First Cow in Space flash fiction

First Cow in Space #flashfiction

46 Replies

I’m sure you all know the nursery rhyme Hey Diddle Diddle about a cat playing a fiddle and a cow jumping over the moon.

I love using nursery rhymes with young children. They are a great way for them to learn the sounds and rhythms of our language, develop their memories and just have fun with nonsense. I’ve never considered it important for them (or me) to know the background of the rhymes. We can leave that to more serious students of literature.

The rhythm and rhyme of nursery rhymes encourage children to join in with the recitation and commit them to memory. Their memory for the rhymes can be used as a step into reading. I’ve written before about nursery rhymes, both on this blog and on the readilearn blog here and here. I have also some written some literacy lessons based on nursery rhymes that are available in the readilearn collection, including Let’s read and write with Little Miss Muffet, Humpty Dumpty — a story in five sittings and The Accident — Humpty Dumpty’s Fall.

This week at the Carrot Ranch, Charli Mills challenged writers to In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story about Clarice. She can be any Clarice real, historical, or imagined. What story does she have for you to tell? Go where she may lead!

You may well wonder what that prompt has to do with nursery rhymes. But Charli always says to go where the prompt leads. It usually leads me to children and education in some way. This time, and with a huge apology to all the Clarices out there, it led me to a cow in a nursery rhyme. Why should she be called Clarice? I don’t know, but I thought the first cow in space would be quite an imaginary historical figure. I hope you like my story. I’m certain, if given a chance, children would come up with their own wonderful innovations too.

First Cow in Space

“We are here today with the first cow in space, whose identity, until now, has been kept secret. Will you please welcome [drum roll] Clarice Cloverdale.”

[Applause]

“Clarice, please tell us about your adventure and why your identity was undisclosed for so long.”

“It was simply a non-disclosure agreement. That contract has now terminated so I’m free to tell.”

“Go on.”

“We were all tired of playing second-fiddle to Cat. Dish and Spoon ran away so Dog had no alternative but to make me the star. Needless to say, I was over the moon. The rest is history.”

[Applause]

Thank you blog post

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46 thoughts on “First Cow in Space #flashfiction”

  9. petespringerauthor

    Great job, Norah. That was quite a charming and creative piece. I have to agree that Clarice sounds like the perfect name for a cow.

    Liked by 1 person

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  13. Hugh W. Roberts

    Haha! What a great piece of flash fiction, Norah. I love how you got all the characters from the nursery rhyme into it. I don’t think I’ve heard about a cow in space in a story, so I think you have an excellent idea for a new children’s book here. And I love the last name you gave Clarice, too.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Norah Post author

      I’m pleased it made you laugh, Pauline. I haven’t watched ‘The Silence of the Lambs’. It definitely wouldn’t make you laugh. I know it would be too scary for me. No where as much fun as a moon jumping cow. 🙂

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      1. thecontentedcrafter

        Quite so – I don’t think I’ve seen a horror movie since I was 16 and used to sneak off to the midnight movies with my boyfriend and watch those old Vincent Price movies. Then I chewed a hole in his new jersey and he got told off by his mother…… that was the end of me and horror movies 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

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    1. Norah Post author

      Thanks, D. When I thought of Clarice, all I could think of was a cow. As I said, apologies to all the Clarices out there. But then, I’ve always liked cows. They have beautiful eyes and are such lovely creatures.
      I’m pleased you enjoyed my story.

      Liked by 1 person

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