7 March 2026, Freewriters Community Daily Writing Prompt Day 3035: manufacturer of lies

“Listen, we already know y'all work for the manufacturer of lies, but do you have to be out here working overtime?”

This was the political shot heard across the country from Lofton County, VA, because it represented the greatest danger to incumbency everywhere.

“In other words, the majority has finally figured out what people like us have been saying for about 401 years – now that they realize the people they keep putting back in office are bad for them, not just bad for us,” Sgt. Vincent Trent said.

“Only took a hurricane backing into the wrong state, a whole washed out neighborhood, and a whole bunch of death and destruction last summer, plus this pandemic – we just thank God it didn't take more!” Mrs. Melissa Trent said.

The Trents' middle daughter, eleven-year-old Velma, was listening, and her eyes got wide.

“OK, so, there's a whole second hurricane doing ballet turns out there in the Gulf, waiting on the Lord to decide if we need it to come up in here,” she reported to her best friends eleven-year-old Eleanor and ten-year-old Andrew Ludlow.

“Well, maybe if enough people figure out that working overtime for Satan and electing people who work overtime for Satan is not the business, maybe Lofton County won't get that work again,” Eleanor said.

“I think people are starting to get it,” Andrew said. “I mean, if we know it's a mess, the adults have got to know. They just need to do the right thing.”

Velma considered this.

“You know, Grandma Jubilee says getting people to do the right thing is on the same order of what it takes to turn a hurricane: only God can do it, but actually, hurricanes are easier in Lofton County.”

“Yeah, that's probably true,” Eleanor said. “I mean, any time my six-year-old brother Grayson has better building standards than the county has been using, that's some hard work.”

“Yeah, but that's not entirely fair because most builders haven't been through what Grayson has already been through,” Andrew said. “When you need to think about building stuff up and taking folk out, and you are only six, you are already on another level.”

“Say what now?” Velma said.

“So, you think Edwina is the most dangerous Ludlow other than Papa, and she is, but Grayson is like Cousin Harry,” Eleanor said. “Edwina is like Papa. She doesn't care if you know she's coming for you; the knowledge can't save you. Grayson doesn't need you to know. He got himself out of his last bad foster care situation with some well-placed Legos, and it was all self-defense.”

“Oop,” Velma said.

“Like I said, Grayson is on another level,” Andrew said, “which is also why these folks working overtime for the manufacture of lies need to get it together before Grayson gets grown and stuff starts happening for real. Cousins Edwin III and Garlene who are the grown builders are coming through here tomorrow, and after Grayson gets all that knowledge Lofton County's dumb builders ain't gonna be ready.”

“When God has to turn you over to Edwina and Grayson, all grown up … yeah, it's time for us to pray for real for Lofton County, and not just about the hurricanes!” Velma said.

“Yep,” Eleanor and Andrew said.