Copyright Janet M Webb
It’s a grey, damp day here in the UK with heavy rain forecast for most of the day. I’m on dog-care duties today, and with an eight month old puppy to keep occupied, I shall resign myself to getting wet in an effort to divert her from mischief. Still, apart from the lovable mutt, there’s always Friday Fictioneers to brighten the day.
Friday Fictioneers invites a 100 word (or thereabouts) story in response to a weekly photographic prompt. The beach is patrolled each week by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields, for which we are all suitably grateful.
The flotilla dotting the horizon had left the shoreline littered with trailers, trolleys, boxes… the detritus used for transporting the most-prized valuables from their luxury villas to the hired boats.
Jake smiled. So easy; just a few veiled hints… an ‘unconfirmed rumour’ inspired by the mangy mutt hanging around his barn and the Grockles had panicked.
Time now to salvage what they’d left behind.
A low rumble disturbed the now deserted beach, and he turned.
He froze, noticing as though in slow motion the flecks of foaming spittle that flew into the air as the dog launched itself towards him.
castelsarrasin 
Hmm, harsh punishment for a chap just trying to make a living!
Great piece of writing.
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Thank you!
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Excellent piece Sandra. Very well constructed.
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Thank you! Glad you liked it.
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Dear Sandra,
Sounds like you have canine on your mind. I envision a boxer there at the end. Big dog. I love the picture you so vividly painted for us.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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PS. Thanks for the new word. I looked up Grockle. Fun.
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Big certainly. Glad you liked ‘grockles’. 🙂
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As you sow, so shall you reap.
I guess, that is all about it. Very good setting and well-written. 🙂
-HA
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Thank you!
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Puh, this was hard work for me, a lot of unknown words – but I got it at the end. A strong story with a really scary ending –
liebe Grüße
Carmen
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Your dedication puts me to shame. I’m not sure I’ve ever shown the same persistence or skill at any other language I’ve learned.
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I loved the flow…
Good one!
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Thank you!
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well, he did a pretty bad thing, so…
great writing and i love that i learned a new word 🙂
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So he did. But here comes payback… thanks for reading kz.
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Dear Sandra,
Thank you for ‘Grockles’ and for another delightfully wicked story from your fertile imagination. I can see you out walking the puppy and conjuring up rumor, flight and sudden death at the hands of a rabid canine. You really are too good at this. (Lucky for us!)
Aloha,
Doug
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You’re welcome Doug. 🙂 I had a good day with the pup but was pleased to hand it back late afternoon – there’s only so much ball-throwing a writer’s mind can accommodate. Thank you for reading.
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Good dog? Bad dog? Now, were you aware that one of the symptoms of rabies is hydrophobia? Was that a deliberate connection, or just a nice coincidence?
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Bad dog, I think. And not pleased at the ocean vista…
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Oooh, a story from the dark side, vividly described, Sandra. That will teach him a lesson or two! I liked Grockles too, really added to the voice.
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Thanks Jennifer!
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Oops. Nice one.
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Thanks!
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No bad deed goes unpunished (at least this time.) Written so well, casual and slightly wicked at the beginning, grim at the end. Being continuously wet has obviously not damped your writing skills.
janet
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I’ve had plenty of practice this ‘summer’ Janet. 😦 Thanks for reading.
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I guess the mutt didn’t care for being slandered. After all, how is he going to get all the good handouts if everyone is afraid of him? I liked your twist ending and the new vocabulary!
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My pleasure Lynda. Have a good day.
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I guess aversion to water is part of rabies… or … ?
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I believe it is.
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Cujo!
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Si! 🙂
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Turnabout is fair play
well written piece Sandra
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Nemesis, I think.
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I guess that pet sitting duty has inspired you! And our friends on the beach shall get their just desserts!
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Thanks Linda! Inspired might not be quite the right word … exhausted is closer.
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Hmm . . . when visualization backfires! This is a really good twist, Sandra, and, of course, the writing is top notch!
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Thank you Linda!
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Chilling, thrilling and well written.
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Thanks for reading and commenting.
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Hi Sandra,
You’ve expanded my vocabulary by one colorful, guttural word. I take it from the context of use in your story that grackle has a somewhat negative connotation. But still, their dogs love them! Ron
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Yes, I think ‘grockle’ has a nice disparaging note to it. 🙂
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Of course, I meant grackle.
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OMG, my fingers refuse to type it. Grockle, grackle, grackle.
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I know what you mean… 🙂
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Great description of the dog attack.
