In between committee meetings, crafting of props, and last-minute polishing of the script, I squeezed in a whirlwind of house-cleaning.

Then came the dreaded knock on the door. A newspaper reporter, come to interview me about the upcoming centennial pageant. After writing all that glittering dialogue, I struggled to dredge up coherent answers to his questions.

I watched his pen scratching notes.

Heard a buzz.

Swatted a fly.

Another one. A swarm of huge bluebottle flies. Why now? How embarrassing!

Later, I prowled the house. Last of all, to the attic...

There I found two recently-expired rats. What rotten timing!

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Prompt: rotten