Rivers
Heavy
Shell
Mischief
Searchlight
Yell
And
/ or
Arm
East
Fruit
Languages
Voice
Though
And/or
this photo
UNATTENDED BOYS WILL BE WORSE THAN BOYS by Granny Annie
Myrtle Griffin was known to spend her time at her loom, making beautiful textile designs. While she was hard at her craft, he sons were left to run amok. One day her drunken sons thought it would be fun to release all the horses on main street and start a stampede through town. Sadly, in the process, the terrified horses trampled and killed a five year old boy crossing the street in this normally quiet town. The Griffin boys took off on a dead run toward Mexico.
Sheriff Dillon gathered a posse. The group of men on horseback crossed the red river. Each carried a heavy load but all the items were necessary. They feared it would be a long journey. The sheriff knew that the scoundrels they were tracking had only meant mischief with their actions, but the results had been tragic.
Suddenly the sound of a shell screeching overhead followed by a loud explosion halted the group of deputized cowboys. Each began to yell with distress and a lot of pain. It was terrifying trying to figure what had happened. Darkness was about to settle on the posse. Sheriff Dillon's lantern would not provide a good beacon as a searchlight. They stopped to rest for the night.
The men attempted to treat any wounded. A deputy had been struck in the arm. He was in shock, especially when it was realized the explosion contained fruit. The unripe pears had blown out of the tightly hard-packed weapon and powered toward them by the force of gun powder. Another typical prank turned deadly played by these young boys.
Morning came and the posse continued their travel South. As they crossed into Mexico they heard loud shouting of mixed languages east of them and voices of laughter ringing out. . That laughter had not been a good idea though and gave away their hiding place. The boys had thought they would not be seen among a group of Hispanic vaqueros herding cattle outside a small town.
The Griffin boys were captured and returned home to stand trial for their deadly actions.
If you are looking for my Paint Party Friday page, click on this link. byEAGHL
Yikes.
ReplyDeleteI got carried away trying to fit all the prompts.
DeleteBeing hit by unripe pears had to smart. What a unique twist. Sure glad they were caught though.
ReplyDeleteYour title cracked me up.
Thanks Patti. I was really grasping at straws to just fit in the word "fruit".
DeleteMy heart goes out to everyone in this story, the mother who couldn't be there emotionally to tend her boys, the boys neglected to grow up into men-boys with no brains to see how their pranks could kill, the child killed, the deputies harmed. Everyone is a loser when those who should know better do not do better.
ReplyDeleteI am in total agreement with messymimi about your beautifully written take on the prompts. Heartbreaking and so very possible.
DeleteI really took a stroll through those words to get a story going. As a single mother myself I have only learned from my grown children how really running amok they were.
DeleteWow what beautiful writing.
ReplyDeleteNicole, you are very kind.
DeleteThis was great! Sad that the boys actions killed a small child, but the story was fun. I think Myrtle Griffin should also be arrested and given some lessons on how to keep an eye on her boys.
ReplyDeletePoor Myrtle, she did love her weaving.
DeleteLoved this little short story. Brief, to the point and packed a lot of action into it.
ReplyDeleteWell G.B., I am honored. Those were some crazy prompts to form into a story but everyone does such a good job.
DeleteWonderful story, you are very clever. Thanks for the visit. Anesha
ReplyDeleteGlad you read my story. You can find my PPF page at https://trigra.blogspot.com
DeleteWe have all known that Mom who was so busy doing her own thing that the people who needed her most were left to run amok.
ReplyDeleteNice use of the prompts!