DEAF JED
For twelve years Deaf Jed
cleared his ten-mile stretch of track. He cut back invading undergrowth
in spring and summer, carted away sacks of leaves in autumn, swept snow in
winter.
Tired of the daily trek
from town, he built himself a shack with timber that fell from the wagons, and
lived there happily with his dog.
Scruff could hear the
trains that Jed couldn’t and kept him safe - until that day in forty-three when he smelled a bitch in heat.
Trains no longer run on
that track, but people say Scruff still patrols his stretch, whining for Jed.
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Thanks, as always, to
https://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/
for the photograph that prompted this week's story.
Follow the blue frog trail on her blog to read other writers' takes on the prompt.
Nice take on a ghost story. Love the name Deaf Jed, too. It'a always the bitch's fault, isn't it? ;)
ReplyDeleteOuch! Scruff didn't have to follow her scent, did he? and thanks for dropping in.
DeleteGreat story! I agree with Kimberly. The downfall is always a woman. :)
ReplyDeleteGWT - they always blame the woman whether it's her fault or not.
DeleteVery well done Lizy - great take on the prompt.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sandra - and for being a regular visitor :)
DeletePoor Jed, poor Scruff... these bitches in heat know how to pull a guy. Great story. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks gahlearner.
DeleteAnother great 100 worder, if a little sad.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ros - sad but not gruesome, so count yourself lucky I didn't go with version one!
Deletetriumph and tragedy like two sides of a coin
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting, iba.
DeleteOh Scruff.So like a dog! Great piece of folk lore.
ReplyDeleteThanks Patrick.
DeleteOh Scruff.So like a dog! Great piece of folk lore.
ReplyDelete... and again!
DeleteInteresting that people talk about the ghost of Scruff, but not the ghost of Deaf Jed. Perhaps they'll find each other one day on the other side (of the tracks.) :-) Good one, Lizy.
ReplyDeletejanet
Perhaps they will - if the ghost of a dead bitch doesn't get there first!
DeleteGood ghost story - poor Scruff. Weird that we both named our dogs Scruff! And my story and Jan Brown's are very similar. I'm in a writing practice group in which this often happens.... Great minds? Alicia
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid Scruff was too common a name - sheerlaziness, to be honest because it's been a stressful week! I am looking forward to joining a decent writing group when we get back to England.
DeleteThe bitch is back! All men are the same, I guess,including Scruff. Poignant tale, well told
ReplyDeleteIf human females could exude the same scented allure at a bitch dog, the men would be too confused to fight wars.
DeletePoor Jed - abandoned by his dog!
ReplyDeletePoor Jed indeed - and poor Scruff, who never knew what he'd done :(
DeleteDo deaf ghosts make any sound? You could make a scary story out of this to tell children when on a camping trip. Maybe have his missing arms and legs trying to get back together.
ReplyDeleteThanks for that thought, Russell, but I'll leave the scary stuff to you!
DeletePoor dog and poor Jeff.. and the dog condemned for following his instinct that one time...
ReplyDeletePerhaps one day Jed will come back and fetch Scruff so they can wander the heavenly tracks together.
DeleteAaaaw, that's so sad.
ReplyDeleteSad stories abounded on FF this week - there's something about that dog :(
DeleteDear Liz,
ReplyDeleteToo bad instinct won out over love. Very well done story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thanks Rochelle.
DeleteDeaf Jed and Scruff really come to life in this story. Nicely done.
ReplyDeleteThanks subroto - though they're in the afterlife now!
DeleteThis is just too sad but you created real characters in a few words.
ReplyDeleteI believe it helps to see the characters beofre I write about them. Thanks MM
Delete