AnElephantCant go on a train
Although there are so many times he has tried
He goes to the station
But to his consternation
He cannot squeeze his mammoth bahookie inside
Once again it is Friday Fictioneer time.
Chief Engineer Rochelle keeps a line of talented tale tellers on the right track.
And AnElephant goes off the rails.
The idea is to write a very short story, circa 100 words, based on this picture prompt (below).
That’s it.
© Dawn Q. Landau
The Railway
Not much further now.
I think we are about a mile from the town.
I am tired, and so is Shep.
We are both getting too old for these long treks.
It is nice under the trees, very peaceful.
I can hear the birds singing.
It is almost Spring.
This looks like a good place to stop.
There should be a train along soon.
The noise will frighten Shep.
I can rest my head here, keep him close beside me.
This way he will not panic at the last minute.
I could not stand for him to be left behind.
Sound Bite Fiction 
I wish AnElephant were happier, but you tell a tale of how many feel inside, how desperate and sad. And yet, each day is a blessing when the sun shines and the surf pounds the rock. I’m glad you have the sea as consolation. I like your tiny Anna Karenina.
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You are the sweetest lady, Brenda, thank you for caring.
AnElephant is really a happy bunny.
Who writes fiction!
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Whew! I am glad. I am imagining pachyderm hopping now. *laughing*
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If we all could go so peacefully……
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Toot, toot!!!
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a nice tale
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Very happy you enjoyed.
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A sad story. Such a poignant ending – bittersweet.
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The world AnElephant lives in.
Life, death, and a silly rhyme.
Thank you for your time and thoughtful words, Margaret.
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A lovely sad, sweet tale. Well done Elephant 🙂
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Thanks, Dee!
AnElephant loves your wee smiley face!
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Just hopping around to read the entries. I’m a newbie. I’m trying to see how others approached the challenge and learn. My story is sad but most of my writing comes from my emotions.
This story touched me. I like to have my heartstrings tugged. You’re story did that and added compassion. Loved it !!!!
Isadora
p.s. will not say anything about ‘bahookie’. everyone seems to have covered it. 😊
sorry about this long comment.
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AnElephant is delighted to welcome Isadora to his zoo.
And he is grateful for any comment, regardless of length.
He is glad you are touched, tugged and compassioned!
And bahookies are best kept covered, except for the very young!
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Dear AEC,
A sad tale, yet a happy tale, though, like an earlier commenter, I do feel for the engineer. Did you know that Bahookie is the word from which Caboose is derived? Way to dig deep into the archives to work that into your entry.
Aloha,
Doug
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AnElephant does not know the meaning or derivation of any of the words in his rhyme or story.
Monkeys and typewriters, Doug, that is his secret!
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Poor train driver. Tender sad tale for Shep and his master.
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Yep.
Next week it is Casey Jones and the Stress Counsellor.
Glad you enjoyed.
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LOL
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Ah . . . A hobo’s tale, neatly spun. Good to have you back in these halls, Elephant.
Cheers!
MG
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Thank you, MG, AnElephant’s travels are over for a while.
Glad you enjoyed.
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Very well written: such a joy to be shown and not told, yet have the message ring clear. I admit, I was not so polished this week! And, God, that poem! I read it aloud to my wife (she even briefly stopped watching…whatever this TV show is…to listen). She got a kick out of it.
Bahookie,
Danny
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AnElephantCant always be creative
Sometimes what he writes is just daft
But he is covered in glory
You liked his short story
And even your dear lady wife has a bit of a laugh
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Oh my its Anna Karenina with a dog!
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Yes, but the Reader’s Digest version!
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Lovely – well written poem, and a very clear scene of two well-travelled travellers.
KT
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Thank you, Mr Baggins.
AnElephant is pleased you enjoy both parts of his little offering.
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The secret to move your readers: you have it. It started so peaceful, and now I’m crying. Well told!
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Oh please, no tears!
It is just a wee story, honestly!
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I had to read it twice before I figured out what their final destination really was. Very well done!
I love the term, “bahookie.” I think I will use it in future to describe my own rather, um, sizable bahookie 🙂
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Thank you, Jan, glad you got there.
And AnElephant is sure you have a delightfully dainty hin’ en’!
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Very nice. I got a bit worried about her. She was sounding a bit like she was giving up on life.
Scott
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Spot on, Scott!
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Bahookie? Is that a large hooka? 🙂 Heart-breaker!
janet
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Hi, Janet, AnElephant is ‘behind’ with his replies here!
Glad to touch your heart.
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This one hurt my heart… so sad. Well written, great job !!
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AnElephant hopes your heart recovers soon.
Thank you for the kind words.
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Dear Elephant, Every week you pull a clever new tale out of your trunk and submit it to the delight of us all! Well done! Nan 🙂
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Just another shaggy dog tale, Nan.
Hugs
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AEC, oh ho w I wish we !could see the ground here (Virginia). We have 20 inches of white stuff now with the promise of 3-8 more tonight. We have an old rail trail that was converted to hikling/biking and I think on Saturday i am going to visit with my camera to get some photos for future blog posts. I liked the feel of this. I am a dog lover to the max and think any endeavor to reward their loyalty is not too much.
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Thanks for the weather update, Joe.
Warm and sunny here on the Med.
Glad you liked tale.
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My father served aboard two United State Navy vessels in the early 1960s and at least one took a cruise through the Mediteranean. I still have tons of photos and an 8 mm moive he made on one of the beaches. There is a young woman changing into her bathing suit on the beach while underneath only a towel.
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Oh, this is heartbreaking. Well done.
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Cool!
AnElephant likes to break hearts!
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A sad and at the same time, quietly happy story. Loved it.
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Then AnElephant is content, thank you.
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A heartbreaking tale. Well done. Love the word ‘bahookie’.
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Happy to break your heart.
And make you smile.
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So sad .. ending it together like that… I guess sometimes it comes to that point.
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I guess it does, Bjorn.
Good to see you here.
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Nooooo!!!
So well told that the sadness and lassitude permeates this tale.
C’est trop bien fait et c’est trop triste.
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But yeeeessss!
Thank you.
UnElephant est bien content de te faire triste.
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Dear Elephant,
Bahookie? I’ll have to remember that one. 😉 It’s soooooo goood to see you back. I’ve missed you.
Sweet tale of a man and his dog. So is he getting ready to the end their lives? Either way it’s a well told piece.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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AnElephant has been travelling again.
And is touched that he was missed, thank you.
Bahookie must be a Scots word, I suppose!
And yes, end of the line.
Pun intended!
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Bahookie has now made it over to the States. Know that I will use it. 😉
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AnElephant is proud to enhance the cultural awareness of the colonials.
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Your limerick made me laugh out loud and I had to read it aloud to my husband. You crack me up! Nice little tale too of the love between a man and his dog 🙂
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Then AnElephant is happy!
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