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Flash Fiction Rodeo Contest #4

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Scars

By Irene Waters

Welcome to Contest #4 of the Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction Rodeo. This competition is free to enter and carries a cash prize of $25 for first place. Winning submissions will automatically be forwarded to the All-Around Rodeo Winner which carries an additional cash prize of $50. Naturally you can’t have a competition without rules and as each competition leader has devised their own rules I suggest that you read those for this competition prior to submitting your piece. The rules follow the competition topic.

 

The Topic

As a memoir writer and reader I am very aware that it is the situations in life that have a massive impact on the memoirist, those events which leave scars, whether physical or emotional, that are the chosen part of the life to be relayed. As a flash fiction writer delving into fiction, a genre with which I have not previously attempted, I became aware that we draw from real life to write fiction as well as memoir. The more observant we are as writers the greater our ability to convince our readers of the authenticity of our story. The more we remember from our own life informs our writing. In his book, Misery, Stephen King wrote,

“Writers remember everything…especially the hurts. Strip a writer to the buff, point to the scars, and he’ll tell you the story of each small one. From the big ones you get novels. A little talent is a nice thing to have if you want to be a writer, but the only real requirement is the ability to remember the story of every scar.”

In a double length Carrot Ranch flash, or 2 chapters of 99-words each (198 words total), tell a story that shows a scar. It can be memoir, other forms of creative non-fiction,  any genre of fiction or a BOTS (based on a true story).

 

The Rules

  1. Submit using the form below.
  2. Length of entry to be 198 words measured on Microsoft Word or wordcounter.net. Title is not counted in word length. Please be sure of your word count. Entries exceeding the word limits will be disqualified
  3. Flash is considered to be a complete story i.e. has a beginning, a middle and an end. This is a judging criteria.
  4. Entries must be received no later than 11:59 pm EST October 26.
  5. Your entry must be original and in English.
  6. The Judges rulings are final.

 

CONTEST #4 NOW CLOSED. WINNER ANNOUNCED NOVEMBER 28.

CHALLENGE OPTION: If you don’t feel up to entering a contest, please feel free to respond to this in the comments as a prompt challenge. Weekly Flash Fiction Challenges resume November 2.

 

Judging Criteria

  1. Complete story and structure
  2. Story Length
  3. Relevancy to prompt
  4. Grammar (spelling, tense, punctuation). Allowance will be made for differences in the language styles between countries and for the author to show her own voice.
  5. The Story

 

Judges

Irene Waters blogs at Reflections and Nightmares.

Angie Oakley blogs at Spry and Retiring.

Ellen Stomqvist is an avid reader.

More information about the judges can be seen here: for Angie and Irene.

Contest #4 Leader: Irene Water. For a full line-up of contests, see Events. Next up: 9×11 Twitterflash by  C. Jai Ferry on Thursday, October 19.

 

Announcement of Winner

Winners will be announced on Irene Waters website and Carrot Ranch website on the November 28, 2017.

 

About Carrot Ranch

Carrot Ranch is a literary community committed to providing all writers access to literary art regardless of backgrounds, genres, goals and locations. Common ground is found through the writing, reading and discussion of flash fiction. The weekly online flash fiction challenges promote community through process, craft and exploration, and regular participants form a literary group called The Congress of Rough Writers. Their first anthology, Vol. 1 publishes in 2017. Carrot Ranch offers an adult-learning program called Wrangling Words, available to all communities where Rough Writers reside.

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181 Comments

  1. Flash Fiction Rodeo Contest #4 – The Militant Negro™ says:
    October 17, 2017 at 12:05 am

    […] Source: Flash Fiction Rodeo Contest #4 […]

    Liked by 2 people

  2. Flash Fiction Rodeo Contest #4 | Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist) says:
    October 17, 2017 at 12:24 am

    […] Source: Flash Fiction Rodeo Contest #4 […]

    Liked by 2 people

  3. robbiesinspiration says:
    October 17, 2017 at 12:48 am

    Awesome, I have my two linked scars so know I must just pull the threads out of my head on submit them.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Charli Mills says:
    October 17, 2017 at 12:48 am

    Thanks for a great Rodeo Contest, Irene! I wrote fiction, but based it my own big toe that yet holds a scar from my horse stomping my foot because he was impatient to get his snout into a bucket of oats. I also know that the bond of trust between a horse and a human can transcend many negatives. From that came this story.

