For those who don’t know, Friday Fictioneers is a challenge to write a 100 word story from a picture prompt. It’s hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields, and anyone can play. Thanks for hosting, Rochelle! Check out the link at the end of my story to see what other fictioneers did with this week’s prompt.
Thanks for the photo, Doug. I hope I did it justice 🙂
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You Can Lead An Author To A Story…
The Author leaned on the fence, watching the Horse. Neither made a noise and the silence was pleasing.
Eventually, the Author spoke.
“Whatcha doin’, horsey?”
The Horse, of course, didn’t reply.
The Author, who was used to writing both sides of a dialogue, carried on without him.
“Jus’ watering my garden.”
“Whatcha doin’ that for, horsey?”
The Author continued in this vein for a while, but soon realised her story was going nowhere, so gave up and went on her way.
The Horse put down his hose and watched her go.
“Silly cow,” he said, and returned to his watering.
(100 words)
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Need more silliness? Try this for size: To The Bloke I Fall Over In Front Of (883 words)
Need more Friday Fiction? Click the blue frog to read more stories from other fictioneers!
EL Appleby: Brain Fragments 
Hah! I love the fact that it is a horse that says ‘silly cow’. Fantastic!
Claire
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Hi Claire
I wish I could take all the credit for ‘silly cow’ but it was a last minute edit by my luvly hubby- actually, he suggested ‘stupid cow’ which I thought was a bit harsh. Anyway, he’s a very clever man because the line works perfectly. Just wish it was my idea 🙂
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Very nice!
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thanks deanabo, glad you liked it 😀
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Oh sheer brilliance, sheer magic, in the tradition of theatre I so love, the theatre of the absurd whence sprung Godot, but is best practiced in literature in the Czech republic and Romania. Shockingly clever.
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Oh pirate, you have made my year with your wonderful comment. I was going to argue with you about the best theatre of the absurd being French, but checked and my favourite, Ionesco, is actually Romanian so you win! Thank you so much – to have my work called ‘shockingly clever’ is just about the best compliment ever.
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Ionescu’s (not sure of spelling) grandson actually blogs on wordpress! He writes poetry, somewhat very much in the vein of his grandfather, lives in Italy..just thought that would make an interesting addition!
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I checked – because I thought I might have made a mistake – but it was Ionescu then changed to Ionesco when he moved to France. Not sure why?
I’d love to read some of his grandson’s stuff – what’s his site called?
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Well, my embarrassment could not be bigger, here’s his reply to my statement of surprise on who his “grandfather” was, just seen now – “I was kidding … thank you” ….hilarious guy.
Will reply to him..http://valeriudgbarbu.wordpress.com/
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PS, can help with the name going from Ionescu to Ionesco…’cu’ means ‘arse’ or ‘bottom’ in French..might have something to do with it!
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Just a wee touch of writing brilliance – love it! Well done!
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Thanks Michele – you make my head swell with your lovely comment 🙂
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ha / the horse does have more sense than the author
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A lesson to all us writers, perhaps?
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Ha, very funny
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Thanks, glad you liked it 🙂
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My burning question, though, is whether “Silly cow” is literal, British (and changing the animal called that) or both?!!
janet
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Hi janet
Originally I had ‘What a strange lady’, but my hubby came along at the last minute and suggested ‘stupid cow’ which I changed to ‘silly cow’ – so I never intended the author to literally be a cow (although I LOVE that idea!).
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Dear El,
You’ve fast become a favorite of mine. This piece has me chuckling and grinning. Love the twist at the end. What fun!
Shalom,
Rochelle
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thanks Rochelle – I love Friday Fictioneers, so thank YOU so much for keeping it going! Glad you enjoyed my strange little tale 🙂
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Cackling laughter! That was hilarious!
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Thank you! Glad I made you laugh 😀
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I loved this, laughed and laughed, yep, loved this.
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Thanks train-whistle. It was a great prompt this week, although the temptation to go with leading a horse to water was almost too much to bear! Glad I made you laugh 😀
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hahaha, silly cow indeed. I’m just going to bed and you’ve sent me there with a smile!
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Fabulous – I hope you had happy, silly dreams 🙂
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Hahahahaha! Great take. Makes a lot of … “horse sense.”
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Thanks – it was a great prompt! Glad I made you laugh 😀
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Silly cow. hahaha loved this
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thanks kz, I loved writing it 🙂
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I don’t often laugh out loud, but boy you did it there! It was already funny before you got to the last line. Brilliant!
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Thanks Sandra – your comment has put a big smile on my face. Glad I made you laugh 😀
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Again you pulled out an amazing story ! Hilarious enjoyed it ! 🙂
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That’s beautiful; you made me laugh. I wonder if babies and animals think this way about people who try to talk to them.
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A cute story. The sill y cow of course. Nice writing.
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Thank you. Glad you liked it 🙂
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Oh very good El! I really liked silly cow too. 🙂
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Hi jwd. thanks for your comment – glad you liked it!
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Very amusing, well contrived.
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Ta very much 😀
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Well conceived and crafted. Good work.
