Lou Silvestri 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 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:
Chute
by Lou Silvestri
Rocky’s bucking bronco flipped him onto the back of the snorting bull. He got a firm grip on its horns and, muscles bulging, twisted it to the ground. The surrounding herd of heifers snuffled in dashed hopes.
His cowpuncher buddies patted his back in congratulations as he headed for a hot shower. Tattoos glistening under the warm waters relaxing his body, he began visualizing next week’s coming out extravaganza.
All his friends, along with their families, would be scattered below, mingling with the neighboring ranchers and their kin. He would be at the top of the chute swaying to the rhythm of the samba that he learned to do on his hush-hush vacation to San Francisco’s gold coast. Then, he’d shimmy and shake to the bottom of the chute imagining wild applause ringing through his ears. They’re gonna love it, he thought.
He stepped out of the shower and toweled himself dry.
Party night finally arrived. The audience, anxiously awaiting their macho bull-busting hero, enjoyed the gyrations of a wildly dressed sweet young thing who suddenly jumped out of the closet at the top of the chute. Shapely legs flashed through the long slits of her gown as she sambaed down the ramp to face the audience.
“It’s the new me,” a familiar voice boomed out from below the Carmen Miranda headdress. Recognition stunned the audience. Singing “California, here I come,” not-so-macho Rocky joyfully sidesaddled his stallion and galloped off into the setting sun and a blooming new life.