    CHALLENGE (NOT CONTEST)

    Deeper Than Scars by Charli Mills

    “Nothin’ but dog meat.” Daniel McFadden spat a stream of tobacco as he leaned on the corral.

    Shelly knew the piebald gelding wasn’t a looker. At fourteen, it was evident she wouldn’t be either. When the ranch foreman said the hands could take what they wanted from the stock, Gooseberry was the only one not selected.
    “Please, Dad. I’ll take care of him. Brush him every day, clean his hooves.”

    Shelly wanted her own horse. She’d already named him after her favorite pastry, hearing the hands call him a homely piebald.

    He grunted his consent. Gooseberry stomped Shelly’s foot.

    Four years later, Shelly carefully dressed. The thick scar on her big toe was not visible to others. She wiggled it before pulling on her boot sock and smiled, remembering the first time she met Gooseberry in the corral. He stomped her good in his fear of humans. Ugly horses and ranch girls were not met with kindness. But they were kind to each other, bringing out the best of what each had to offer. Hidden gifts; latent talents. No scars today. Today, they’d win the National Snaffle Bit Futurity, demonstrating the beauty of trust between horse and rider.

    Liked by 10 people

  5. robbiesinspiration says:
    October 17, 2017 at 12:52 am

    Lovely response, Charli

    Liked by 2 people

  6. Flash Fiction Rodeo Contest #4 | But I Smile Anyway... says:
    October 17, 2017 at 1:21 am

    […] Source: Flash Fiction Rodeo Contest #4 […]

    Liked by 2 people

  7. Ritu says:
    October 17, 2017 at 2:01 am

    Just submitted my own BOTS version!

    Liked by 3 people

  8. Juliet Nubel says:
    October 17, 2017 at 4:00 am

    Good morning Irene and Charli,
    I’ve just sent in my submission which I’ve been thinking about for days. I hope you enjoy it. I am really surprising myself with these entries. I never thought I was a fiction writer let alone a flash fiction writer. Maybe never even a writer! But I am loving these. Thanks for the opportunity to wear another hat.
    Have a lovely day.
    😀

    Liked by 5 people

  9. D. Avery @shiftnshake says:
    October 17, 2017 at 6:03 am

    Reblogged this on ShiftnShake.

    Liked by 2 people

  10. julespaige says:
    October 17, 2017 at 7:52 am

    Irene,

    I agree with Mr. King. Though not all scars have to cut deeply. Some scars can be as gentle and soft as a slight chilling breeze or a very deep single strange look of pure nasty from someone we don’t even know.

    Much to think about here. So I may just take some time before submitting a challenge as well as a contest piece.

    ~Thanks Jules

    Liked by 3 people

  11. julespaige says:
    October 17, 2017 at 9:24 am

    Cicatrix Trio
    (198) Challenge

    One you can’t see it if you don’t look. I’ve a thin scar on my
    chinny chin chin.That’s from trying to roller skate and hang
    onto apartment walls – then falling forward with a big bang!
    Luckily I didn’t break my jaw bone.

    Another scar also a head wound… maybe a tiny bit visible
    when I get some sun on my face, is also from stupidity. By
    diving in the shallow end of a pool while playing ‘Marco Polo’.
    And it kind of looks just a bit like Harry Potter’s. Though truth
    be told Ms. Rowling… I had it first!

