This week’s writing prompt courtesy of Carrot Ranch’s – Flash Fiction Challenge is to write a 99-word story (no more no less) that embodies “true grit“. You could always rely on John Wayne to stick to his guns. It wasn’t his guns that gave him grit, it was following his conscience, no matter how tough it got.
The train pulled away in a cloud of steam. His breath hung heavy in the crisp morning air. He dreaded the walk home. They’d point and shout the usual names, spit on him as he passed and barge him into the gutter. The vicar would turn his back as the children kicked his shins. Every day was the same.
One more mile of hell and he was home. Leant against the closed door, his angry tears fell into another handful of white feathers. Tomorrow he’d do it all again, and the next, but he would not fight their war.
Cover image courtesy of: Julian Hanslmaier