The Unicorn Challenge.
A magical new weekly writing opportunity from her – Jenne Gray – and me.
Visit her blog every Friday to see the photo prompt, and post your amazing story in her comments section.
Or on your own blog, and stick the link down in her comments.
The rules are:
Maximum of 250 words.
Based on photo prompt.
That’s it.
To hear me read my story, just click here:
Bridges
I build bridges.
I’m a Scot and so, by default, an engineer.
That’s a characteristic of my race, we invent things, we build things, we repair things.
From telephone to television, from the humble bicycle to the Starship Enterprise, from the first steam engine to Rolls-Royce aeroplane engines, you’ll find a Scot at the forefront.
We build ocean liners and video games.
We build roads, lighthouses and, my passion, bridges, all over the world.
I love bridges: cantilever, vertical lift, bascule span and swing, I love them all.
I go where I am needed, create my masterpiece, and move on.
Then, on a rare visit to my former home town, I meet a wonderful woman.
I fall in love, get married, and have children.
She is loyal and loving, but eventually grows weary, just tired of living the life of a nomad.
She, quite understandably, wants to go home, and to stay there, to give the children a more stable life.
I leave her, head for the next project, the next bridge.
There are other women, of course, but they too want to settle down, and soon become disenchanted.
I’m still driven, keep moving, and building, building, building.
Until at last the day comes when I’m too old to continue.
Now I find I’m all alone, and I realise the truth.
I burn bridges.
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Aaahhh…but you lived life on your own terms, there is something to be said for that.
Yep. That’s what happens, it’s just life.
You take a very praqctical and educational fact – I never knew how much I didn’t know about bridges – and turn it into a life story filled with understated emotion.
It’s an excellent story, with such a sad realisaton in the twist.
Sad, but true to life.
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That final line! Full solid stop on the tumbling ramble of everything you’ve written here. Because life is truly like that!
excellent.
(liked the ‘linear rhythm of description with the occasional hint of the elegant conclusion.)
Someone once said “We build too many walls and not enough bridges”.
Now, if you were really clever, you’d have built a bridge back to your woman.
Good story and nice use of the “59th Street you-know-what”
You have evidently received a wonderful education. One doesn’t learn how to build bridges and become successful without attending class and much study. Unfortunately you cut class the day of the lecture called “How to Build a Bridge called Relationships.”
If only all those skills could be harnessed to build an independent Scotland, including bridges of steel and concrete that cannot burn.
Oh — what a sad story. I’m definitely one of those women who needs to settle and put down roots. Your story makes my heart ache.
But — was that “Feelin’ Groovy” I heard?
Great story!