Imaginif prompts for daily writers.
If you wish to join the Writers Prompt Daily simply use the below photo (changes daily) as a prompt and post a short story, poem or paragraph to your blog. Leave a comment and your link here so that all participants can come to you and read/comment/encourage. Stories below are copyright and are Megan Bayliss' writing around the below daily picture prompt.


Don't cry, Bambi

The first time I can remember crying at a movie was when Mum took us to see Bambi in the theatre at Brisbane city. It was a big deal. Five of us, excited and ready for city theatre adventure. We were big. I was five. I was real big. Second oldest. I had responsibilities to look after those younger and less capable than me.

When Bambi's mother was shot, my faith in human kind was shattered. At that point, well, somewhere within my raking sobs and stifled chokes because people were hushing me, I decided to dedicate my life to wildlife protection. I would ensure that the Bambis of the world NEVER had to suffer those wretched feelings of murder, abandonment, fear and deprivation again.


I never really worked out why I did Vet Science. DUH! I studied at Durban, South Africa,  but was keen to move into the African countries that had game parks and plenty of need for a vet woman. None of them wanted women though. The poaching and civil wars made woman game park staff fair game.

I got my break though when a tiny Elephant calf survived her mother being shot and butchered in front of her. Why the poachers left her I don't know, but I am grateful to them because those poachers made my dreams come true. Baby Elleph was immediately sold to a Zoo in my home town. I was heading home, baby. Heading home to chaperon a 150 kilo baby.

My contract called for the safe delivery to Australia Zoo, straight into the arms of Steve and Terri Irwin. I could then have three days off to see family and return to Durban for regular duties. Not bloody likely, mate. Crikey!

Steve Irwin offered me the care position before I had to ask. There was no way I was leaving Elleph and I was prepared to become an unemployed Vet in the Elephant House of Australia Zoo for the rest of my life. I guess Steve and Terri weren't all Hollywood focused like the accusations going around said. They saw Elelph's connection to me and the acted in her best interest. They paid me to be Bambi's mummy.

Life has been kind to Elleph. I often wonder at the effect of the early trauma on her. I have seen no signs of malfunctioning Elephant but Elleph, I am sure, has seen signs of malfunctioning Vet Woman in me. Every time a musical rendition of Disney's Bambi carries into my annex, I cry. I sob. I break my heart for those abandoned and left for dead. Unlike all those years ago thought, when I was shushed and my sorrow canned, a wet sniffy trunk seeks out my hair and tussles it around, just like I did to Ellep the day her mother was shot.



If you wish to join the Writers Prompt Daily simply use the above photo as a prompt and post a short story, poem or paragraph to your blog. Leave a comment and the link here so that all participants can come to you and read/comment/encourage. Story above is copyright and is Megan Bayliss' writing around the above picture prompt.

6 Response to "Don't cry, Bambi"

Becca said...

Wow, it's amazing how the little things in our childhood can shape who we become as adults. Sounds like life has presented you wonderful opportunities.

Here is my entry for today:

The Last Time Gita saw her Family
http://rebecca-hamilton.com/?p=

Thanks for running this site. It's really spread my imagination.

Megan Bayliss said...

Hi Becca

I am so pleased to hear that your creativity has spiked. That is wonderful. Shall head over now to read.

My flash fiction today I am not happy with but I can't put my finger on it. Perhaps ts because it's in a life writing style where as I really love fantasy and character creation. It is stifled and undeveloped, however, it meets the purpose of daily writing practice so I need to be happy with that. Listen to me, I am being my own critical friend here!

Megan Bayliss said...

Becca! Your piece is brilliant and an example of excellent writing.

Julie G said...

Hi Megan,

I felt and got every word you wrote. I was there.

Somtimes we are our own critical friend. I was like that with the piece I wrote on Hiking trip and you picked up on that.

So you can go back and rewrite this piece, you know you want to.

Becca said...

Thanks for the kind words. I really appreciate the inspiration. In fact, I was thinking of doing something more with this particular prompt. Turning it into a proper short story.

Anyway, thanks again.

I think we can all be critical of our own work --- more so than those reading. I enjoyed your story. It had a quiet honesty to it. If it wasn't true, I wouldn't have known. I think what you can do is if that is true, look at it and see how you can incorporate that kind of thinking into your writing. It's very life like.

Julie G said...

Ok, I have rewritten The Matriarch, tell me what you think now.

 
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