Sunday Photo Fiction is a weekly challenge presented by my old friend Al Forbes.
The idea is to write a short story (200 word max) inspired by what you see in the picture (below).
This week Al provides us with another wonderful photo of a scene that is quintessentially English. And for once I am not poking fun at my lovely neighbours, or the Auld Enemy as we Scots affectionately call them!
Click on this link to enter your tale, and to see what others have written.
© Al Forbes
Click here to hear this 90-second story read aloud by the author:
The Unicorn and the Trapeze
Ernie only gets the job because he is a unicorn.
It’s a bit of a novelty, you see, someone like him in a trapeze act.
Don’t get me wrong, he isn’t bad.
But he isn’t what you would call a natural either.
He has no tradition, the circus isn’t in his blood, like some of us.
So I teach him all he knows, and we put on a pretty good show.
He is what we call the flyer, I’m the catcher.
The point is, if you’ll excuse the pun, that I catch his horn.
That can be tricky.
And rough on my hands.
But it all goes pretty well until the inevitable happens.
We both fall for the same girl.
Rosie the Rope, she is called, and she walks the high wire.
I saw her first, I warn Ernie, I only have to miss you once.
He scowls, says nothing.
As it turns out, it would have been better if I’d stayed quiet.
He doesn’t miss me.
I am on my way to hospital, with a spiral-shaped hole in my chest.
And a spiral-shaped horn protruding from it.
And Ernie?
Well, they sack him, of course.
Hornless, he is just another white horse.
He got the point about love. I wonder if Ernie laughed until he was hoarse.
Groan and double groan. I am going to kill you off next week, Al.
Haha 😀
Ha, ha. This is great, C.E. It’s not your usual circus story. I feel sorry for both of them. Probably neither one ended up with Rosie, either. Good writing as always. 😀 — Suzanne
Thanks, Suzanne, happy you enjoyed. And Rosie the Rope ended up marrying Barbie the Bearded Lady. They set up a finishing school for young ladies of quality and breeding, and lived happily ever after.
This is wonderful and funny in an “ouch” kind of way. What an imagination! 🙂
Glad you enjoyed, Sascha, sorry about the ‘ouch’!
Funny idea, a unicorn in a trapeze act, not to mention in a love triangle. I’m still on the fence (on the ropes?) about forgiving him the “point is” pun… Sounds like a horn to the chest is what he deserved, for threatening his partner’s life — trust is everything in the high wire business!
Laughing.
‘a horn to the chest is what he deserved’
You really have a mean streak, Joy, it is your best fault!
Interesting that it comes off that way; I don’t think anyone I know in person ever said that. But it’s definitely true that I want to see the bad guys in stories get their just rewards. And anyone who threatens to kill his friend over a love interest? Seriously bad guy!
C’mon Joy, everyone knows that unicorns are players, and Ernie was no exception. He would have broken Rosie the Rope’s heart, maybe left her a bit unbalanced!
Nice piece, I enjoyed reading it! 🙂 Interesting take on the prompt, too!
Then I am happy, thank you.
The line “until the inevitable happens” caught me off guard, because I was expecting the injury at the end to be the inevitable part . So the pair falling for the same girl was a delightful twist. Well done, and quite amusing.🙂
Quite amusing? Hmm, will try harder next week.
(I would put a wee sad face here but I don’t know how to!)
I enjoyed this take using circus performance at this place as a set up and background for the story. The setting was well done in so few words. The character of Ernie is interesting in his rarity as a unicorn. There squabble over Rose the rope, is interesting as well b/c if I was Ernie I would not be trusting this guy (the narrator) after saying a thing like: ” I only had to miss you once.” And I agree with the narrator, if he was going to get back at Ernie (possibly) for being involved with Rosie better to stay quiet and pretend you messed up. Instead, he ends up with a horn shaped hole in his chest. Which in itself is interesting as are the various references to horn and what it actually means. Seems like perhaps Ernie was a kind of unicorn, useless without his beloved horn. Makes me think a lot. Agree with James, the whimsical quality is fantastic. Great write C.E. and hugs 🙂
Laughing. I love it, Amanda, when your comment is longer than my story!
But I don’t think I want to go where you did regarding the meaning of horn.
To the pure, all things are pure!
Hugs
Haha. I’m glad hugs hope your week has been fantastic 😊
Pretty funny, actually. Whimsical fairy tale/circus story.
‘Pretty funny’ works for me, thank you.
Excellent piece. Vivid.
Thank you, sir
Only you could look at this picture and think unicorn! Brilliant piece of work, really enjoyed this one 🙂
I have decided to treat the ‘Only you’ comment as a compliment!
Thanks, Angie, I am happy it worked for you.
Oh, it’s very much a compliment!
Ouch and ouch! Both the narrator and Ernie don’t get happy endings, as it seems. Good one, this was fun. Cheers, Varad
Glad you enjoyed, Varad, thanks for visiting and taking the time to comment.
O I love this Another lovely flight of imagination.
Thanks, Sheena, I always think that unicorns are such versatile dudes!
High flying fun story!
Well, maybe not so funny for the narrator or the used-to-be-unicorn, but quite entertaining for this reader.
Good to see you here again, Em.
Don’t fret about Ernie, he’ll find it easier to get parked now.