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A Visit to the Zoo

5/27/2020

26 Comments

 
One of my favorite authors is the Australian writer Suzanne Burke. Just for fun, she's created a “Fiction in A Flash Challenge!" If you are interested, just click on the Flash Challenge link, and you'll be led to her website, where you'll find the challenge image and the directions for writing the brief Flash Fiction piece. I've entitled my story, A Visit To The Zoo. 

Picture

George … George! Come out here.

            Why would I want to do that! I’m trying to rest.

Ya gotta see this.

            Whatever it is, I’m not interested.

Come on, George. There are strange creatures out here, and they are all staring at me.

            Can we eat them?

No, they’re pretty big. They might eat us, though.

            Good grief! And, you’re still out there?

I think they’re in a cage. I don’t think they can reach us.

            Alright, alright. I’m coming. This better be good.

Look … over there. What do you see?

            I don’t know for sure. They have eyes, and they have hands and feet.

Watch ... watch. When I move, their heads turn to follow me. Did you notice that?

            Yeah, weird for sure.

Hey, look what happens when I just stretch out and show them beautiful me.

            Wow, that got a reaction!

Why don’t you try something?

            Okay. Let’s see what they do if I stand on my hind feet.

Hey, I think they like you more than me.

            Do you think they can talk? They’ve gotta have a mouth, don’t they?

I don’t know. I don’t even see a nose, so maybe they don’t breathe.

            They gotta breathe, they gotta eat. Unless …

Unless what?

            Maybe they’re some kind of alien. What do you think?

Aliens? Why would aliens be interested in us? What do we have that they need?

            Well, for starts a mouth and a nose.

Come on, George. Seriously, what do we have that they don’t?

            Beats me.

George, look at the little alien. He’s tugging on his face, but the big one stops him.

            Woe … I think I know what they want from us.

You do? What is it, George?

            They want to be free like you and me. 
         
26 Comments
Vashti Q link
5/27/2020 12:22:13

Great story, Gwen! I enjoyed it and got a few laughs. Well done. :D

Reply
Suzanne Burke link
5/27/2020 13:58:15

Gwen delighted me with this one too, Vashti. I'll be featuring it on my 'Fiction in A Flash' Challenge post later today.

Reply
Gwen Plano
5/27/2020 15:56:31

Thank you, Soooz. You brought smiles to my morning with this challenge! ♥

Gwen Plano
5/27/2020 15:55:26

Thank you, Vashti. I had fun writing it. :D

Reply
Suzanne Burke link
5/27/2020 14:03:06

Hi, Gwen! I love your clever take on the image prompt! I'll be featuring it on 'Fiction in A Flash' challenge later today, along with my own take on the prompt. Thanks so much for joining in the fun. ❤

Reply
Gwen Plano
5/27/2020 15:58:19

Thank you for inviting writers to join in the fun. Meerkats are a favorite of mine. ♥

Reply
Suzanne Burke link
5/27/2020 16:48:27

Meerkats are such wonderfully energetic little guys. I just love them.

Reply
Karen Ingalls link
5/28/2020 04:17:33

Great story, Gwen. I giggled but also felt sad. Love the photo prompt.

Reply
Gwen Plano
5/28/2020 05:20:07

Thanks so much, Karen. It was a fun exercise. ♥

Reply
Suzanne Burke link
5/28/2020 13:34:07

I'm so pleased you liked the photo prompt, Karen. I loved Gwen's take on it.

Reply
Mae Clair link
5/28/2020 06:31:20

A cool reversal in this story, Gwen. Really nicely done. I'm glad you took on Soooz's challenge!

Reply
Gwen Plano
5/28/2020 10:08:23

Thanks so much, Mae. It was fun, besides, I love meerkats! ♥

Reply
Staci Troilo link
5/28/2020 06:40:16

That's so clever. And cute!

Reply
Gwen Plano
5/28/2020 10:09:02

Thank you, Staci. They are adorable. ♥

Reply
john howell link
5/28/2020 08:00:40

Well done, Gwen. Too bad those aliens are not free like those of us in a zoo.

Reply
Gwen Plano
5/28/2020 10:09:56

LOL. Thank you, John.

Reply
Jan Sikes
5/28/2020 08:12:52

Oh wow, Gwen!! This is WAY cool! I love the twist you took and the dialog is perfect. Great use of the challenge!

Reply
Gwen Plano
5/28/2020 10:10:43

Thank you, Jan. I had fun with this one. ♥

Reply
D.L. Finn
5/28/2020 09:59:22

This had me giggling, Gwen. Great twist at the end.

Reply
Gwen Plano
5/28/2020 10:11:08

Thank you so much, Denise. Big hugs!

Reply
Miriam Hurdle link
5/28/2020 17:19:10

Cool story, Gwen, it kept me reading to find out what happened. The ending was not what I expected. Well done. Suzanne's photo is cute!

Reply
Gwen Plano
5/30/2020 14:11:35

Thank you so much, Miriam. ♥

Reply
Mark Bierman link
6/5/2020 05:18:23

A funny tale! I wonder if they do believe we're the ones in cages. :)

Reply
Gwen Plano
6/25/2020 18:20:14

They just might! Thank you, Mark. :)

Reply
Chocoviv link
9/25/2020 22:44:26

Thank you for this!

Reply
Teagan R. Geneviene
3/22/2021 13:49:38

This is delightful, Gwen. Hugs.

Reply



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Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way. ―Viktor E. Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning


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