Teresa at The Haunted Wordsmith is the host of 50 Word Thursday.  Teresa alternates Thursday prompts with Kristian, and between the two of them they keep it interesting.  It’s an easy challenge.  If you want to give it a try, here are the rules.

Rules: 
**Find the muse within the photo or line provided and follow where it leads. It can be a story, anecdote, poem. Anything!
**Story must be between 50 and 250 words, in 50 word increments.
**Link back to this post with the tag 50WordThurs so that everyone can find it, or post your response in the comments below.
**HAVE FUN!

This week’s prompt:

Image by Pexels from Pixabay

“You’d better hurry.”  — Natasha Tarpley, The Harlem Charade

Starving college students commonly signed up for research experiments to earn money. When Joey saw the posting about research subjects needed for athletic shoe testing, he jumped at the chance and signed up.

In the orientation session, he learned he would earn $200/day and that the non-disclosure agreement was binding on threat of criminal prosecution if not followed. Joey thought, “Hmmm…”

Their feet were meticulously measured. Joey and his cohort of 9 other subjects were fitted with the coolest looking shoes they’d ever seen. They were told to stay seated and not to walk until instructed to.

Ten researchers held what looked like game controllers in their hands. When the lead nodded, they each pushed a button. Each one activated the controls on the shoes of one person. Beyond their control, the subjects stood up and began walking. Some tripped and fell, then were dragged along by the shoes. It took a good hour for all of them to get used to the sensation of their shoes doing the walking for them.

After a week, they were ready for the first big test, which would be to jump hurdles and run on water with the shoes. There were a few who were still not comfortable and who tried to dawdle. Lead researcher called out to the group, “Just an FYI, there’s a special clause in your contract. You’d better hurry, as the last two to make it over the challenges get eliminated from the study and won’t be paid anything.”

[250 words]