News From Poughkeepsie – Sunday Edition #4

Yeah, yeah, it’s Monday. Maybe I should just just merge the Sunday and Monday into one massive, monstrous post. Shout out in the comments if you have opinion on keep Sunday separate or not.

The theme was “Westerns” which got alot of strong responses. My favorite was by David Niall Wilson, which just cracked me up to no end:

The creak-wheeled wagon rolled into town leaning heavily to one side and smelling of dust and gun oil. The horse plodded ahead slowly, as if he knew where he was heading, which was odd; the driver was conspicuously absent.

Heads turned to watch the wagons passing. A boy, barefoot and filthy, ran out, looked into the driver’s seat, then ran away as if the devil had bit him, his face white.

The wagon pulled to a halt, and Sheriff Bony Ridge stepped away from the front of the saloon. Bony hitched his britches over too-thin hips, settled his guns, and strode across the street to the wagon. His heart raced, but he didn’t let the fear show. You could never let the fear show when you were the law.

The wagon creaked, and Bony jerked. Then, angry at himself, he hurried his last few steps and peered down into the wagon.

The tiny twin barrels of miniature six-guns pointed straight between his eyes, which went wide.

“I’ll be goin’ to hell in a coal bucket,” he said softly. “…Shorty McGraw.”

The tiny cowboy hopped to the seat and fired. The sheriff hit the ground hard. People turned and ran in all directions, followed by the shrill echo of tinny laughter.

Scott Roche topped last week’s record of two prompt extensions by providing three this week, all worth checking out. I expect four out of you in the next few days, Scott.

I’ll have Monday’s prompt with the weekly theme and a special October contest up later this afternoon.