I had a great idea for a story. Well, I had the beginnings of a great idea for a story. Then I didn’t. But I did. But the words and my fingers had a fight. Irreconscilable differences, I’m afraid. So I fiddled and futzed and said fuggedaboutit. And then pressed publish.
If your muse works like it should, then by all means, please click the frog below and add your story. Rochelle, our lovely leader, is always thrilled when new peeps join in on the fun.
Thoughts Become Things
Like speech bubbles, thoughts floated up, decorating the sky in glowing blue circles.
Those walking the street were oblivious to the goings-on above their heads, preoccupied with their own musings: to-do lists, dreams and random thoughts.
Sharon sat in the doorway of her kiosk, looking, to anyone who bothered to even glance at her, like a simple kitschshop owner. She could see their thoughts, and orchestrate them at will. She swirled them around, bumped them together, made them trade places. She loved watching the bemusement cross their faces as aleatory thoughts popped suddenly into their head seemingly out of nowhere.
Wow, brillig, Dale. And I can just imagine, suddenly in receipt of someone else’s thoughts. Whoa, no, where’d my thought go? This isn’t mine. And THAT certainly isn’t. Yikes!
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Well you have just made my night! Here I was thinking, I dunno…
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I’d give you 5 stars.
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Whoa!
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🙂
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😁
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I like the thought of a thought swapper and mixer upper!💜😁
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Could make things mighty interesting, don’t you think? 😉🧡
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Yes indeed, OMG we’d soon have the thought Police involved 🤓
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Uh oh…
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well my favorite part is the way the tempo and lightness of the story increased as the size of the three sections grew.
the first section – one line – was direct and more of statement
the second section – a little longer – was getting warmer with telling us about their musings – a little more personal –
and then the last section – al those lines – allowed us to go from Sharon sitting – ((and at that point you could have taken many directions)) -but she went from sitting to then playing with the thoughts – which was light and a bit whimsical – could picture the bemusement – and that all fit the cool photo so well.
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What a great comment! I swear you see so much more than I consciously wrote. .
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well I think that is what happens all the time- like with a painting – the artist might say I did not even realize I had three horizontals – or this and that – part of letting it flow I guess – and just doing what you do…
(and just FYI – that ending part – the doing what you do – I said that with the vocal fry on the end – ok)
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I think you’re right
Hahahah!!
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🙂
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What a brilliant idea, great stuff Dale. I loved the bemused looks on people’s faces as thoughts popped into their heads.
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Thank you, Shrawls. So glad you liked.
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Hi love, I just discovered that I should be a kiosk owner….. 😉
Popping off to our choir session (a whole week of singing in the most beautiful mountain village in Switzerland, glorious weather, absolutly wonderful people – my cup runneth over!)
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And why not? 😉
Oooh, how lovely!
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and, btw: You got 10 our of 10**********
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Why thank you, Kiki!
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What a delightful idea, Dale!
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So happy you think so!
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Such a brilliant take on the prompt. And I learned a new word, aleatory. Thanks on both counts, Dale.
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Sandra and Rochelle: She is a franco-english speaker – in French it’s aléatoire…. and yes, she’s frightfully clever, our Dale!
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Sandra also speaks French but I only discovered the English version when I giggled “random” synonyms!
And thank you, Kiki!
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you ‘giggled’….. you’re such fun!
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I try… 😉
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Thank you so much, Sandra. So did I. Well, I knew it in French and was pleased as punch when I found the English version.
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Dear Dale,
I, too, learned a new word, you clever thing, you. Aleatory. Great word. Of if those bubbles appeared over our heads? What a tale our thoughts would tell. Glad you let the muse have her way.
Shalom and lotsa hugs and through bubbles,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
As I mentioned to Sandra, I was so pleased to learn the English version of the French one I already knew! So glad you enjoyed my tale.
Shalom and Lotsa love,
Dale
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That’s a great idea Dale, wouldn’t we all love to be able to read the thoughts of others!
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Thank you, Iain. I was inspired by “Northern Exposure”. It would be wild, wouldn’t it?
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I wonder if it perhaps would not end well for all involved 😉
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It might cause some problems, no doubt…
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Hey, that’s great! You had an imaginative concept and worked it through neatly and thoroughly. Impressive stuff!
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Thank you, Penny! So glad you thought so.
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HAHA! Switching thoughts. That would be fun and chaotic!
