Once again it’s time for Friday Fictioneers thanks to our good friend Rochelle.
THE CHALLENGE:
Write a one hundred word story that has a beginning, middle and end. (No one will be ostracized for going a few words over the count.)
His name was Trouble and he lived up to his name. My father bought him from a neighbor for $25. Dad said I was 50% owner. I owned the back half. The half you have to clean up after. Trouble liked to run. He would run and then look back to see if you were following. Trouble would get so excited in the house when we played with him he would pee on the floor. Trouble even ran a squirrel up a tree one time. Trouble went blind at age fifteen. My dad took him to the field out back and shot him.
Oh Danny Boy! 
Ooh, this is a tale with two temperatures: searing hot and icy cold! Both sides of the dramatic mask: comedy and tragedy. Very effective. I’m sorry for the boy and the dog. It was a cruel act, to both dog and boy.
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It was something that had to be done for Trouble’s quality of life.
DJ
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Point taken, sorry. In the UK the custom is to take our pets to the vet to be put to sleep. It may even be illegal to do it oneself at home. 🙂
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It’s ok! The story was based in the early 1950’s. It was pretty common then for poor folks. Thanks for your comment.
DJ
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I should pay better attention. I think it was late when I got to your story and I was probably tired! Ann
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I almost didn’t like this! Poor trouble 😦
I loved the way you started this story with owning the back half! I burst out laughing and had to read it to my mum who is always complaining that we wanted a dog, and never clean up after them 😛
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Thanks for the comment. Now you have me laughing.
DJ
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Poor child, to love the dog and lose it so brutally.
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He cried for a long time after his lost.
DJ
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I may have to use that 50% thing when my kid gets older. I’m not a big fan of that part of being a dog owner. Sad that the dog had to be shot though.
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It worked on me.
DJ
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Dear Danny,
Even in your wonderfully spare prose I felt the intense pain of the boy at the end.
Actually, Poppy, the dog in the picture, did chase a squirrel up that tree so you could add that 1% to make your story 100%. 😉
Well done, sir.
shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks Rochelle!
DJ
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It sounded like an idyllic little tale until it got to the end. Then kerpow! Very effective.
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Then I did what I wanted to accomplish. Thanks Sandra!
DJ
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Funny but disturbing. I feel for the little boy who loved and cared for his dog.
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Thanks for the comment. The story is 99% true. Trouble (his real name) never climbed any threes.
DJ
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Danny, I was going to comment that this sounded so real and from your comments, I guess it was. The back half idea I’ve heard before, but it’s still funny. Well-written story.
janet
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Thanks for the read. It’s 99% true. Trouble never climbed any trees.
DJ
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Oh no, he shot the dog? How sad. Silent
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Thanks for the comment. Sad day for me indeed.
DJ
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Owning the back half — sounds like both a bless and a curse.. Nice name for a dog.
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Wasn’t bad. Prepared me for my professional career!
DJ
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Trouble whole life story in a 100 words. Nice work. Funny you own the back half. 🙂
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Thanks for the comment. My dad had a weird sense of humor.
DJ
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🙂
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