    At least one scar that I have isn’t on my face. It’s sort of
    under one of on the inner side of one of my elbows. It was
    when I let a big dog take me for a walk. Hey when you are
    a kid you’d like to believe you are stronger than you look!
    The neighbor’s dog gave chase to something and dragged
    me and my arm about a half a concrete city block. That one
    didn’t need stitches.

    Those are the visible ones… But we’ve all got scars that
    will never see the light of day.

    ©JP/dh

    Cic·a·trix : ˈsikəˌtriks/ noun 1. the scar of a healed wound. A )a
    scar on the bark of a tree. B) BOTANY C) a mark on a stem left
    after a leaf or other part has become detached. OK I’m not a tree,
    but I think cicatrix is a cool new word. And often people can be
    described as having characteristics of trees; weepy like Willows,
    or as strong as an Oak.

    Liked by 5 people

  12. katimac62yahoo says:
    October 17, 2017 at 10:37 am

    Charli, I’ve enjoyed participating in the rodeo but I’m concerned about the upcoming 11 x 9 event. I don’t have a Twitter account. Am I still allowed to participate?

    katimac62@yahoo.com

    Liked by 4 people

    • julespaige says:
      October 17, 2017 at 4:09 pm

      Personally, if you can follow the directions for the challenge… I suppose it is a possibility to still participate. But I am not on Facebook, Snapchat nor do I tweet. And do not plan on opening said accounts just to do so. The simple fact is not everyone will participate in all events.

      (Though I have no clue as to what the 11×9 event is…) I haven’t looked that far ahead. Charli’s rodeo is about writing a book… Not sure if I’ve got enough in me to do that. 😉

      Good luck to those who can. 🙂

      Liked by 3 people

    • Irene Waters 19 Writer Memoirist says:
      October 17, 2017 at 8:15 pm

      I don’t know the answer to this one either. I do have a twitter account but I rarely visit and it feels like a foreign country to me when I do. I’m hoping the challenge might make it a bit clearer to me. As Jules said – if you can follow the directions…. Charli might have better answers for you. I received your entry. Thanks. Look forward to reading it when all are in.

      Liked by 2 people

    • Charli Mills says:
      October 18, 2017 at 2:18 am

      Good question! I’m glad you are participating, and the purpose of the Ranch is to make literary art more accessible. The wide variety of contests is to expose writers to different literary forms, and the 9×11 Twitterflash is meant to highlight the way Twitter has evolved as a literary writing tool.

      Thus, the challenge of Twitterflash is to use the 140 character limit to craft a story one Tweet (or sentence) at a time. 11 sentences of 9 words = a 99-word flash fiction. The additional constraint is the character limit and the use of hashtags. Definitely Twitter inspired and driven.

      However, in keeping with accessibility, I’m building a form to mimic the TwitterFlash so that those who don’t have a handle can still participate. For those who do have a handle, but aren’t on Twitter often, I’d encourage them to use this contest as a way to experience how literary artists are using Twitter. This challenge will judge each line as a stand alone and the cohesiveness of the overall flash.

      Long answer — yes! You can still participate by following the form in the Rodeo #5 post.

      Liked by 4 people

    • Sarah Brentyn says:
      October 18, 2017 at 2:59 pm

      I’ll let the leaders of the Ranch answer this (while I put my two cents in). 🙂 Twitterature (writing on Twitter) is awesome.

      I’d say, as long as it’s okay with the boss(es), you could simply write 11 complete sentences each consisting of 9 words. That will give you the 99 words but in the format you’d use on Twitter for this contest.

      P.S. The hashtag does count against the 140 characters but, with 9 words in the tweet (or the sentence, if not on Twitter), that won’t be an issue.

      Liked by 3 people

      • julespaige says:
        October 18, 2017 at 6:36 pm

        Sarah,

        Twitterature – cute. Kind of like three line fiction stories.

        So you don’t have to use all the 140 characters as long as you have 9 words in 11 sentences?

