Last week at the Carrot Ranch, Charli Mills challenged writers to In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story embraces the mud. What is the mud, real or metaphor? How does it transform a character or place? What happens? Go where the prompt leads!
Although Charli gave an extended time in which to respond, I wrote my story Mud Cake Recipe in the usually one-week allocation. Some of your lovely comments encouraged me to continue the story a little further, which I have done here.
I hope you like it.
A Muddy Conclusion
“It’s just mud. It’ll wash off.”
“But it’s everywhere. Those children are unruly. My children would never —”
“And where are your children now?”
“Hmpff!” said the neighbour, stomping home, muttering about impudence, inconsideration and downright rudeness. “You haven’t heard the last of this.”
“Come on,” said the mother. “Let’s get you and the fence cleaned up.”
With buckets, brushes and rags, the children washed the fence. When it was done, they turned on each other. “Bullseye! Got you!” They tussled and tumbled. Laughter filled the air.
The neighbour glowered at the mud-covered children. “Well, I never,” she said.
Thank you for reading. I appreciate your feedback. Please share your thoughts.
Norah Colvin 
Well done, Norah!
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Thank you, Jennie. 🙂
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You’re welcome, Norah!
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Good one Norah. Maybe the neighbor needs a mud pie? Lol 🙂 x
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Maybe, Debby. 😉😅
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🙂
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Reminds me of the High Class Victorian addage that Children should be seen and not heard.
I’d be in that mud. But yes clean up is a must if you make a mess 🙂
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Cleaning up the messy mud can be as much fun as making it. 🙂
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At least they made the pies outside! Maybe the neighbor needs to join in next time.
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I think so, Charli. She might lighten up and find life enjoyable.
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kids will be kids; and grouches will be grouches…
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And never the twain should meet. 🤣
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let’s hope… 🙂
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🤣
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lol you describe the nosey old miserable neighbour well … seldom do their kids visit and they wonder why …
Glad the kids got into it again 🙂
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Yes. There’s a marked difference between the neighbours’ offspring.
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The whole notion of washing the fence is hilarious, although maybe it’s different if you don’t get much rain.
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And I bet the neighbor never did – play in the mud. What a “stick-in-the-mud” person. Sad. And where are her children? Probably stuck at home in front of their screens. ;-0 Good conclusion, Norah.
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Yep. I think you got that right about the neighbour, Pam. 😉
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Love it Norah! An interesting and lively neighborhood is emerging from the mud prompt.
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Thanks, D. I’m pleased you found the characters interesting.
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Hi Norah, this is such a lovely piece. It brings back suck pleasant memories of when my boys were little and played for hours with sand and water.
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Thank you for your kind words, Robbie. I’m pleased it brought back happy memories for you.
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Ha ha! Mud glorious mud … I agree with Pete – neighbour needs to take chill pill or 6 …
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Indeed she does. 🙂
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Good one, Norah. The neighbor needs to chill out.
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She does. If I’d had time, I’d have given a bit of backstory to the neighbour. Perhaps another time.
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