Words: embrangle and pogonophobia 5-15-22

 Embrangle- 1) verb-- to mix up in confusion; to make complicated, to bewilder

Pogonophobia- 1) noun-- a fear of beards


Story Slingers

May 15, 2022

Myrna Flynn


The Dictionary Man Strikes Again


Merlyn Jones was a jovial person. I think his main entertainment was pursuing the dictionary for the least used words to embrangle anyone that he could corral. By the time he had spent 10 minutes talking with people, they were totally confused and bewildered. They spent all day trying to figure out what he was telling them. They did not realize that he really was not saying anything that was important. He was only interested in their expression as they tried to understand.

As soon as one word was over used, he searched the dictionary to bamboozle with again. I would almost be convinced that he slept with the dictionary. 

Also, he has a strange phobia, Pogonophobia, which is the fear of beards. If his face shows even a hint of a 5'clock shadow, he rushes into the nearest restroom, whips out his razor and starts shaving. The funniest thing is, he loves his mustache. He has grown all of the known ones: handlebar, the coach, hipster, chopper, hustler, and Franz Joseph to name a few. He has invented a few of his own.

I think this phobia is a punishment for his embrangling of everyone. And he deserved it!!


By: Carrie Keiser

Jason was very good at his job, he’d been doing it for years, the government hired him as a fresh-faced kid right out of secondary school. He could sew seeds like nobody’s business, embrangling everyone one within earshot. In a few minutes he’d have you ready to agree or disagree with any statement. 

He recently convinced an entire stadium that they were struck with pogonophobia.  Not sure what that phobia is?  Well it is a fear of beards.  The whole place was terrified of every beard wearing man in the room including those men who were bearded!  In the very next minute they were all sure that was not even a real phobia. 

His next assignment would be broadcast worldwide. He would attempt to embrangle all within his voice.Pulling all toward one opinion and then the next until they would be willing to do anything to feel less confused. 

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