The First Campaigner Challenge

OK so I made a commitment last post to publish Tuesday and Saturday. Now I’m in the Writer’s Campaign I see that I’m subject to new rules. Here is the first challenge:

Write a short story/flash fiction story in 200 words or less, excluding the title. It can be in any format, including a poem. Begin the story with the words, “The door swung open” These four words will be included in the word count.

If you want to give yourself an added challenge (optional), use the same beginning words and end with the words: “the door swung shut.” (also included in the word count)

For those who want an even greater challenge, make your story 200 words EXACTLY!

Here is my story, inspired by http://www.turtletrack.org and Canku Ota an American Indian Newsletter: exactly 200 words:

The Coyote Pup

The door swung open, there he was, the sweetest little coyote pup Alicia had ever seen. The pup’s ears, pointy and white-tipped were standing straight up. Its tail hung down slightly from its back. Alicia thought back to an Indian story she had heard. Wasn’t it about the bluebird that swam in a magic blue lake and sang a little song to make himself blue? Yes, she thought, and Bluebird told Coyote to do the same but after Coyote swam in the lake; he had become so enamored that by looking back at himself and asking to be admired, he had run right into a rock and rolled in the dust. Dream spirit had punished Coyote for acting so vain and foolish by keeping him the color of dust forever.

Alicia started wishing she could keep this pup. She felt sorry for it. She thought he was beautiful, even if Dream Spirit had wanted it to be an outcast.

Then before she could ask her own mother, the coyote mother came in, took the pup by the hold on his neck and whisked him back outside.  Before Alicia could think, “What happened?” the door swung shut.

The end.

Please leave a comment and tell me what you think. I’ll enjoy hearing what you have to say about the story or about the campaign. Welcome back to those of you visiting again.