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:
The Truth
The cat sat on the mat.
This is one of the first things we’re taught by our parents, grandparents or other unfortunates who are tasked with our toddling education.
We learn this as a truism in much the same way that we learn that Man is Good and War is Bad.
But, as we develop from mere sentience to (more or less) rational, thinking beings, we realise other… well, let’s just call it ‘stuff’.
We understand, for instance, that furry felines have been known to sit on, and even in, objects other than the aforementioned mat.
We note that other, different creatures, including ourselves, sometimes place our posteriors on that much used and abused rug.
And we start to question other… ‘stuff’.
If Man is Good, why is he fighting in War, which is Bad?
Ah, we’re told, sometimes Man has to make War in the name of Peace.
We ask, quite reasonably, why?
We’re told that it’s because of Nazism, or Communism, or whatever other convenient ism is the current bête noire.
We nod sagely, pretending to understand.
But eventually what we do, or at least should, understand, is that it’s all a crock of equine excrement.
We get fed lies, damned lies and propaganda from cradle to grave.
We get told whatever is in the best interests of them, the ultra-rich, the puppet-masters.
Money talks, but it rarely tells the truth.
Remember we were told ‘The cat sat on the mat’?
Now look again at the prompt photo.
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Oh my gosh? Is that a gate he’s sitting on? Because yes, things are not always what they seem, and there must be other solutions to world problems, than we’re using now.
Not sure why you’re asking about a gate, Liz, but certainly agree that if Trump is the answer then someone is asking a really dumb question.
When I zoomed on the photo, it looked like the cat might be sitting on a rug/mat, sitting on a gate. You last sentence suggested that there was something other than fence under that cat’s fanny.
Spot on, CE!
Cleverly & masterfully done.
Thanks, Nancy, happy it worked for you.
I try not to use the over-used expression ‘thought provoking’ in my comments, but now and again it’s a perfect fit, and up it pops once again – like now!
As I say to Brenda (below), if a short piece can provoke thought in an intelligent reader, then this writer at least is content.
Cheers, mon ami.
Oh, to have the mind of a child. The world is full of “isms” that we have been fed. I love the line “a crock of equine excrement.” An excellent and thought-provoking piece, C.E.!
Thank you, Brenda.
If a short piece can provoke thought in an intelligent reader, then this writer at least is content.
excellent story.
(the villain, though? I would submit it is Man. Or, not to put too fine a point on it, the mindless appetite of the soul of the current apex predator. no! wait? the masses who yearn to be ruled? appetite for anything to obscure the fear of being responsible for their acts.)
Thanks, Clark.
All of the above, perhaps, allied to a delight in ignorance, a refusal to accept education, and the ability to worship the crass and despise the different.
Much to ponder I felt, and nothing to do with the cat.
Only as much as it’s very much NOT sitting on the mat, Chris!
So much truth in these words. And perhaps, for me, the scariest part of it all is, this has been happening since history has seen fit to be recorded.
Thanks, Violet, we don’t seem to be too quick to learn, do we?
Its a wise cat who sits on the fence.
I wrote a simple haiku at
https://artmater.com/the-unicorn-challenge-march-7-2025/
Well, it’s probably less comfortable than the mat…
great twist here –
Thank you!
🙂
It’s amazing where a picture of a wee cat can lead.
To a timely and scathingly accurate portrayal of our times, for example.
An excellent, thought-provoking piece.
Maybe we should all sit with the cat on the mat for a bit and have a good ponder over what’s really important.
Thanks, Jenne, this photo took me off at a strange tangent, I admit, so I’m happy it worked for you.
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