikeLiked by 1 person
One quantum physicist will be delivered to your door in the next three days. If you are not in to receive delivery, we will place it somewhere safe
LikeLiked by 1 person
As the song goes, “When an irresistible force such as you, meets an immoveable object such as me, … something’s go to give.”
He gave something, all right … and flushed it right down!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks William
LikeLike
It’s just weird enough to make my day. No need to send roses.
Tracey
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Tracey
LikeLike
Okay… I’ve always wondered about those guys.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This doesn’t bode well for the relationship ….. 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
i fear his days are numbered unless he bucks his ideas up
LikeLike
Love is a strange thing. Here’s to entanglement.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can help feeling a box of chocolates and a bunch of flowers would have been better received. Otherwise she might end up quantum tunnelling her way out of his bed and into somebody else’s 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Her very thoughts
LikeLiked by 1 person
What an interesting and fascinating take on the prompt. I think that his partner must be an understanding person but that’s what you get when you go for brains.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Saintly perhaps
LikeLike
She should be happy that he didn’t put a dead cat in a box, with a promise that it might be alive. At least both apart and entangled are just as likely.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Now why didn’t she think of that???
LikeLike
Maybe it’s because I’m a quantum physicist
LikeLike
Oooooo wow i love the thought but I’d prefer chocolates 😄 great piece Neil.
LikeLike
Thanks, Laurie
LikeLiked by 1 person
Seems like he marches to the beat of a different drummer. Different is good in my mind. Nicely done.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much
LikeLike
Adore that you utilized “spooky activity,” which is a genuine article. Magnificent.
LikeLiked by 1 person
In fact “spooky action at a distance” was coined by Einstein as an insult, not a scientific concept. He was trying to ridicule quantum mechanics
LikeLike
Oh, Neil, I used to date science geeks like Herbert. You have got him down to a tee. They have a strange way of expressing their attachment to the opposite sex. I think that if they do lose their socks, they probably didn’t match in the first place!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Sarah
LikeLiked by 1 person
Intriguing and creative in his own little way. One needs to understand that everything doesn’t have to be expressed the same in order to mean the same.
Isadora 😎
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Isadora
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL. But it’s always the quirky ones that surprise you! I love Herb’s creativity and unique way of seeing the world. I hope he’ll find someone who appreciates that too 🙂
LikeLike
This is beautiful. So much in 100 words!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much
LikeLiked by 1 person
He must be a bundle of fun at parties. Nicely crafted.
LikeLike
Even at the annual physics department barbie he’s thought a little odd. Thanks, Patrick
LikeLike
Is it wrong that I think this is a beautifully romantic gesture?
LikeLiked by 1 person
No. It is. Mad, but beautiful
LikeLike
Never a dull moment with this guy! I think it’s romantic that he put forth so much effort. Roses die anyway. I love the quirkiness.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. Amy
LikeLike
God Bless those who see the world s bit differently and those who have the empathy to understand, even write about it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a compassionate guy this narrator sounds. No unreliableness in his witness.
LikeLiked by 1 person