FFfAW 4/1/2015 * Close Call *

The bull riders anxiously draw their numbers for the bucking bull they will ride in this year's Annual Spring Rodeo. Richard Lackey draws number #13, belonging to, “Hell with Horns,” a muscular bull with long wicked horns. The other riders are full-blown relieved they didn't draw Hell.

Richard, an expert bull-rider, knows this bull is something to be reckoned with. He says a quick prayer, hops on top of 'Hell' just as the gate flies open. 'Hell' kicks, bucks, and snorts, fuming with rage. Fifteen seconds later, 'Hell' is free of Richard and aims his horns right at his middle.

At that very instant, a clown, sporting bright red hair and a flashing red nose, runs into the arena, catching 'Hell's' attention. 'Hell' becomes confused. He stomps his hoof and snorts, giving Richard precious time to escape.

The enraged bull charges the clown, almost clipping him, just as the clown jumps over the railing to safety. The crowd claps and whistles.

Using his trembling hand, the clown wipes the dusty sweat off his brows.

174 words

© PricelessJoy/pal/2015

Photo Credit: pixabay.com ('free to use' photographs)

This story is my submission for Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers Weekly Writing Challenge. We are challenged to write a story using 100-175 words based on the photo that we are given. I hope you enjoy my story.

Where I live, the rodeos use clowns as a means to distract the bulls away from the riders when the bull riders are bucked off the bull. It is a highly dangerous job and the clowns generally do a fantastic job protecting the cowboys from the raging bulls.

Everyone is invited to participate in this weekly challenge. If you would like more information, please click on this link: FFfAW

Use the above link button to either enter the link to your story or to read other participant's stories. (Please take the time to read the other participant's stories).

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Five Photos – Five Stories

Walking through the River Walk Park with my ever faithful companion, Bria, we ran into this beauty.

Geese seem so regal to me. They don’t question what their purpose in life is. Nor do they complain about the water being too cold. They simply be exactly who it is they were made to be, geese. On this day, their purpose was to spend time enjoying the Animas River at the River Walk Park and enjoying the food I threw to them.

Soon, their very essence will lift them up to spread their wings to fly to the next leg of their journey. I wish them a safe and pleasant flight. Still, I can’t help but wonder. Will they remember me?

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My thank you to Snow’s Fissures and Fractures for nominating me to this special Five Photos Five Stories challenge. I am to post a photo each day for five consecutive days and attach a story, either fiction or non-fiction, to the photo each day. Each day, I am to select one person and nominate them to participate in this great challenge. Accepting the challenge is entirely up to the person nominated, as it is not mandatory.

Today, I would like to nominate Ady, author of the blog, Round World N Me.

 

Update: Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers

The FOLLOW button for this new blog site is at the bottom of the page instead of in the side bar. (Some folks have been having trouble finding it).

Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers

Flash Fiction Challenge for Aspiring Writers

There are several Flash Fiction Challenges on WordPress and I have really enjoyed being a member on them. Lately, my heart has been challenging me to consider starting a Flash Fiction Challenge for Aspiring Writers.

The Flash Fiction Challenges that I have participating in have many, what I consider, professional writers (authors of books or in the process of writing books). This made me realize that us “aspiring writers” need a flash fiction challenge of our own. (I would hope some professional writers would also join to be our mentors and help us improve our writing).

If you are interested, please read below and let me know your thoughts or your decision:

1. Each challenge will be a Photo Prompt Challenge. I will supply the photograph to be used to base our stories on.

2. I will start a new blog that would be strictly for this writing challenge and those who would like to join will only receive posts that are specific to this challenge.

3. I will need to know if you are interested in joining and if so, what is your blog url so I can send you and invitation from my new blog.

4. Would you like a weekly challenge, a bi-weekly challenge, or a monthly challenge?

5. How many words do you think should be the limit? 100 words, 200 words, or another number of words.

6. What are your thoughts about this Flash Fiction Challenge? Any suggestions or thoughts that I haven’t mentioned? Have I forgotten anything?

7. Any suggestions of names for the challenge?

So, please let me know if you would be interested in joining this challenge and/or what your thoughts are. Thanks!!

P.S. You do not even need to be an aspiring writer. If you would like to join just to have fun, that is acceptable too.

(Also, I do not want to step on the toes of any of the currently running Flash Fiction Challenges. I want to continue participating in these challenges, and others who may be reading this may want to continue participating in them too).