Source: Loomis Dean
The challenge? Write a story in exactly 6 sentences based on Denise’s one word prompt: MOVE. Visit, comment, and write & perhaps post your own on SIX SENTENCE STORIES. The Café is open, always welcoming. Come as you are!
“Unbelievable,” she muttered, barely suppressing the scream gathering like a Kansas twister in the very core of her belly.
“Move to the country, they said, do business remotely as a marketing consultant, claim back your valuable time, they said, it’ll be fun, they said!” Her voice pitched upward, so close to the shriek of a steam kettle that the row of sheep closest to her car turned their heads in sleepy surprise and stared.
The scene in her rearview mirror wasn’t any better, a sea of white woolies stretching endlessly, reedy bleats rolling like wind through a wheat field; what was really weird was that the sheep seemed to have crept up and surrounded her car suddenly, as if by magic.
She could see the farmhouse she’d bought for this venture, less than a quarter mile away, but at this rate, she’d never make it to International’s weekly team meeting by remote; she’d be better off walking and save herself the stress of being mutton-locked and motionless.
And just like that, she relaxed into a sheepish smile because she knew: all that was needed was to roll down the window, slide through, push her way through the ocean of sheep because they weren’t going anywhere soon, and hike across the field to her house and computer.
© Liz Husebye Hartmann (2024)
Valley of the Trolls 
A minor inconvenience, but well worth it for the calm of the countryside!
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‘Zackly. Thanks, Keith!
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I really enjoyed that, Liz.
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I’m glad to read this!
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Aaah, yes. The country life. Nobody warns you about head-strong “mañana mañana” sheep and noncooperative cows on single track lanes, or that no matter how many double-digit decades you live in that picture-perfect house, you’ll always be referred to as “that new woman who just moved into widow Chattaway’s house up the lane”.
This is a charming story, Liz – thoroughly enjoyed it.
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I’m so glad you liked it, Misky!
Yes, charm must always be tempered with a smidge of realism. 😉
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It’s part of her new normal, maybe she needs to make sure she has remote access with her if she goes anywhere (if she can pull it off).
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Yeah, but Zoom on a phone is tough. Better to get those steps in! 😂
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“… barely suppressing the scream gathering like a Kansas twister in the very core of her belly”, great opener, Liz!
Where there’s a will, there’s a way, right?
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Sometimes just takes a change in attitude?
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A quarter mile is not too far to walk. Those sheep are welcoming her to her new home.
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That’s a nice spin, Frank! Thank you!
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I love the way you used the adjective “sheepish” in a scene full of actual sheep! I also loved this story that so beautifully illustrates the power of attitude.
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Thank you so much, Ann!
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When I lived in Southland (the south of South Island) as a teenager I remember this being a common occurrence (there were a lot of sheep farms down there).
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Nice work, Liz.
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Thank you!
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Like being in a road cloud 🐑
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Pretty much. 🙂
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