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Could you just imagine? 😆
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I love this, Dale! Fantastic idea AND well-written, too! How do you do that late at night? 🙂
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Thanks, Merril. You know, I had the basic idea simmering all day (but originally I was going to make Sharon a matchmaker – the words wouldn’t work).
It took me forever to make it happen so I am beyond pleased you like . 😊
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I do!
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She’s having fun with her ability – I hope she doesn’t get dreams of world domination!
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She is! And oh man, I hope not!
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I loved this. the idea of meddling with peoples’ thoughts – just for fun.
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At least she’s not malicious…
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Such a great story that you get my golden buzzer! Bubblicious!
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Woo hoo! Thank you!
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Your fingers and your brain should have more fights! This was fabtabulous! 🙂 LOVE the idea, and now I’m going to be suspicious of anyone who’s ‘just’ (yeah right) people watching … 😉
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He he he… Maybe I’ll instigate more 😉
So glad you enjoyed!!
And maybe, you never know…
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yeah … you never know … 😉
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Ya know?
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I know, you understand? (tee-hee… ducking!)
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LOL
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This is fantastic. I could just imagine how much fun it would be to place thought and watch the reaction. Well done, Dale.
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Thank you, John. I dunno where that came from but I would not mind being the chef d’orchestre!
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Somehow my evil twin would have a good time with the thought department.
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Somehow I’ve no doubt of that! 🙂
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😈
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😈X2
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😁
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😉
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Q,
Yanno, I went back and forth between “Wouldn’t it be great” to have thought bubbles to “It might really suck” to have thought bubbles. And still, I ain’t certain as to which side I would lean on. Interesting, maybe. It would definitely be interesting to have thought bubbles. Which is the diplomatic way of saying that it’s probably a good thing for us all that thought bubbles really aren’t a thing.
This WAS clever, using that pic to come up with this idea! And how clueless most peeps probably would be if such a thing were really happening. Yes, and add to all the many things cycling through their minds, the preponderance of devices peeps get lost inside of as well.
You’ve provided much food for thought, in bubbly form. 😉
B
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B,
I have to say that I am particularly glad there are no thought bubbles because frankly, there are thoughts I have that I would NOT want to have read by some witch sitting on the sidelines… Of course, if I had trouble expressing myself, that might be another story.
Glad you thought I was clever.
Look at me! Providing food for thought. Who’d a thunk?
Q
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Sometimes I’d want the witch to know it, but yeah . . usually no. And don’t even get me started on my boss, who I like very much, but yanno . . there are always certain thoughts that happen when you butt heads on an idea, and they ain’t always so diplomatic.
It WAS clever! Love how you come up with these ideas.
Good food. Done right.
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I feel ya. And definitely would NOT want my boss to hear my thoughts… or some of my clients 😉
I thought I was going in another direction and then this happened and I was reminded of a Northern Exposure episode and voilà.
Tasty!
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I wouldn’t want anybody who handles my food to know my thoughts, just in case snarky thought slipped through . . . .
Isn’t it great when that happens?
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No kidding… well, at least I wouldn’t chance sending it back…
It is.
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No huay!
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Nope!
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😘
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😘
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Yep, that about sums it up. It’s one of “those” complicated days!
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Indeed!!
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Love this tale. It makes perfect sense to me. Writers orchestrate thoughts, a beautiful sentiment. My favorite tale this week.
Cheers,
Tracey
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Thank you so much, Tracey!
Now I’m feeling all warm and fuzzy!
Dale
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Warm and fuzzy? Are you sure that isn’t Zeke? You’re welcome.
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Nope. Not Zeke!
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aleatory thoughts…nice one —i had to look that up. Good story Dale.
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Thanks, Neel. Glad you liked.
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Oh, I love this one. It conjures up thoughts of….well better not go there. But how fun would it be to move people’s bubbles around, mixing them up and watching the results? I would be in so much trouble. Lol. This idea would make a great basis for a novella. Think of the outcomes for the targets as well as the one doing the manipulation. Come on all you talented followers. I am waiting.
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Thank you, Jan! I was going to have her manipulate the balloons so that two people wondering about each other would fall in love… then thought, nah… too predictable!
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nice comparison of circles to the speech bubbles in cartoons. When she gets ideas, do they appear as light bulbs over her head too?.
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Thanks.
