© Ayr/Gray
Many thanks to Jenne Gray and C.E. Ayr for their photo prompt, THE UNICORN CHALLENGE. (10/11/2024). No more than 250 words in length.
Agatha Marie had been an intrepid hypothetical explorer all her life. Impatient with the boring landscapes of the Midwest USA – cornfields in every direction, surrounding the lackadaisical cow or ten nibbling a fenced green pasture – she decided to risk all and transform the hypothetical into the empirical. ***
“But Aggie,” her church friends exclaimed, “Why not travel with a church group, one with helpful men in it? Or maybe just one? Elmer Peterson’s been giving you the eye for the past twenty years…”
“And Elmer Peterson is twenty years older than me. A nice enough man, but I want to climb mountains, dance in the streets past midnight, and eat foods I can’t even pronounce.”
Her friends shook their heads, sipping anxiously from their china coffee cups. “Sounds a little risky to us.”
“That’s the point!” she grumbled between tight lips. “I’ve got only so many years left.”
***
So that was how she found herself at the side of the road in the middle of nowhere in a place that was someplace she’d never been before, watching the bus drive off. She’d start with hiking, stopping in small towns and staying in hostels once she got into the mountains. It was summer and early in the season, but at her pace – and she was in no hurry – other hikers would catch up and then she’d have plenty of company. Benefits outweighed the risks. What else should she do with her one wild and precious life?
© Liz Husebye Hartmann (2024)
Valley of the Trolls 
I’ve always loved that quote about what we’re planning to do with our one wild and precious life. Looked at that way, it’s time to get out there and start living!!!
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Yes!
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“one with helpful men” LOL! Is there a secret definition of “helpful” that men should know? The benefits outweighing the risks is great advice. And this was a great story (even if it did make me feel a touch anxious).
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😆😆 Thanks, Michael. And don’t worry. Women who speak in code may not be worth your time…
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Go, Aggie!
And go, Liz! You can be this woman!
An inspiration to us all!
PS Less of the ‘middle of nowhere’ if you don’t mind, that’s Glencoe!
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😉😆
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I love this, Liz.
I can just see the pursed lips and hear the tight voices of the naysayers.
But her determination…
Wise thoughts and great descriptions – and a nice nod to Mary Oliver
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Thanks Jenne. Yeah, Mary Oliver just snuck up on us! 💐🍂
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I like her independent and adventurous spirit
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Me too. I should take a page from her…😆😆
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Lol! Easier written than implemented 😅😅😅
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Truth!
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😍👍🏼
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