Am I? I still don’t think I’m a writer, but I keep entering these competitions to see what happens! This round’s results are in. But first, my story.
Genre: Historical fiction
Action: Trimming
Word: Enter
Montauciel’s Memorable Day
19 Septembre 1783
Versailles, France
Montauciel savored the warm sun and anticipated the day. Trimming the grass close as he feasted, a refreshing drink from the gentle stream—an ordinary day, filled with ordinary pleasures. But it was not to be.
“Why this rope? Is it market day?” Montauciel wondered with some trepidation as he entered a waiting wagon.
“What is that strange, pale orb, like the sky but not?” he puzzled as his shepherd lifted him from the wagon to the ground.
The roar of a cannon startled Montauciel as he ascended into a curious enclosure. “Straw?” he wondered. “No, I cannot chew it. What is this place? And a chicken and a duck here, too?”
Another roar, then the hiss of fire and a pungent odor. Montauciel wrinkled his nose, backing fearfully from the flame. He turned his head only to realize the curious enclosure rose above the ground, taking him with it!
“What sorcery is this?! Help! Help!” But the humans below, had they heard him, would have taken his cries for so much bleating.
The strange craft plummeted suddenly, and Montauciel feared his end was nigh. Crunch! “Were those my bones breaking?” he thought. But as a human rushed over to inspect him, he realized he was alive!
“Vive les animaux!” the cry rang out. And Montauciel found himself led yet again to a splendid courtyard, where he lived out the rest of his days in luxury, never knowing the people called him hero.
That’s my story. And tonight we got the results.
Honorable mention doesn’t get me on to the second round, but I’m okay with that. It’s just fun to get that mention! And I’ll keep on trying. Maybe the next competition will be the time I finally make it to round three.
You’ve got a great knack for bringing historical fiction to life with such vivid detail and charm. Keep going!
Thank you for your kind words! And thanks for stopping by my little corner of the internet.