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Carrot Ranch has selected the winner of the Rodeo Flashfiction challenge #6. This prompt was a doozy!
Challenge #6: First we had to sign up to receive a real US Rodeo bull’s name from the snickering, evil competition designers…. I received “Voodoo Child” (oh, great).
Then:
- Stories are to be 107 words long in 8 sentences.
- Stories are to include the two words drawn as your prompt (you may change the order of the words and they do not need to be adjacent).
- Write a fictional story that involves facing a challenge or fear.
Voodoo Child
Cici done hate hospitals, but Miss Clara drug her there on account of her drowned daughter, wee girl fixing to die.
“Can you help her?” Miss Clara say, crying and wringing her fingers like washday linens. “Do your… voodoo?”
Cici take no offense, for Miss Clara’s hurt so raw and deep it reach between them like they share a heart. Mothers do when they lose a child. Cici know it a grief to swallow the world.
Cradling the child’s doll, Cici chant some mumbo-jumbo over it like she made of magic. She coo, longing to believe, and pass it to Miss Clara like it a newborn soul.
***
To read Kerry E.B. Black’s winning submission and other judge favorites, click here: Carrot Ranch
Myths of the Mirror 
Well done, Diana. Those rules are difficult. That was a very different type of story, very sad. I’ve read voodoo originated in Africa. Good writing. —- Suzanne
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Apparently there are several types or voodoo, Suzanne. I did a little research for the story and didn’t feel that I had enough knowledge to do anything justice, so I switched to the human story. I’m glad you liked my little attempt. 🙂
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Brilliant, Diana – I have no idea what I’d even have done with that prompt.
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Thanks, Teri. I wanted to avoid the cliches so it was a mystery to me too! I decided to turn the cliche on it head. I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Happy Holidays!
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An interesting piece, Diana. Mothers will resort to anything in a crisis.
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You’ve done wonderfully, Diana! Proof that we grow with our challenges (Voodoo Child 😉).
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Thanks for the lovely comment. This one was the hardest of them all (except comedy – which I gave up on). I don’t do funny, apparently. I’m so glad you liked it. Have a wonderful weekend. 🙂
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It´s good to know one´s strengths and limits, and there´s no shame in acknowledging not to do funny, I think. I for one totally love reading mysteries and thrillers, but just know that I could never write one! 😀 LOL
Wish you a lovely Sunday, Diana! ❤
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Wow, such creativity! Your muse is working overtime. 🙂
Amazing write!
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Thanks, Khaya. My muse is going to take a break for the holidays, but not quite yet! I’m so glad you enjoyed this little piece. Happy Holidays!
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You are not human! Wow. Consider my mind blown…as always! I love reading your stories so much, and thoroughly enjoyed this one. Well done, Diana! 😘
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Thanks, Tanya. Your comments always make me smile. This was a tough one challenge but I gave it a go. I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Happy Holidays, my friend. ❤
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Happy holidays to you and all of your loved ones, Diana! ❤️
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Outstanding, Diana! This does seem like a very difficult prompt to do. I love the metaphors and the emotion is quite powerful. I was firmly planted in Louisiana backcountry for a few moments. I enjoyed it so much! xo
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Thanks, Lana. I haven’t been to Louisiana in ages and ages, but I’m glad I captured a bit of the backcountry. 🙂 I was going for an emotional charge and I’m glad that came through. Thanks for reading!
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Very welcome, Diana. I’ve always been fond of Louisiana, there is so much history, lore, legends, etc., there. Quite enjoyable, I can’t wait to read your next prompt!
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This story is heart-breaking! My breath caught at the line “a grief to swallow the world” … a grief no mother ever wants to experience.
Beautifully done is such a different way.
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Thanks for the lovely comment, Joanne. This challenge was tough, and that’s exactly what I was going for… a universal grief that crosses cultures, faiths, races, etc. and elicits compassion. ❤
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Mission accomplished!
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You met the challenge brilliantly, Diana. It grabs the heart and would make an excellent prologue ❤
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Thanks, Tina. It may not have been rough and tumble enough, but it was where I wanted to go. No sticking needles in straw dolls. Lol. I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂
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Brilliant D!!! Loved it, and you did the magic once more!!! Thank you!