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Thanks Dawn. 🙂
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Methinks that rumor might now be confirmed. I had to click on grockle to find out the meaning — thanks for the link. Fitting for Jake’s attitude, and his plan was certainly clever. Great twist to give the mangy mutt the last word.
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They do say every dog has his day… 🙂
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I do love a well deserved mauling. As long as I’m not the one being mauled that is. Well done, Sandra.
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Thanks for reading Adam, (Brandon?)
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I used to write with the pen name Brandon Scott. I dropped that quite awhile ago.
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Well he should have kept in mind the saying about ‘Karma is a ……’. Teach him. Excellent story Sandra! As usual. 🙂
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Thanks Jackie. Yes I think justice has been served.
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I could see it all unfolding as I read it. Fantastic.
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Thanks Renee, glad you liked it.
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Never underestimate a crafty canine. Jake was greedy–refused to split the goods.
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🙂 A dog’s gotta do what a dog’s gotta do… Thanks for reading.
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I wonder if the word Grockles is related to the name of the bird, grackle. It’s what I first thought of when I read your story – then clicked through to the definition and realized it was tourists. I looked up some information on grackles and found this, which seemed especially apt. “Grackles tend to congregate in large groups, popularly referred to as a plague. This enables them to detect birds invading their territory, and predators, which are mobbed en masse to deter the intruders.” sounds like tourists to me…..
Fun story, loved the dog. I can send you mine any time you’d like.
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That was interesting, never heard of grackles. But the description seems to fit…:)
I’ll pass on the dog… one day a week does it for me. Thanks for reading Erin.
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I want to say, “Good dog!” but I don’t know if I should reveal my vengeful side….
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Why not? 🙂 I can’t control mine anyway….
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What goes around comes around? Great idea this week Sandra, and as always beautifully executed.
Claire
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Thanks Claire. Glad you liked it. 🙂
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A great story. Long time since I’ve heard the term ‘Grockle’. Once had friends living in Devon and it’s what they called me when I visited!
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Yes, I think I first heard it in Devon. Thanks for reading.
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Wow! Was he French dog? Ours aren’t like that!
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He could be from anywhere… 🙂
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‘Grockle’ is a new word for me and I live in S E England; though I am a northerner. The weather here is nice. Yesterday was so warm and sunny I skived from my work and did some gardening.
Another great tale, Sandra. I like the ‘foaming spittle’ bit. It’s a good expression both to describe a dog and suggest a sea at the same time. Clever. Ann
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I think it’s from the southwest of England, Ann. Yesterday was a long grey day here… I feel winter coming on.
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The greyness has reached us here today. There was literally a 10 second burst of sunshine at tea-time.
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The flecks of foaming spittle… great images you conjured up there. Great job Sandra 🙂
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Thanks Dee. Hope you’re OK now.
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Must have been overseas grockles who didn’t know the UK has been rabies-free since the beginning of the 20th century (according to the NHS)!! Great take on the prompt. 🙂
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I think it’s DEFRA who are claiming we are rabies-free. My own two dogs went through the six month quarantine period back in 2000; thankfully the rules have relaxed slightly since then. Glad you liked the story.
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I felt those flecks of foaming spittle as they flew right at me…hitting me between the eyes. Great imagery!
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Duck! Glad you enjoyed it.
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Great imagery. I’d hate to be the one that dog was after. Scary thought.
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Isn’t it just? And now the rabies debate is rearing its head over here again with claims that the risk is now heightened. 😦
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Enjoyable piece, thanks for posting!
Scott
Mine: http://kindredspirit23.wordpress.com/2013/10/16/ff-friday-fictioneers-100-words-photo-prompt-10182013-rated-pg13/
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Thank you Scott.
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U R Welcome.
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Ha, that’ll teach him! Great story.
Like your use of the word “grockle”. Since we Cornish just have to be different, we use the word “emmet”!
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That’s a new one on me – ’emmet’. Both sound fairly bird-like though. 🙂 Thanks for reading.
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Loved that first line. I could actually see it as written. Good story and, especially the dog. I had to laugh seeing a dog flying through the air. Fantasy on your part (a.k.a. “frustration,” maybe?)
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Fantasy… that’s where I live. 😉 I’d love to be able to have a dog again but we travel so much it wouldn’t be fair. And trying to hang onto this puppy’s coat-tails is making me wonder whether I might not opt for an older dog when we stop travelling so much.
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Sounds like boy who cried dog. I guess he got his reward for it.
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Excellently worded, good moral too 🙂 Nice job
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I’m always amazed how quickly you get your story in, and you write something so deep and twisted! Nice work.
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