Joleyn Pinkruffle knew he’d die shortly and it really annoyed him. ‘If you’re listening, I’m not having this. You said, if ever I wanted to trade my soul…’
‘I’M LISTENING.’
‘Right, it’s a soul for three wishes…’
‘YOU’RE HARDLY IN A POSITION TO BARGAIN. ONE WISH.’
‘You said…’
‘HE’S ABOUT TO SHOOT.’
‘Oh come on. It’s a good soul. Barely used.’
‘ONE WISH.’
‘Alright. Can I make it?’
‘GO ON.’
‘I want to be a Masked Avenger.’
Joleyn blinked. He was dead. The bullet had gone in one ear and out the other. But he could still see. He’d got his wish. Right, he thought, on with the mask and… He gasped. Instead of hands he had paws. ‘What have you done?’ He blinked. Had he just barked?
‘YES. YOU BARKED.’
‘I’m a masked avenger!’
‘HE’LL NOT RECOGNISE YOU. YOU’RE AN ATTACK DOG. OFF YOU GO, BOY AND AVENGE.’
Bugger, he thought but ok, he could work with this. He quickly licked his nethers – he’d always wondered about that – a bit too savoury for his taste – less bee’s knees, than dog’s…
‘ARE YOU GOING TO DO THAT ALL DAY?’
‘I’m in no rush.’ Joleyn marked the corral, surprised at his bladder control. Another upside to balance against the lack of opposable thumbs.
‘I NEVER SAID YOU’D HAVE LONG.’
‘What? That’s not fair.’
‘SEE. SEE. THERE HE IS BOY. KILL!!’
Joyeln ran off, across the dusty Main Street and hurtled at the ageing gunslinger. The greying jowls wobbled, surprise written across them. Then the gnarled killer grinned. ‘You!’
If that wasn’t bad enough, Joleyn licked the stubbly chin and felt his rear end began to, yes wag.
‘What have you done?’
‘I HAVE YOUR SOUL, REMEMBER. IF I WANT YOU TO LOVE HIM, THEN I CAN. MWAHAHAHAHAHA.’
This is part of the latest Microcosms flash fiction prompt
You know what? Just reading the title teared me up… I had a dear cousin who would say Every Dog Has His Day as a life l
Motto and it was a standing joke at his wedding. He was no dog, by any means. But the kindest of souls…
And after becoming husband, then dad to two, he was diagnosed with MS. He wasn’t one of the long sufferers, and was taken from us a few short months after diagnosis….
Sorry.
Nothing to do with your wonderful little story His Geoffleship, but what I felt… 💜
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Sorry for your loss, Ritu. I live with a condition similar to MS and a friend has MND. They’re fairly brutal and you don’t know how much time you’ll get. It’s been ten years so far for me and am in remission and doing reasonably well. My friend with MND has been fortunate and reached five years but has lost “colleagues” much faster. Life is precious.
Best wishes,
Rowena
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Thank you Rowena… It was so fast… No one should be left to suffer in this way. I’ve met others since, online and in real life and I sympathise and wholeheartedly wish this disease didn’t exist xxx
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Me too. research is so important as well as supporting people living with it and their families…especially kids. I was very ill when my kids were small and there was very little affordable support and I was just lucky my parents could help. There seems to be no plan B in our community for when a parent gets seriously ill or dies.
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That saddens me that the support wasn’t out there for you ..
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I think we need to change society’s views about disability and chronic health and try to create a more inclusive and supportive society. We now have the NDIS in Australia or National Disability Scheme but it has some serious gaps especially in terms of providing equipment. It’s a disgrace.
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Nowhere seems to have got it just right yet …
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Another little gem Geoff.
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Thank you Di. A little bit of nonsense as usual
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Fun nonsense though!
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That Satan is such a crafty git, as cunning as the most cunning 🦊. 😱💜
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His cunning is cunning’s big brother
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You found the words I so wanted to use!
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Ha ha ha! I think you and Dog may have been spending a few too many walks together.
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Maybe I’m possessed by some spectral dog-ghoul
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Possessed, yes.
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Geoffle, they say dogs look like their owners, but owners becoming their dogs? I know most of us have been tempted but mostly in terms of sleeping, not having to go to work and not have human responsibilities. I think it might be time for a vacation. Has anyone mentioned anything about moving onto greener pastures? Just a thought…
Best wishes,
Rowena
BTW we’ve gone to desperate measures to set up some greener pastures at our place. Geoff has build a wooden frame and covered it in chicken wire and it’s being moved around the backyard to get the grass growing and keep ravaging paws out.I’ll be posting a photo shortly.
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You have the most interesting mind, Geoff. I am always so intrigued when I read your posts.
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A proper, literal, twist in the tale 😊
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Ha, good twist on the ‘be careful what you wish for’ genre.
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Oh, what fun!!!! Well done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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