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Thanks, Hector. This was the hardest of the bunch for me, but who doesn’t love a challenge?! Have a happy, warm holiday season, my friend.
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That was some challenge, Diana, but you did an excellent job and even avoided the voodoo 🙂 Short, true, and heartbreaking. The other entries are great too.
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Mine wasn’t exactly a rip-roaring adventure, Inese, but it was where I wanted to go with the prompt. I’m so glad you enjoyed it, and it was a challenge and a half! 😀
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It was 🙂
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This is awesome!
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Thanks, Lynn. It was a tough one, so I’m thrilled that you liked it. 🙂 ❤
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It is really great!
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you are an amazing and creative writer, Diana.
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Thanks for the lovely comment, Jina. This one was a real stretch with all the parameters. I’m glad you enjoyed it, my friend. Happy Writing!
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As usual, you put me right there, in desperate need of doctoring, with no options but voodoo. I’d be there/
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Thanks, Jacqui. I know very little about voodoo, so went with a different angle. And yes, I think we’d try anything at that point. Thanks for stopping by to read. 😀
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A different voice here, well crafted as always. Bravo!
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Thank you, Basilike. I’m glad I captured the voice. This was a tough challenge. Thanks so much for the visit. ❤
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You welcome. Reading you is always a pleasure!
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Well done Diana! Your versatility is amazing! Too many rules about writing scare me. 🙂
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This one was packed with constraints, Balroop, and it definitely made the challenge more difficult. I did struggle with it, for certain. I’m glad you enjoyed it, though. Thanks so much for the visit and Happy Writing!
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Wow! Another great bit, Diana! And the character voice is so well defined in so few words. Well done!
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Thanks, Julie. I think this was the hardest of all the prompts for me. I wanted to avoid the voodoo cliche and take it a bit deeper. I’m glad you enjoyed it and Cici’s voice came through. 🙂
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You did well, Diana. Really good!
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Thanks, Jennie. 🙂 It was a tricky one with all the parameters, and I had to stretch to get it done. Happy Holidays. ❤
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You are welcome, Diana. Merry Christmas!
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Job well done on this crazy challenge! I could really “hear” the voice of Cici in this. Excellent work. And Merry Christmas!
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Thanks, Kathryn. It isn’t typical of my writing style, but I gave it a go. The challenge was crazy! I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Merry Christmas to you too!
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Wow! Those were crazy rules, Diana. I’m surprised they didn’t make you write with your non-dominant hand as an extra bonus. Amazing work doing so much with so few words. You had me under your spell. Did you use voodoo?
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We had to type it with our toes, Molly. Ha ha ha. It felt that way, anyway. This one was a huge stretch and I did my best with it. Thanks for reading and for the laugh, my dear. Happy holidays. 🙂
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That sounds about right. What will they think of next??
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Two more to go. The next one was pretty easy. The last one…..
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I can’t wait!
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Wonderful job, Diana… a tough challenge well met.
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So hard to do this justice, Steven. The words really threw me off. I’m glad you enjoyed it, though, and thanks for reading. Happy Writing, my friend. 🙂
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I’m not sure I could worked out the guidelines, but you wrote with your usual aplomb and elegance. 🙂
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❤
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Oh my 🙂 so different Diana. I felt some sadness. You did well !!! Have a great week 🙂
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This was a tough one, Lynn, and I really had to stretch to pull it off. I’m glad you enjoyed it. Thanks so much for stopping by to read. 🙂
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Wow Diana, them there’s a lotta rules LOL. You dun good my friend! ❤
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Thanks, Debby. This one was so hard! The toughest for me. But I gave it a go. Happy Writing. 🙂
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You done well my friend! 🙂 xx
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Aside from the difficulty inherent in the assigned strictures, it’s an increasing challenge in our current world climate to branch into dialect and culture without causing offense. And yet I doubt any reader would find room for taking umbrage here, given the overwhelming tone of commonality — bonds forged in both despair and hope.
(Wow, that was waxing eloquent; but it’s how it came out!)
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It was tricky, Erik. I really didn’t want to go with cliches and stereotypes, and I know nothing about voodoo. So, I took the stereotypes and cultural differences and tried to smash them with compassion and the commonality of human experience. I do hope no one is offended, and I hope Cici came off as a compassionate and wise woman.
