99 word prompt : Healing America
If you want to participate, here’s the link: https://carrotranch.com/2017/08/18/august-17-flash-fiction-challenge-2/
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August 17, 2017 prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story that heals America. Difficult and idealistic, I know. Think about building bonds of trust or stories of friendship. It could be a positive story about America. Bonus points for hugging a cat.
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Betsy hugged the cat waiting for food on her mother’s kitchen counter. A great mouser, the light brown feline showed up in their barn seven years before, another animal displaced when half the country died.
She’d read about the week-long war in history books; how God saved the constitution by commanding, “This is civil war. Kill anyone who is trying to kill the US constitution.”
“Tell me the story again, Mommy!”
“We walked out of our homes, killing every communist and every socialist on every block at the same time. That’s how the USA became a peaceful nation again.”
Hmm I wondering how you identified them???
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It’s a different take on the prompt, that’s all, not something people would expect. I’d imagine that if you live in a neighborhood long enough, you’d know who believes what. 🙂
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Serious?
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Just a different take on the prompt.
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You had me at the first line.
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Thanks. 🙂
I like this prompt. It forces you to use as few words as possible to create characters and a story.
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Peace comes at a big cost.
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Mmmm. I understand your sentiments but I am a pacifist and never could I justify killing anyone. For me it definitely has to be negotiation all the way.
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There is one thing certain about any civil war — no matter what the country. No matter who prevails in the fight, no one really wins.
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So true. In any war for that matter.
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The opening with the cat, the little girl at the counter and her asking for the story sets up an incredible juxtaposition for the story that follows.
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That’s what I was hoping for. Thanks. 🙂
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