“The petroglyphs told the story of an unusual event”. wrote Professor Lovelot . What he didn’t know that it was a common event through history, one his son Matt was initiating right now with his girl-friend Kate on his iPhone.
Matt and Kate text each other:
u r 6Y :-*
u r 7K >-)
;S 0:-)
❤
420 2NTE ?
20 ?
AH
P911
PITA
😀
Matt comes from a long line of lovers, following in the footsteps of his great-great-grand-father, Matthew ,who in the 1800s wrote to his lady-love:
“Dearest Katherine,
It with pleasure that I write to the fairest lady amongst all..blah ..blah..blah…….I wish to float with you amongst the clouds. I recently came into possession, from a rather seedy sailor I am afraid to note, a herb that claims to help us fly…..blah blah …Nothing can stop us, even that painful thorn in the rear side, that is your father….blah blah ….
Your slave in love,
Matthew “
Before vowels and consonants….Matthew the very first, etched in rock a similar message to his Neanderthal-love.
© 2015, Barbara W. Beacham
——————— end———————
The rough translation for Matt and Kate’s text message exchange would go something like this , say if they were talking over a land-line, tethered to their kitchen walls in the 1980s.
“You are sexxxxxxxxy”, Matt makes kissing noises.
“You are sick “, Kathy stops him making an evil face at the phone.
“What did you say? “, Matty mock threatens Kathy and adds in a pious voice “I’m an angel”
“Friends”, Kathy declares peace to their mock fight.
“Let’s get high tonight”, Matty gets down to business.
“Which location”, Kathy inquires
“At my home”
“Parents are in the room”, Kathy says under her breath.
“Parents are a pain the a$$$$$”, Matty sings
Kathy laughs.
—
The about 150+ word above story was in response to ‘Monday’s finish the story’ flash fiction challenge. This unique flash fiction challenge provides a new photo each week, and the first sentence of a story. The challenge is to finish the story using 100-150 words, not including the sentence provided. Details are available here:
https://mondaysfinishthestory.wordpress.com/2015/07/20/mondays-finish-the-story-july-20th-2015/
A lot of things have changed in just a few years time. I enjoyed your story.
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Thanks PJ. We are almost coming a full circle in communication style !
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That’s very true! LOL!!
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Phew! Thank you for the translation Asumani! I was totally lost as I do not text. Nicely told story! Thanks for writing again for the MFtS challenge and be well… Stay tuned for the upcoming challenge. Are you game? 🙂 ^..^
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Thanks Barb! I have been using a website that has a “dictionary” to translate some of these emoticons and text abbreviations. Some text message exchanges can be more baffling than a Petroglyph.
And I’m game for the next challenge 🙂
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Glad to hear it!
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I like your interpretation of the hieroglyphics. I’m sure that’s what they meant. ha ha
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Thanks Tracey. Teenagers are Teenagers..prehistoric or not..and they all want the same thing 🙂
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Absolutely loved this.
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Thanks!
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Some things never change, even if the medium used to express it does! I really enjoyed reading this. 🙂 Very well done.
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Thanks! Only the methods changes …and i guess we are tending towards mind-reading next 🙂
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Really love your take on the prompt. So true, and thanks for the translation, I was completely lost. Amazing stuff, but so true – it simply changes through the year.
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Thanks Yolanda. I used a “dictionary” to write the text exchange without that I would be completely lost too 🙂
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From petroglyphs to text speak, we appear to have come full circle. Thanks for the translation of the text-speak, I tried but couldn’t understand a single bit!
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The kids invented their code so that we “adults” shouldn’t understand it 🙂 Keeping up with them is a challenge.
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This is brilliantly done.
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Thank you!
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Love the comparison!!! Nothing much has changed but the symbols!! This is very good and imaginative!!
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Thank you.
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Looks like that family have been great at communicating from the very beginning. Really well written and creative, Ansumani. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Thanks Suzanne. They have been quite active in experimenting with weeds too from the very beginning 🙂
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