This week at the Carrot Ranch, Charli Mills challenged writers to In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story about “the ’49ers.” Who or what are they? What is the significance of the number? Do you follow the Gold Rush history or venture into new territory? Go where the prompt leads!
Here’s a bit of trivia to introduce my story in case, like me, you weren’t aware of the term forty-niner. Forty-niner refers to miners and others who took part in the 1849 gold rushes in California. Charli does say we can go where the prompt leads, but I hung around looking for a nugget. I hope you enjoy it.
The ’49ers
The history buffs needed a name for the trivia competition — nothing mundane and overused like ‘The No Hopers’ or boringly obvious like ‘Work Mates’ — something meaningful, not overly obvious, but not too obscure.
“How about The ’49ers?” one suggested.
“Perfect!” the others agreed.
No one thought too much about the monikers of others, but was it coincidental that each week The ’49ers scored exactly 49?
Another team scoffed. “Should have been ‘Clueless’.”
“They’re certainly not all 49.”
“Forty-nine and more, I’d say.”
When the night’s theme was the gold rushes, the researchers showed their mettle and panned the gold.
Thank you for reading. I appreciate your feedback. Please share your thoughts.
Note: The collection of stories made in response to the previous prompt The Wish I Made can be read at the Carrot Ranch here.
Norah Colvin 
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