        (I think I’ve got a ‘handle’ on this now…)

        Thanks, Jules

        Liked by 3 people

      • Sarah Brentyn says:
        October 18, 2017 at 7:14 pm

        I’m not entirely sure.

        Mine came out to be 11 lines with 9 words in each. I have Twitter so I’ll tweet 11 tweets with 9 words in each but you can probably just write 11 lines with 9 words. ? We should ask the boss. 😉

        Twitterature is real. Wild, eh? Check this post out. (Sorry to link-drop, Charli.)

        https://sarahbrentyn.wordpress.com/2017/06/22/5-ways-twitter-helps-you-become-a-better-writer/

        Liked by 2 people

      • Irene Waters 19 Writer Memoirist says:
        October 19, 2017 at 2:00 am

        Thanks Sarah for the link. I am a bit of a dinosaur when it comes to twitter and twitterature (love that word). Am going to give it a shot and may learn something.

        Liked by 2 people

      • Charli Mills says:
        October 19, 2017 at 3:53 am

        For the contest, the judges decided to make Twitter a requirement because of how they have set up their process to follow and judge it. They also felt that the “social” aspect of Twitter is important.

        You can see examples by going to twitter and searching the dual hashtags of #FFRODEO and #twitterflash. Sarah has given you a good example. 9 words does not take up much of the character count.

        If you want to do a challenge in the comments it’s a 99-word story crafted in 11 sentences f 9 words each. But it really is a different process doing each sentence as a Tweet. It makes you think more about that sentence standing out on its own.

        Thanks for your help, Sarah!

        Liked by 2 people

    • Charli Mills says:
      October 19, 2017 at 3:44 am

      OKay! Katimac, Irene and Jules, we were unable to replicate what the Twitterflash does on Twitter by using a form. I’m completely new to literary forms on Twitter but they are a big deal, and I’m excited to learn.

      If Twitter is not a platform you want to do you can take the challenge and respond in the comments. We want to make is accessible to all writers, but also manageable for the judges.

      You could tweet for ten days and then leave it be!

      Liked by 1 person

  13. Pete says:
    October 17, 2017 at 1:56 pm

    Challenge

    Dress Rehearsal

    Dad and I spent the afternoon sorting out Mom’s closet. I climbed into a jungle of dresses and blouses and coats and sweaters. We joked some, to fill the silence, about how women had so much stuff. I hung Mom’s sheer scarves over the open window and Dad watched them dance in the breeze to a song in his head. Every piece had a place in his memory. The turquoise number she wore to a wedding, the yellow one from a banquet dinner at in Ocean City Maryland ten years ago. Her favorite church dress, a satin fundraiser getup. Funeral attire, like the one she’d worn yesterday in her coffin. The one she was wearing now, I guess.

    Like inventory, Dad knew every dress and every moment they’d had. He told me Mom wore the scarves to hide a small scar on her neck. I didn’t remember a scar. Dad nodded, said her father burned her with an iron when she was little. Dad said he used to kiss the scar when she’d let him. I looked to the scarves, Mom’s dresses heavy on my arm. Dad got to his feet, said he had to check on dinner.

    Liked by 9 people

  14. Flash Fiction Rodeo Contest #4 – All About Writing and more says:
    October 17, 2017 at 2:46 pm

    […] Source: Flash Fiction Rodeo Contest #4 […]

    Liked by 1 person

  15. denmaniacs4 says:
    October 17, 2017 at 3:40 pm

    On a broader note, I have been enjoying each and every Rodeo Contest in this series. Really a brilliant idea and I hope thousands participate…and if they do, my condolences to the judges…

    Liked by 3 people

  16. Sarah Brentyn says:
    October 17, 2017 at 7:36 pm

    I am LOVING this one. I’m a sucker for scars (physical and emotional). I’ll be back… 😉 Good luck, all!

