Challenge Responses

by suezahn

A collection of drabbles to various challenges. These may someday spawn longer pieces, but take them for what they are. I am curious what you think of them, though. Any feedback is welcome.

3. Expectations

Expectations

by Susan Zahn

This was written for an assignment in a creative writing class in college back in 1990. The challenge was to write a complete story (intro, climax, anticlimax, etc.) in exactly 100 words. I based this on a movie still from the Harrison Ford film, The Frisco Kid.

Out of the east he came riding, his bay mare kicking up dust in the setting sun. Even from a distance I could tell by the dirty white ten-gallon, scruffy beard, and mismatched clothes that he was a desperate man. The stranger neared and I saw the scowl on his weathered face, and the gleam of wary eyes. Then with a shock I spotted the six-shooter at his waist, and my spine chilled. This was no ordinary plains drifter, but an outlaw! The saddlebags seemed to hang heavier as he approached...and passed, disappearing behind the dust.