Naïveté Nativity #carrotranch #flashfiction

Posted on Dec 4, 2021 by TanGental

This week’s carrot ranch prompt is

December 2, 2021, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story that includes the littlest Christmas goat. Who does the goat belong to? What is happening? Go where the prompt leads!

Naïveté nativity

When winter struck Little Tittweaking it did so like a demented blacksmith. The place was gripped by frozen dawns, impassable drifts and foggy deceits.

The one high spot for all, bar Dumpling Pendulous was the village nativity. Everyone enjoyed the carols, the mulled wine, camaraderie and mulled wine. Except Dumpling who always played an animal: donkey, camel, flock of sheep… This year she complained so the Reverend Dimpled Whitethigh offered her an alternative. ‘You can be the goat.’

‘How is that an improvement,’ she moaned.

The Reverend grinned. ‘You’re not just a goat, but the G.O.A.T.’

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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24 Responses to Naïveté Nativity #carrotranch #flashfiction

  1. willowdot21 says:
    Dec 4, 2021 at 2:08 pm

    Took me a second but that the blacksmith hit net! 💜💜

    Liked by 2 people

  2. Ritu says:
    Dec 4, 2021 at 2:10 pm

    Lol! Love it!!

    Liked by 3 people

  3. Gwen M. Plano says:
    Dec 4, 2021 at 2:12 pm

    Well done!

    Liked by 1 person

  5. OIKOS™- Art, Books & more says:
    Dec 4, 2021 at 2:53 pm

    Beautiful, Geoff! Enjoy your weekend, and please stay also away from the new virus variant. xx Michael

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Erika says:
    Dec 4, 2021 at 3:51 pm

    That’s so smart 😂

    Liked by 2 people

  7. noelleg44 says:
    Dec 4, 2021 at 4:42 pm

    P.E.R.F.E.C.T.

    Liked by 2 people

  8. derrickjknight says:
    Dec 5, 2021 at 8:42 am

    I had to look that up to appreciate it. Very well done

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Norah says:
    Dec 5, 2021 at 9:53 am

    Very clever, Geoff. Now you can enjoy some mulled wine too.

    Liked by 1 person

  10. robertawrites235681907 says:
    Dec 7, 2021 at 6:41 pm

    I took Dereck’s advice and looked it up. Well Done, Geoff.

    Liked by 1 person

  11. Chel Owens says:
    Dec 8, 2021 at 4:50 pm

    Dimpled Whitethigh? I’d ask, but I’m fairly certain your character names just pop into that twisted mind of yours…

    Liked by 1 person

    • TanGental says:
      Dec 9, 2021 at 12:28 am

      Yep. This one has roots in the earliest piece of surreal comedy I can remember. It was a radio programme on the BBC called Round the Horne and has both simple gags, appealing to my 7/8 year old self and some wacky double entendres and flights of fancy delighted in by my dad. One character was the resident fashion correspondent Daphne Whitethigh. If you’ve not caught it see if there’s any on YouTube. It might be a little dated and maybe a bit jarring with modern sensitivities but it opened a world of the ridiculous to me, in a way the Goon Show never managed.

      Liked by 1 person

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