Pat Mills is the Readers’ Choice in this week’s Indies Unlimited Flash Fiction Challenge. The winning entry is decided by the popular vote and rewarded with a special feature here today. (In the case of a tie, the writer who submitted an entry first is the winner per our rules.) Without further ado, here’s the winning story:
Fast Feline
by Pat Mills
Gladys and Bill were in Africa to see the animals of the Serengeti.
“We traveled all this way, and not one animal sighting,” Gladys cried to Bill.
“We have a couple more days… Let’s go on that bush ride today,” he said.
“No, I’m tired of looking, and seeing nothing.”
But Bill convinced her.
At the end of the ride, the Jeep, stops on the side of the road, and the guide points to a beautiful cheetah.
“What a beautiful girl cat, you are…” she cooed.
“Well, at least we had our one encounter,” Gladys said.
“I know you are disappointed,” Bill said.
“We always have tomorrow,” Gladys said optimistically.
That night, they were tired from their hectic day. They didn’t hear the unfamiliar noise in their room that night.
Gladys awoke at 5 a. M., to watch the sunrise. There, in the bedroom, was a female cheetah, nursing six cubs!
Gladys crawled back into bed, shaking Bill’s shoulder hard.
“Bill, wake up, wake up. We have some visitors!”
Bill sat up with a start, “Who?”
“A female cheetah!”
“How do you know it’s female?”
“She brought her cubs with her.”
“From the looks of things, I’d say, she had those cubs right here.”
“You’re right!” Gladys agreed, looking at the soiled blanket the big cat was laying on.
Gladys had her up close, and personal, experience with a wild animal of the Serengeti.
“No one at home is ever going to believe this!” she said to Bill.
I liked your story, Pat, congratulations on winning. It left me wondering what the couple was going to do next — leave as quickly as possible, I hope! 😉
Thanks, Mary Kay!
I’m with you! If cheetahs are anything like a bear, with her cubs! ?