This short story is an entry in the 2002 Soc.Sexuality.Spanking Summer Short Story Contest and is copyright by the author and commercial use is prohibited without permission. Personal/private copies are permitted only if complete including the copyright notice. The author would appreciate your comments
Category: Mini-saga I got the inspiration from this from the science fiction story What You Need by Henry Kuttner and C. L. Moore first published in Astounding Science-Fiction, 1945. (There was also a Twilight Zone version of the story.) The proprietor of the shop of the same name had a machine that could see the future and used the information it provided to get what his clients would soon need but did not know about. One example is that he provided asbestos gloves to a pianist, who would soon need to move a red-hot iron bar, to protect his hands. This mini-saga is based on a new, improved version of that machine.
Shopping Trip
By
Y Lee Coyote <YLeeCoyote@juno.com>
Dr. Thaddeus Thorniley, M.D., Ph.D., world famous clinical psychiatrist entered the small shop. The proprietor was quite surprised at what the machine indicated.
"You're always right about your own mind, Doctor?"
"Yes!"
The order was given and a minute later the doctor striped and bent over.
"Six of the best, boy."
The End
© Copyright A.I.L. June 9, 2002
See my stories at http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/YLeeCoyote/www/
Reviews
Louise <louise(at)nunn58(dot)freeserve(dot)co(dot)uk>
I liked the idea of this story, it was an interesting concept, that could be taken into all kinds of directions.
I felt that the restriction of words in this category, didn't really do the subject justice! Great idea.
Pam <pamiMac(at)aol(dot)com>
Interesting story concept. I liked the intro to the original story and thought it might flesh out more in a longer story. This one was a bit too short and not as self contained. If I hadn't read the intro then I wouldn't have quite understood the story. I think the purpose of the micro-saga was to see what complete stories could be made in 50 words. I normally like Y. Lee's stories but this one isn't as satisfying as many of his others.
Haron <haron(at)newsguy(dot)com>
A very useful machine, I should say. And the treatment is certainly no more and no less than some doctors deserve.
Dyke Grrl <dyke.grrl(at)verizon(dot)net>
It's a good concept, but I find the story rather confusing in its execution. I think the problem of the mini-saga is that it's hard to fit in all the necessary characterization and explanation. As I read it, I felt as though I was just missing something that would make it all come clear.