Photo by Sandra Crook
“How much more do we have to climb?”
“Just a little bit more…”
There were two voices; a man and a little girl.
It was usually the birds and crickets to keep him company. Soon there would be children racing down the steps while parents watched from their picnic blankets. There were a few bullies who liked aiming stones at him but mostly they didn’t pay him much attention.
He wondered if the little boy he’d made friends with last year would come back. Maybe this time he would be able to convince his parents that squirrels made good pets.
this story was written based on the photo prompt at the top. For more stories on this prompt here’s where you need to go: http://madison-woods.com/index-of-stories/092812-2/
thecontradictoryoptimist
100words-Over 100stories-More than 100days 
Awww! A really original take on the prompt. Nice one.
Thanks Sandra 🙂
Awww! I sure hope the little boy comes back. Very original take like Sandra said.
I hope he does too. 🙂
I like this and after several reads, I wonder who the narrator is. There are several possibilities, giving the story another layer.
I love it when stories take on different meaning depending on who you think is telling them.
Lovely story but a little confused. I understand hearing the voices of the man and little girl and picnic visitors but wondered where the narrator came from, how often he visited and why was he bullied.
The story was written by a squirrel who lived in the park. Does that help clear the confusion? 😉
Tough sell that squirrel-as-playmate bit–poor little fella will probably have to content himself with the birds and the crickets. Fun story.
He can always hope.. Thanks Holmes 🙂
Well-disguised twist! I had to read it through twice before I realized whose point of view I was hearing. Good job! Ron
Thank you Ron 🙂
This left many layers to be peeled back. Nicely done!
Thank you 🙂
This is “The Squirrel’s Tale” (pun intended).
Haha! I like that 🙂
Lovely and original take. I’m here: http://readinpleasure.wordpress.com/2012/09/28/fridayfictioneers-my-dream/
Thanks 🙂
Squirrels are so cute…not really the best pets though 🙂
Maybe that’s why the little boy’s mother wouldn’t let him bring the squirrel home..
Love the squirrel wondering about being a pet. terrific twist!
Thanks Len 🙂
i didn’t notice a squirrel, but i’m sure there’s one around somewhere. that was very cute. suggestions for saving words:
instead of: “How much more do we have to climb?”
“Just a little bit more…”
There were two voices; a man and a little girl.
how about –
How much more do we have to climb?” said the girl.
“Just a little bit more,” said the man. (saved four words)
also –
instead of: “It was usually the birds and crickets to keep him company. Soon there would be children racing down the steps while parents watched from their picnic blankets. ”
“birds and crickets usually kept him company. Soon, children would race down the steps….” (saved 6 words)
Thanks Rich,
I’m tempted to redo the story now. You just gave me 10 more words that I could use. I’ll be sure to be more careful with them next time. 🙂
I laughed when I got to the end. Well done.
Happy to have brought a laugh to you. Thanks RogRites 🙂
Cute take, but I too missed the squirrel tie-in.
To think of everything I could have done with 10 more words!
I like the squirrel POV. I would assume he’s expecting the park visitors to bring him some treats. Maybe you can fit that in with the 10 more words Rich gave you. This is a happy story. I like that!
Thanks Russell, yes he is. 🙂
This makes me want to know more. Good job.
I thought this was clever, to make us work to figure out that it was the squirrel talking. Well done.
Thank you Anne
This is a great take on the photo. Thanks for making me think and see things differently. 🙂
Thank you for taking the time to read it 🙂
I’ll echo some of the confusion other people had (I think I just could have used a sentence or so to set us up before the voices are heard, because I thought they were the protagonists) but after re-reading and seeing your explanation I really do like it – and the title you gave it. The anticipation that comes through, and the sense of rhythm of the seasons (and how he looks forward to them) was great. Nice job!
Thank you! Next time I’m going to be sure to be more careful.
I found it a little confusing, but I did like the ending. Was he being bullied? Maybe a longer story would have ironed out the kinks. But liked the different take on the photo.