Monkey Business An item on BBC World about chimpanzees and humans having universally-recognised gestures had me reaching out for my notebook and penning a 100-word story (known as a 'drabble' for the Friday Flash Fiction website. lo and behold, the story made the cut.
Alas, I can't tell you the genre for fear of giving stuff away. Yep, it's no use, you'll have to get down and read it yourself without any clues (or without a clue!). Don't worry, as I said above, it's only 100 words!
Monkey Business
We’ve been camped in the jungle a week.
“The chimpanzees have accepted us,” says the primatologist. “Look! The dominant male is beckoning.”
It’s taken time to obtain the chimps’ trust. Recently they got lured and ambushed by poachers. Babies got abducted, adults killed.
We venture from our tented camp. A harem of females, babies on their backs, beckon us, too. I wonder that they can forgive humans so easily.
Suddenly, I realise. They were lured, now they’re luring.
I scan the encircling trees. Dozens of males are glaring down at us. The ambush!
It’s true then. Chimpanzees are fast learners.
Below are links to my short-listed story for the National newspaper and for a couple of stories that appeared on the Every Day Fiction site - where you can leave a comment and a rating if you so desire. WARNING - Exodus Mortis is a bit disturbing:
http://www.thenational.ae/arts-culture/short-story-a-day-for-decisiveness
https://everydayfiction.com/oh-christmas-tree-by-paul-a-freeman/
https://everydayfiction.com/exodus-mortis-by-paul-a-freeman/
Happy writing!
Alas, I can't tell you the genre for fear of giving stuff away. Yep, it's no use, you'll have to get down and read it yourself without any clues (or without a clue!). Don't worry, as I said above, it's only 100 words!
Monkey Business
We’ve been camped in the jungle a week.
“The chimpanzees have accepted us,” says the primatologist. “Look! The dominant male is beckoning.”
It’s taken time to obtain the chimps’ trust. Recently they got lured and ambushed by poachers. Babies got abducted, adults killed.
We venture from our tented camp. A harem of females, babies on their backs, beckon us, too. I wonder that they can forgive humans so easily.
Suddenly, I realise. They were lured, now they’re luring.
I scan the encircling trees. Dozens of males are glaring down at us. The ambush!
It’s true then. Chimpanzees are fast learners.
Below are links to my short-listed story for the National newspaper and for a couple of stories that appeared on the Every Day Fiction site - where you can leave a comment and a rating if you so desire. WARNING - Exodus Mortis is a bit disturbing:
http://www.thenational.ae/arts-culture/short-story-a-day-for-decisiveness
https://everydayfiction.com/oh-christmas-tree-by-paul-a-freeman/
https://everydayfiction.com/exodus-mortis-by-paul-a-freeman/
Happy writing!
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