Ripening of Hope #microfiction

Posted on Nov 17, 2016 by TanGental

Precious Mtaka studied the apple, unsure what to do. The shiny red skin said ‘bite me’ but she’d been tricked too often to trust the giver. Hunger won, finally, and juice dribbled down her chin as the sweet hit made her head swirl. The apple came from a large square metal box, dumped on the dockside soon after Mtaka had been led from the ship. She had spent so much of her life, it seemed, trapped in boxes: in the back of the dusty truck, bumping across mustard-coloured scrub; crushed in the trunk of the smuggler’s taxi, scared witless as they crossed the border; freezing for hours in the empty cart on the back of the train; and then in the hold of the ship. Assaulted, bruised, starving yet driven by a tiny inextinguishable hope of a future better than the present. Now, she sat peering like a goldfish through a tiny crossed wired window in the back of a police van at a strange land, apparently full riotous colours as the leaves gave in to one last gaudy autumn show. At last she smiled. Human hope still springs even as the land begins to hibernate.

Esther Newton’s Monday motivation challenge is to write a story on the theme of autumn including the words: red, goldfish and mustard.

About TanGental

My name is Geoff Le Pard. Once I was a lawyer; now I am a writer. I've published several books: a four book series following Harry Spittle as he grows from hapless student to hapless partner in a London law firm; four others in different genres; a book of poetry; four anthologies of short fiction; and a memoir of my mother. I have several more in the pipeline. I have been blogging regularly since 2014, on topic as diverse as: poetry based on famous poems; memories from my life; my garden; my dog; a whole variety of short fiction; my attempts at baking and food; travel and the consequent disasters; theatre, film and book reviews; and the occasional thought piece. Mostly it is whatever takes my fancy. I avoid politics, mostly, and religion, always. I don't mean to upset anyone but if I do, well, sorry and I suggest you go elsewhere. These are my thoughts and no one else is to blame. If you want to nab anything I post, please acknowledge where it came from.
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18 Responses to Ripening of Hope #microfiction

  1. Jane Dougherty says:
    Nov 17, 2016 at 1:13 pm

    An unlikely set of words! I salute you in getting all of them in AND writing a good story 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  2. esthernewton says:
    Nov 17, 2016 at 2:27 pm

    A super story using all the prompts 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  3. inksian says:
    Nov 17, 2016 at 5:19 pm

    Lovely story of hope surviving.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Ritu says:
    Nov 17, 2016 at 5:52 pm

    This was brilliantly done His Geoffleship!

    Liked by 1 person

  5. M. L. Kappa says:
    Nov 17, 2016 at 7:33 pm

    I’ve got a better one: When the leaves turn red, I’m consumed by the desire to fry the goldfish and eat them with mustard. Plus it’s more micro than yours. But don’t despair, yours was quite good too.

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Let's CUT the Crap! says:
    Nov 17, 2016 at 7:55 pm

    Fantastic use of all the prompts and a wonderful story told. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  7. Hugh's Views and News says:
    Nov 18, 2016 at 9:05 am

    How you managed this with those prompts, I’ve no idea. Genius springs to mind. Nothing ever wrong with your writing Mr Le Pard.

    Like

  8. Hugh's Views and News says:
    Nov 18, 2016 at 11:00 am

    Oh, I love caramel, but not when it’s in ears. 😀

    Seriously, the way you told this story, it made me experience the feelings Mata was having.

    Liked by 1 person

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