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 - a challenge - 52 short stories in 52 weeks...something must be worth reading, right? |
At the crack of dawn, Ambrose Melville awoke with a single goal in mind. Today, he would finally best his eternal rival. After a quick breakfast, he shrugged into his coat and pulled a hat firmly over his head. With his loyal dog trotting beside him, he stepped into the brittle morning, each breath turning to fog in the cold air. They followed the familiar winding paths through the naked forest until the stillness of Lake Holi shimmered in the distance. Ambrose rubbed his hands together in delight—he was first. Good. That meant more time to select the perfect stones. Though his lower back protested with every move, he searched diligently along the shore. Soon he had gathered about twenty fine rocks, each ready for battle. He gazed across the lake, a lump rising in his throat. How many times had they stood here together, staring at the ghostly mountains cradling waters so clear it felt as though another world lived beneath the surface? With a low grunt, Ambrose lifted his arm and launched the first stone. The rule had always been simple: whoever achieved the most skips in a single throw won. He had never beaten fifteen—the record his rival had set nearly a decade ago. Today, he only managed eight before stopping to rest. By mid-morning, a chill began to settle in. Charley was never this late. In more than seventy years, he had never once missed their appointment. “Maybe he just forgot this time,” Ambrose murmured to Oly, who whined softly in reply. The lump in Ambrose’s throat swelled. His eyes blurred. On the shore beside him lay fifteen flat rocks— a record that would never be broken. --------------  Winning EntryWord Count: 283 Prompt: Write a story that includes the words: rule, rocks, hat Written For: "Daily Flash Fiction Challenge"  |
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