Yes, you did wax eloquent!
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The non-waxing-eloquent version: beautiful and powerful!
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Thank you. ❤
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Ah, a new side of your muse peeked out, I see. 🙂 You came through with flying colors. Great job, Diana.
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Thanks, Mary. A tough one. I nearly fell off my chair when I got my “bull name.” And I wanted to avoid all the stereotypes, too. I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Happy Writing!
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[…] Source: Voodoo Child […]
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Thanks for the reblog! Much appreciated, and Happy Holidays. 😀
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Another fantastic submission, Diana! You captured the character’s voice and personality perfectly in so few words 🙂
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Thanks, Sophie. I hope I did – it was a stretch! Mostly, I wanted to capture the heart-connection despite the differences between the characters. I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
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You got the cadence and the sadness combined to a perfect answer to quite a challenge!
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Thanks, Pam. It was a hard one, and I didn’t want to go with the cliche of sticking pins in dolls! :-). I’m glad you enjoyed this one. Thanks so much for stopping by to read. Happy Holidays to you!
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I would have been flummoxed with that one, Diana, but you nailed it! The voice of is so strong.
I love “wringing her fingers like washday linens” and “pass it to Miss Clara like it a newborn soul.” You would have taken top honors in my vote!
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The actual winners were awesome, Mae, but I appreciate the compliment. And I WAS flummoxed. You should have heard the groan when I found out my “bull name.” Lol
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How wonderful, poignant,and I love the voice, Diana. Thank you for sharing. 🙂
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Thanks, Sebnem. I took some liberties with the voice, I’m sure. But I wanted to cross cultures in a way and have a meeting of hearts. I’m so glad you enjoyed it. ❤
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This was such a tricky prompt, and I love where you went with it, Diana! 🙂
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It was a tricky one for me, Judy. I didn’t want to go with the needles in the doll cliche. I’m so glad you liked it. Happy Writing!
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Well you did a tremendous job, Diana. 🙂
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Wow! You did a great job, Diana!
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Thanks, Jill. It was so hard. I think I groaned at the bull name I received. I’m glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
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This is proof that it takes so few words to reach the heart’s chamber
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Thanks, Tammy. I struggled with the prompt and went for the heart. Always a good bet. 🙂 I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Have a great week!
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Thanks and yes, loved it!
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This is wonderful Diane, the vernacular so perfect, I love 💕 this.
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It was a stretch, Holly, and I took some liberties, but the prompt was so hard! I’m glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
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A very difficult priompt but you did it justice . Hats 🎩 off !
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Ooo, the winning one is really good too. I was pulled right in to thinking I’d outsmarted the posse and won my freedom and bam…not so much. And the good/evil balance is restored. Amazing to do that in something so short.
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There were some really good ones in there. I loved the one with the poison blue berries too!
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So vivid, Diana. Hugs on the wing.
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Thanks, Teagan. This one nearly did me in. Lol. I’m glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
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LOL. Well, I could not tell that you struggled at all. A little more of that voodoo i guess. 😀
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Great spin on the words. You went towards Haiti and real voodoo while I would have gone Jimi Hendrix and his song by the title.
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Nice! I would have liked to read your take on it. This one was so tough for me, but I pushed myself. I hope you participate next year! Happy Writing.
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It might have been tough for you, but it came out great. I might look into this challenge. There is such an exactness to it, which scares me a little 😉 107 words? Sure. In 8 sentences? Hmm…. The other parts of the challenge seem fun.
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I’ll post the announcement when I starts up next year. I know, some the constraints were tough, but it’s all been fun.
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I’ll keep an eye out for it.
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Wow, that had a lot of parameters. I like what you did with it. A tough one for sure, and your story brought a lot of heart in so few words.
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Thanks, Sheri. This one was the hardest for me by far. A big stretch! So I went for the heart and I’m glad you felt that. 🙂 Happy Writing!
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You captured so much is so few words. I feel it deeply. Not sure what “it” is exactly, but it hit home Diana. 💛
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This one was so hard, Val. “Voodoo Child?” Really? Ha ha. But that’s part of the fun and this one was different for me. I wanted to capture the connection of the heart despite all the differences. Thank you for reading. ❤
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Thank you very much indeed D! You too!
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