    Liked by 5 people

  17. Colleen Chesebro says:
    October 17, 2017 at 10:04 pm

    OHHHH… this looks amazing. Today was crazy but tomorrow is another day! 😀

    Liked by 3 people

  18. Norah says:
    October 17, 2017 at 11:27 pm

    Reblogged this on Norah Colvin and commented:
    Have you got any scars you wish to share? Maybe others you’d rather hide?
    Irene Waters has thrown down the challenge for the fourth of the contests in the Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction Rodeo. #FFRODEO
    We’re halfway through the challenges. Can you believe that!
    I’m having a difficult time judging all the wonderful entries for my contest. Thank you to all who entered.
    Have you entered any of the contests yet? There’s a $25 prize for the winner of each one!

    Liked by 5 people

  19. Norah says:
    October 17, 2017 at 11:32 pm

    Great prompt, Irene. I’ll have a think about scars.
    Charli, what a great diversity in prompts. There’s something for everyone, and lots of new things to try. It’s a great way to expand our comfort zones. Thanks for this wonderful opportunity.

    Liked by 4 people

  20. Irene Waters 19 Writer Memoirist says:
    October 18, 2017 at 3:23 am

    Thanks Norah. You have written some great scar stories in the past with your little girl (memory loss moment for her name). I agree the diversity in competitions allows everyone to enter in and out of their comfort zone.

    Liked by 3 people

  21. kim blades, writer says:
    October 18, 2017 at 3:28 am

    AN EMOTIONAL SCAR
    At 53 years old my mother was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour.
    I moved out of the flat I had shared with Dave, the man I loved, and went back home to help my dad look after my now paralysed mom. Dave was also devastated by my mom’s illness and death 5 months later but by this time he had decided that he wanted move on with his life and soon had a new girlfriend.
    I was now 30 and alone. My father had gone to live overseas with his own elderly mother and, unfortunately, a rift between my older sister and I widened and I saw little of her.
    The friends Dave and I had shared had been his friends first and they remained so. I was not invited to socialise with them and they refused all my invitations.
    Depression hit me big time. My self-confidence and self-esteem evaporated and I withdrew into myself, teaching History at high school and returning home to my two cats every afternoon. Two years later the temporary post I held at school ended and I was unemployed as well.
    This period of intense loneliness and depression has scarred me permanently.

    Liked by 6 people

    • Irene Waters 19 Writer Memoirist says:
      October 18, 2017 at 6:33 am

      Kim this was a life story that didn’t warrant the like I gave it, as it was one episode of sadness followed by another and a huge burden to bear. It is so hard watching one you love succumbing to tumours and it must have been heart wrenching seeing your Mum paralysed. How nice though that you were able to look after her and I’m sure you brought her great comfort and lots of love in her final days.
      To then have your Father leave the country, your boyfriend go his own way and rifts appearing with other family members I am not at all surprised you suffered from depression. I can see you would have many scars as a result I hope they are becoming cicatrix (as Jules used earlier for a scar now healed). With the number of scars you have I’d say you must have a novel or two in you. To get this all in the required 198 words and elicit such an emotional response in this reader – you have packed a punch with your writing.

      Liked by 2 people

      • kim blades, writer says:
        October 19, 2017 at 11:56 am

        Hello Irene. Thank you for your lovely comments. Unfortunately the trauma caused by my mom’s illness and death and all the other upsetting things that happened to me shortly after, has resulted in my suffering from PTSD and a resultant rushed and failed marriage and an inability on my part to hold down a job. I am an English and History teacher but was unable to cope with the awful behaviour of, unfortunately, the majority of children I taught. I became very ill with an overactive thyroid, caused by stress, and eventually gave up teaching in 2008. Writing keeps me sane. Kim

        Liked by 2 people

      • Irene Waters 19 Writer Memoirist says:
        October 20, 2017 at 7:47 pm

        I’m glad writing keeps you sane Kim. You’ve had a lot to deal with and all coming on top of each other. I have said for years I am so glad I’m not a teacher – because of the behaviour of the children. There is seemingly little discipline given at home and schools are now hogtied and cannot administer it either. Makes it very hard on teachers. Keep writing. Cheers Irene

        Liked by 2 people

    • julespaige says:
      October 18, 2017 at 7:42 am

      It is amazing how our life tragedies sometimes want to take over. But we can persist as we slowly peel back their clawing grip to heal and move on. Just knowing that we are not alone in how we have at one time felt makes us bond. And that strength helps to heal us. We do not have to forget, but we can be made stronger and move forward with grace and confidence.

