Kreative Kue 317

Kreative Kue 316 asked for submissions based on this photograph:

John W Howell is a multiple nominated and award-winning author who blogs at Fiction Favorites. Details of John’s books can be found on his Amazon author page

Grand Prix Doggie by John W. Howell © 2021

“Okay, so when you come to a curve, just lean into it.”

“I get it. Your feet stay firmly on the track.”

“I think you might do a little better also if you could change your lead just before hitting the curve.”

“What do you mean?”

“You are in a right over left lead configuration.”

“Is that bad?”

“No, not bad but notice how my body seems to follow the curve. I’m in left over right lead, and it just fits better.”

“You do look more streamlined. I can feel my ears bouncing around.”

“So do a lead change, and you will smooth out.”

“Wow. That is wonderful.”

“Okay, then coming out of the curve, you can change the lead again if it feels better.”

“No, this is pretty comfortable.”

“Well, I think you are ready.”

“You mean it?”

“Yup. I think I have taught you everything I know.”

“So you think I have a chance?”

“They are some pretty fast dogs.”

“Yeah, but I have the heart.”

“Okay, heart does go a long way. What made you want to race in the first place?”

“I always loved how those dogs looked going around the track. Sleek and beautiful. I want to look like that.”

“You know looks aren’t everything.”

“Yeah, but you have to admit they are beautiful.”

“They are greyhounds, and you are a Russel terrier. You know that, right?”

“So, what does that have to do with anything?”

“If you don’t see the difference, then don’t let me dissuade you.”

“You have to follow your dream no matter how hopeless it may be.”

“Okay, then. Good luck tomorrow.”

“I’m a fine-tuned running machine. But thank you for the good wishes.”

---

Tien Skye, who blogs at From the Widow Seat offered this tale. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

(Untitled) © 2021, Tien Skye

“Hahaha! This is fun!”

“Wait up, you cheater!” His brother barked.

He came to a natural stop but his brother simply lunged at him and they started playfighting, rolling in the grass and making terrifying noises.

Then he shot off the moment his brother relaxed. His brother chased after him again and the game began again.

They could do this the whole day!

“All right boys, you’ve been at it the whole day! Let’s go!” Their daddy called out.

They simply looked at their daddy and whined in unison.

“Let’s go!”

Trust the humans to take the fun out of everything.

“C’mon, we’ll do that again tomorrow.”

The two dogs wagged their tails and came running back to their daddy.

---

The following story is from Mark Bierman, a most welcome visitor who blogs at Adventures in Writing (https://markbierman.wordpress.com/) and whose first novel Vanished is available on Amazon

Flash fiction by Mark Bierman © 2021

“Jasper! I’m sorry!”

“You called me ‘poofy,’ and right in front of Sally!”

“Look, I thought she liked ‘poofy’!

“Then you peed on my leg! Yuck! Do you know how much rolling in the grass I had to do, to get that off! To make it worse, you did it right—”

“In front of Sally. I get it. I told you, it’s a medical condition. Look I’m sorry you were embarrassed. But let’s look at the facts. Sally is a Bullmastiff, and you’re, well, you.”

“I’m not good enough for her? That what you’re saying?”

“Well, not exactly. It’s just that, when she grows bigger, much, much, much bigger, there’s going to be some complications.”

“I don’t even know what that means.”

“The word, ‘complication,’ originated from the Latin word ‘complicationem’. It means—”

“Pshaw! I know what the word means, I don’t understand what it matters what kind of dog Sally is.”

“Well, she’s young now, but she’s going to grow tall, very tall.”

“How tall?”

“Let’s just say you won’t be able to keep up with her. When you go for a walk, she might as well carry you by the scruff of your neck. Your feet won’t even touch the ground.”

“You’re putting me on!”

“Nope! Look, Mom’s calling us for dinner. I’ll get her to Google a picture of what Sally is going to look like when she’s fully grown.”

“Alright, but it won’t stop us! I’ll steal the step stool Mom uses to reach the top cupboard, to kiss her!”

“The cupboard with our treats?”

“The very one.”

“Wow! You really ARE in love!”

---

My effort was:

The argument

“You really want to do this, Jethro? Pit your dog against mine in a race?”

“Why not, Jack? We’ve got to resolve this one way or another and you have to admit, this will be way more fun than tossing a coin.”

“Listen, Mate. Some things can be decided by chance, like shall I wear the red socks or the green ones? Which of our two favourite pubs shall we go to? It’s not immediately important and either choice is acceptable. Some things you can decide by other means, like a race or a game of cards. There’s still an element of chance, but you have skin in the game, as they say, and feel you’ve had more input into it. That could include resolving things like personal insults – back in the day they’d be settled by a duel or some-such – or maybe a perceived debt. The sort of thing a lot of people would go to court over. Some things, however, aren’t open to chance decisions. Things like, oh, I don’t know, is it dark outside? Is it raining? I don’t think anyone would toss a coin or go thirteen rounds over questions like that, would they?”

“What are you trying to say?”

“Just that this isn’t a question that has any nuance to it.”

“Don’t know what you mean.”

“What do you mean, you don’t know what I mean?”

“What’s a nuance?”

“The difference isn’t subtle, it’s stark; it’s obvious; it’s self-explanatory. There is no point in using any method of decision that… you remember the old joke about the horses?”

“The one where the black horse has a longer tail than the white one?”

“Yeah, that one.”

“No, not really.”

“But you get my point?”

“No, not really.”

“How do you suppose the question will be answered by racing the dogs against each other?”

“Well, it’ll be obvious, won’t it? From the result.”

“And the race will be fair?”

“Of course.”

“Notwithstanding that your dog has longer legs than mine?”

“Yeah, but yours has a smooth coat which will help with airflow.”

“Help with airflow? How fast do you think they’ll run? Do you suppose either of them has a need for high downforce? They will be running in a straight line, you know.”

“No, it’s not that. Smoother hair means less wind resistance to fight against.”

“Again. How fast do you think they’ll be running?”

“Might make a difference.”

“Okay; I’ll play your game for a while. I’ll tell you what. Whilst they’re running, why don’t we settle it like gentlemen?”

“Bare-knuckles?”

“Don’t be daft. Let’s just take a look at the paperwork.”

***

“Okay, Jethro, here it is in black and white. Your dog was born in June 2003, mine was born in April 2006. Therefore your dog is the oldest.”

“So what was the point of having the race, then?”

“Aaaargh!”

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On to this week’s challenge: Using this photo as inspiration, write a short story, flash fiction, scene, poem; anything, really; even just a caption for the photograph. Either put it (or a link to it) in a comment or email it to me at keithchanning@gmail.com before 6pm next Sunday (if you aren’t sure what the time is where I live, this link will tell you). If you post it on your own blog or site, a link to this page would be appreciated, but please do also mention it in a comment here.

Go on. You know you want to. Let your creativity and imagination soar. I shall display the entries next Monday.