Good question…
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My gosh, I should be so lucky to have your kind of problems when it comes to crafting great posts. Well done. I may have to change my definition of ‘fuggedaboutit’ 😉
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Hah! Honestly, I kinda was influenced by the episode of Northern Exposure where the Aurora Borealis was switching the dreams of the residents of Cicely, Alaska 😉
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Ahh, Northern Exposure…now there’s a blast from the past. Love it!
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I adored that show.
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Me too. A fun, quirky collection of residents that gave you chuckles…all clad in plaid shirts.
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But there were so many messages hidden in there, too. So great. Hey, I’m Canadian… we dig on plaid…
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I do too…and I’m not Canadian!
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But you’re cool 😉
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I’ve been accused of being an honorary Cannucklehead on occasion. 🙃
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Well, I for one, am happy to include you into the family…
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And I’m thrilled to be included. Mwah!
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Woo hoo! And you Mwah! like me 😉
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Aleatory. You gave me a new word, never heard it before. What a unique take on this prompt.
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Thank you, Linda. I so love when I give peeps a new word!!
Glad you enjoyed.
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Give me someone else’s to-do list please – I get so bored of my own! Delightful story!
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Haha!! That’s a novel idea!
So glad you enjoyed
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That’s terrifying. I can’t imagine my every thought being publically displayed above my head. Of course, I’m usually too shy to say what I’m thinking. Maybe it would be good if the gorgeous woman at the coffee shop with the huge… Whoa, thought bubble! Maybe if she knew I was desperately looking for some way to start a conversation, it would have started a conversation.
Your story reminds me of a deleted scene from Love Actually where a kid is imagining fart bubbles. Every time someone farts, bubbles come out of their butt. I hardly remember the movie, but that was hilarious. Yay for juvenile fart humor!
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Yes… but know, only Sharon can see them. Maybe she could help you out with that girl in the coffee shop with the huge….
And I actually, once it turned this way, was reminded of an episode of Northern Exposure where, during the Aurora Borealis, the residents of Cicely’s dreams get switched!
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Oh, K. I didn’t get that only Sharon was seeing them. She could be worse than social media if one were to get on her bad side.
I am completely ignorant of all things Northern Exposure, but I can see how those lights could be reminicent of the Aurora Borealis.
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That is absolutely true. So be nice to her and she’ll hook you up 😉
Oh man… such a good show!
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AI will expose us this way.
Beware of Sharon! She is AI!
Fab write, Dale. ⚡️💥
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Ya think?
I think Sharon is just a friendly witch…
Thank you, Sorceress! 🧚🏻🌟
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😀 Maybe! The future will tell!
Everyone loves Alexa, now.
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Not me! I will not get any of those doohickeys in my home!
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Wow Dale, what a concept. Fantastic premise.
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Thanks, T! Could you imagine?
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It is so common. We walk along absorbed in our thoughts and do not bother to look up or look around.
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This is so true, Abhijit.
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It turned out brilliant in the end, Dale, and yes, I did have to look That Word up!
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Woot! It’s so funny. I love when I look up a synonym, use it and then have others look it up too 😉
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Dale, I love this. It is BRILLIANT!
If you haven’t taken out a patent, do so now, quickly.
I want to sign up for regular updates of other people’s thoughts please, with a safety off switch of course!
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Thank you so much, Peter.
You know… when I wrote this, I thought… meh.
Apparently I know nothing.
So very glad you enjoyed. And yes, I should think there must be a safety off switch!
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I certainly don’t want any pro Brexit thoughts heading into my brain!
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No kidding… what a mess over there…
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It’s really divided the country in a horrible way.
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From what I see. No one that I know is happy about this.
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What a creative idea, the thought bubbles! Great story. I don’t think I’d want that ability, too read other’s thoughts though. =)
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Thank you, Brenda! Glad you enjoyed…
I don’t think I’d want mine.read, either.
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Oh I love this. The imagery of thought bubbles… like phone texts
I really enjoyed it
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Thank you, Laurie.so glad you did
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I love the idea that Sharon can make people’s thoughts trade places. A clever, witty piece. Superbe, ma chère!
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Merci Mon amie! So glad you liked
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Pas de… ahem… de rien! 😉
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This is a bit unsettling to be being steered like that… we are all puppets to the puppeteer… there are strings attached.
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Indeed! I like to think she does no evil with her powers…
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I wouldn’t want to love my life like this but what great fun to escape to this realm for a moment or longer!
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Let us just say, I don’t think I’d appreciate my thoughts being played around willy nilly!
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Intriguing premise.
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It could be…
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