      Best to you and all of us as both our visual and invisible scars vanish as we put them on for display.

      Hugs, Jules

      Liked by 2 people

    • Liz H says:
      October 18, 2017 at 9:03 pm

      Yeah, “like” does not express it. I’m with you, have been in similar shakes, and promise that with self care and love, those scars will become a thing of beauty.

      Liked by 2 people

    • Charli Mills says:
      October 19, 2017 at 4:09 am

      The burden of such isolation and loneliness can leave so many scars upon scars. What a devastating time in your life. Thank you for sharing your emotional scars and I hope writing about it gives some healing and introspection.

      Liked by 1 person

    • Lisa @ The Meaning of Me says:
      October 26, 2017 at 3:51 pm

      Have to agree with the others – “like” is hardly the right response here. Thanks for sharing your story.

      Liked by 1 person

  22. Judy E Martin says:
    October 18, 2017 at 10:06 am

    Reblogged this on judyedwinamartin.

    Liked by 2 people

  23. Judy E Martin says:
    October 18, 2017 at 10:07 am

    An emotional one for me this week BOTS 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

  24. robbiesinspiration says:
    October 18, 2017 at 12:05 pm

    I am done and entered. I wonder what you will think of it.

    Liked by 4 people

  25. Colleen Chesebro says:
    October 18, 2017 at 1:53 pm

    I’ve entered and hope you will enjoy the continuing saga of The Heart Stone Chronicles… ❤

    Liked by 3 people

  26. Sherri Matthews says:
    October 18, 2017 at 3:16 pm

    Great to see your memoir flash contest Irene. I will enter my ‘scars’, can’t miss this one ❤

    Liked by 3 people

  27. Sherri Matthews says:
    October 18, 2017 at 3:23 pm

    Reblogged this on A View From My Summerhouse and commented:
    Flash Fiction Rodeo Contest #4 ‘Scars’ is live now! Memoir writer Irene Water’s asks us to write a double length Carrot Ranch flash, or 2 chapters of 99-words each (198 words total), tell a story that shows a scar. It can be memoir, other forms of creative non-fiction, any genre of fiction or a BOTS (based on a true story). Deadline 11:59 pm EST October 26. Read on for all details and submission guidelines, and as always, good luck one and all!

    Liked by 3 people

  28. Liz H says:
    October 18, 2017 at 8:25 pm

    Question! (Please?):

    MSWord counts symbols to break sections as a word (ex: “**”). But it that symbol doesn’t seem like a word to me, and this issue (may have) occurred in earlier submissions in this Rodeo.

    So, if I use a “**” or a “***” or (a “*” as was used and not counted in the septolet examples), am I adding a word? And is the rule the same across the different challenges?

    I only ask because I’m confused. I can fix what I understand. Thanks!! 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

  29. floridaborne says:
    October 18, 2017 at 10:48 pm

    I’m in the process of finding the right words — for words I was taught were not right. This is the hardest challenge yet.

    Liked by 3 people

  30. Chris Mills says:
    October 18, 2017 at 11:32 pm

    Submitted. I wrote four stories to get this one. This was a thought-provoking challenge that ended up being an emotional experience as well as an exercise in writing. Maybe that’s how it should be every time we write.