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Thank you!
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Indeed was funny. Well done. Would take a horse to notice, a cow may not have.
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Are you saying horses are more intelligent than cows? I used to help milking the cows when I was younger, and they looked pretty savvy to me! Glad you found my little tale funny and thanks for commenting!
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It’s amazing how we can all take the same prompt and come up with unique stories. “COWering” with laughter and enjoyment.
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Lol. That’s going to have to go in my book of terrible puns, jules! Yes, I agree completely though about the uniqueness of our stories – I never cease to be amazed. Roll on next week’s prompt!
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Perhaps being that my Hubby is an electrical engineer…one of my favorites is that P U is 2/3rds of a PUN.
I’ve like this 100 word bit so much that I’ve written outside ‘the prompt box’. Well…just have been inspired by other prompts.
Write on!
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You know the horse has much more to this comment than just that she resembles a fellow farm critter. I am sure the horse did not like having words put in or spoken from his mouth.
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Absolutely. But the horse got the last word so he’s happy!
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cow-abunga!!!! very cute.
Randy
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Thanks v much!
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Now this truly gave me a laugh. I think you captured the Author and the horse brilliantly. We humans are conceited creatures aren’t we.
Denmother
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Hi Denmother
Yes, we do get a little up ourselves at times! Glad I made you laugh and thanks for commenting 😀
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No self-respecting horse would answer to “horsey”…good story.
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Thank you. Maybe if she’d treated him with a bit more respect (or waited until he’d got that hose out of his mouth so he could answer) she might have got a decent conversation out of it!
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Got me with that ending for a laugh out loud! Good one!
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Thank you – I love it when I make people laugh out loud 😀
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there you go again El…..making it look so easy. Great fun read. I laughed out loud also at the end. I always thought that is what my dog says after I ‘talk’ to him and then leave the room. 😉
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HI Jackie – thanks for your lovely comment. As for your dog, I shouldn’t worry, as I understand dogs don’t care as long as they get food and cuddles 🙂 Now, cats on the other hand…
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ohhh cats, we are at their command. 😉 Thanks El
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[…] Friday Fiction – You Can Lead An Author To A Story… (elappleby.wordpress.com) […]
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I’m smiling. Very funny. Silly cow, indeed. And I loved your title too!
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Thanks Beth – you’re the only one who’s commented on the title – glad you liked it – I struggled to think of something and then it came to me. Thanks for commenting 🙂
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LOL I love it! So writerly 🙂
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Thanks Lyn – glad you liked it!
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Dear El,
You very much did the prompt justice. Even Mystic would like that tale and has probably thought that about me often enough. Very funny ending.
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Hi Doug
I’m thrilled you liked my little tale. It was surprisingly difficult to come up with something – mainly because the phrase ‘you can take a horse to water…’ kept popping into my head, and I just knew that was too obvious! Mystic is a beautiful horse, and the photo is wonderful.
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I’m sure you don’t need another comment saying how funny this is – but it is. Sadly, I recognise myself in this tale, though I talk to my dog, not a horse. I hope he doesn’t think I’m a silly cow!
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Hi Trudy. I never tire of hearing that my stories are funny, it’s what keeps me writing them, so thank you so much for commenting 🙂
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Perhaps the horse needs glasses….seriously, I love this story. Another chuckle to brighten my day….
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Thanks greydaisy – and thanks for taking the time to have a look round my blog. Much appreciated.
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Not what I was expecting… but then, that’s you. Funny as hell in a thinker’s way.
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Thanks Ted – glad I’m still managing to surprise you 😀
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Good fun with this one. Nice Job!
Tom
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Thanks Tom – glad you liked it 🙂
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Fun story and I liked the way you captured the personality of the writer. Ron
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Hi Ron
Glad you liked my silly story 🙂
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Oh that was SO wrong! Hahahahaha
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Thanks – glad I made you laugh 😀
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i LOVE this fun story! smart horsey! 😀
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Thank you Sunshine – your name makes me smile 🙂
thanks for commenting!
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you’re welcome. glad i bring *smiles* 🙂
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Loved that ending!
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Thank you!
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Got to say, that your POV was irresistible – and you made me laugh, which is a good thing.
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thank you – I’m all about the laughs 😀
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Silly human! You know not what you know no.! Very well-done portrayal of the attitude of many a writer …
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Thanks Perry – yes, it reminds me of many a writer, but not us, eh?!
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This is so good. The line, ‘The Author, who was used to writing both sides of a dialogue, carried on without him.’ is so telling. I can hear her voice change for the horse’s lines and even see her change position as she says them. Wonderful and so funny.
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Thanks Sarah Ann – you picked out my favourite line! I knew I had something good when that came to mind 🙂 Thank you so much for your lovely comments!
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I loved this! The voice was a perfect mix of idiocy – ‘horsey’ (from the author in the story) and deadpan from the horse.
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Loved your take on the prompt, particularly your line ‘The Author who was used to writing both sides of a dialogue…’
An inspirational piece of work, well done.
Dee
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🙂
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Bravo!
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