Countdown from the Carrot Ranch Contest: Re-visioning your flash in 4 steps (for more, see the link below)

 Step One: 99 word flash, to include “beans”

Bucky’s Beans

It was definitely not what I was expecting. I thought we’d celebrate Bucky’s return from her Antarctic dogsled adventure with a lavish meal, and go shake our butts at a dance club. Maybe not that last one. Bucky’d only been home for two weeks.

What I saw was Bucky on the couch in sweats and wool socks, legs folded underneath her, spoon dipping into a can of baked beans.

I hid my dismay, but not well enough.

“When you’ve been living off a dogsled, a can of beans is a feast.”

I sighed, grabbing a spoon from the kitchen.

Step Two: 59 word revision     

Bucky’s Beans

Not what I’d expected. Bucky’d invited me to celebrate another arctic dogsled adventure completed. I’d thought of lavish food and drink, and a sophisticated concert.

Instead, I’d found Bucky sprawled on the couch, in sweats, belching happily over a cold can of baked beans. At least the fireplace was lit.

“What the fuck, Buck!?”

“Love me, love my beans!”

Step Three: 9 word revision

Bucky’s baked beans: a love story with two spoons

Step Four: 99 word revision

Bucky’s Baked Beans: A Love Story with Two Spoons

Okay, not what I’d expected. I’d thought of lavish food and drink, followed by a nightclub, shaking our butts to heavy bass. Maybe not the last; Bucky’d just returned from another Antarctic adventure.

What I found was Bucky sprawled on the couch, resplendent in ratty sweats and wool socks, munching a can of cold baked beans.

I hid my dismay, but not well enough. “What the fuck, Buck?”

“When you’ve been living on dogsled rations, baked beans are a feast.”

At least the fireplace was lit.

“Play your cards right, and I’ll share my canned apricots.”

I couldn’t refuse.

© Liz Husebye Hartmann (2019)

(submitted to contest 10/25/2019)

Carrot Ranch Prompt: Rodeo #4 TUFF Beans: Write a story that includes “beans”, using the TUFF method of re-visioning a flash story by writing and rewriting the story in different lengths.