    Liked by 4 people

  31. D. Avery @shiftnshake says:
    October 19, 2017 at 9:19 pm

    Inscription

    “Hey, Shorty. What’s up? Besides the rodeo, I mean.”
    “I been busy, what with rodeoin’, ranchin’, wranglin’ an’ ropin’, an’ ridin’ herd on some other projects.”
    “So what brings ya by?”
    “Kid’s been kinda scarce. Ya know anythin’ Pal?”
    “Yep.”
    “Well?”
    “Kid’s been hangin’ out back East agin. Got some sort a rodeo goin’ on there by the sounds a things. Or did the Kid call it a three-ring circus? Either way they’s been a bunch a jugglin’ goin’ on and balancin’ acts an’ such. Kid claims to be workin’ at tamin’ wild uns, kid-whisperin’ even.”
    “School?”
    “Yep.”
    “The Kid’s workin’ with kids, yer talkin’ ‘bout?”
    “Yep. Math.
    “Go figger.
    “Kid says they’s some real fine stock, full a potential, but some’s jest plain scared and confused.”
    “ ‘Bout math?”
    “Life. Scary present, uncertain future. An’ some’s already scarred by their pasts, carryin’ buckets full a loss an’ grief. Kids ain’t goin’ over the river an’ through the woods to granma’s anymore. Granma’s raisin’ ‘em.”
    “That’s a tough equation, Pal.”
    “Yep. But scars don’t have ta equal disability. Kid’s hopin’ these school kids’ll someday know their scars as an inscription that tells a story a healin’ an’ resilience.”

    Liked by 4 people

  32. D. Avery @shiftnshake says:
    October 21, 2017 at 10:26 pm

    Irene, this was a tough prompt for me. I have boring scars, no good stories, just little reminders to be careful with fatigue and saws and hedge trimmers. But it would scar me not to manage something for your challenge, so here’s something:

    First Separation

    “My bellybutton.”
    “What?”
    “That’s the first scar we get, the first scar of first separation.” She trailed her finger around his navel as she spoke.
    “Ok”, he said, rolling onto his side, “Besides your bellybutton, what other scars do you have?”
    “The blankets when you toss them aside and leave my bed are a scar. A scar of separation.”
    “Really?”
    “Yes, and when you go, it is wrenching, and the door is a scar.”
    “Another scar of separation? Drama! I return, we heal.”
    “What makes you think I have scars?”
    “Everyone does. They’re our own imprinted stories. I showed you where I slid into the barbed wire fence.” He lifted his calf for her to see the scar again, then kissed her, held her gaze. “Thing is, we’ve been together a few times, but always with the lights off, always you wear a nightshirt.” Her eyes dropped.
    “Look. Pruning saw slipped the branch, ripped my finger.” She kissed his finger then pushed his hand away.
    She sat up, pulling off her shirt. “Scars of separation”, she whispered. “But I got away.”
    “And I will never hurt you”, he said, gently tracing each raised imprint of a plunged knife.

    Liked by 3 people

  33. First Separation | ShiftnShake says:
    October 21, 2017 at 10:44 pm

    […] is my response to Irene Water’s challenge for the Rodeo event #4 over at Carrot Ranch. In a double length Carrot Ranch flash, or 2 chapters of 99-words each (198 words total), tell a […]

    Liked by 1 person

  34. Lisa @ The Meaning of Me says:
    October 25, 2017 at 11:43 pm

    Well. I’ve had all three of us down sick with one thing or another for the last week and a half, so I’ve sadly missed the first few contest deadlines. Stupid germs. I’ve been thinking about this one a lot and I think I have something I’m ready to submit. Going to sleep on it a bit still.

    Liked by 1 person

  35. Lisa @ The Meaning of Me says:
    October 26, 2017 at 4:18 pm

    *raises hand*
    Technical question!
    Is a hyphenated word counted as one or two words? At the moment, I’m going by MS Word’s word count, but just want to clarify before I hit submit this evening. THANKS!

    Liked by 1 person

  36. To call or not to call? – Creative Busyness says:
    November 29, 2017 at 1:12 pm

    […] This post was written for the Flash Fiction Rodeo Contest #4. […]

    Like

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