In response to Esther’s Weekly Word Prompt.
This Week’s Prompt: Test
https://estherchilton.co.uk/2026/08/05/writing-prompts-125/
Writing Prompts
The Test
It was his first after struggling for twelve long years.
A make-it or break-it opportunity.
The Director said he had it in him.
This was a test of his lifetime and he had to pass with flying colours.
Just one dialogue and a minute’s appearance on stage before a live audience pulsating with excitement.
He had mugged up the line to the extent that he could repeat it even in deep sleep.
Which went like this :
“Your highness ! I opened the lid of the wok to find the mutton was gone!”
What a powerful , profound punch pivotal to the play!!!!
But …. Ooooh!!! These butterflies in the pit of the stomach and the trembling in the legs.
Somebody gave him a push from the back and he stumbled on stage landing straight at the feet of the king seated regally on his grand throne.
A second’s hesitation. Then a quick recovery.
He lifted his head dramatically.
“Your Highness!” His voice quivered a bit.
But again he cleared his throat as though it were a part of the act.
(He was a natural, wasn’t he?)
And repeated with all his bottled up emotions,
“Your highness ! I opened the lid of the mutton to find the wok was gone!”
A deathly silence….
Followed by roars of laughter, cat calls and whistles..
Something hard fell on the stage
….smelly….rotten…
Then the curtains were dropped hastily
Unexpectedly
And a scream mixed with a few garbled ejaculations …. Unprintable.
That was from the Director…
Ufff!
He had failed again…
***
PS : This was my father’s favourite story which we asked him to repeat often. He loved to deliver the line “Your highness ! I opened the lid of the mutton to find the wok was gone!” with a lot of dramatic humour!!!!
Good 👍🏼 one
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Thank you Priti
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💐
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I have to say that is a really great line!
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I still remember the one line I had in the school play. It raised a huge laugh, and it wasn’t supposed to be funny
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😂😂😂😂
Thank you very much Derrrick 🙏
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I know I’ve had moments like this myself! Practiced, poised, ready to deliver…then I overthink and fumble what I was supposed to do. 🙂
Human nature, I suppose. But it does make for wonderful stories…years later! 🤣
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The stage can be very daring and challenging as well as intimidating where improvisation is much more required than memorization.
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That is definitely a great line – loved this story Geeta 😃
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Thank you Ange.
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🩷
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Oh I can imagine the stage fright! I still get butterflies in my stomach every time I have to go up to the stage 😀
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Now, you have just given me fodder for my next post… 😊
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‘Failed’ the test yet again . . .
✋️ 🤚
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Yes. Sadly. 😭
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