Monday, May 7, 2012

MFF#3: The Bulldancer by Jenny Twist

Welcome to Unwritten's  May Flash Fiction challenge! Every story (600 words max) begins with this sentence: 

 I never expected to be in this position so soon, saying goodbye to my son.


This short and sweet entry from author Jenny Twist reminds me of that immortal line: "Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned, nor hell a fury like a woman scorned." I'd also add: "And man is clueless as to how it comes about." Hee hee. Read on!

****

THE BULL-DANCER


I never expected to be in this position so soon, saying goodbye to my son. He is chosen as one of the twelve. My husband says I should be proud. They only take the best as bull-dancers.

I am proud of my strong, beautiful son, but I am not proud of my husband. If I were a man I would not meekly offer my son up for sacrifice. I would raise an army. I would sail to Krete and destroy the Minotaur.

But I am a woman with only a woman's weapons. I have wrapped my son in magic – the strongest I possess. He is fair shining with it.

They are sailing under a black sail, the twelve chosen ones. My son says he will return. He will slay the Minotaur himself and he will return. He will return under a white sail as a message to say he is alive and victorious.

I look sideways at my worthless husband, smiling and waving as the ship leaves the harbour.

I have reserved some of my magic for him.

If the ship returns with a black sail, I shall cast him onto the rocks and he will be swept away by the sea!

****
Jenny Twist left school at fifteen and went to work in an asbestos factory. After working in various jobs, including bacon-packer and an escapologist’s assistant, she returned to full-time education and did a BA in history at Manchester and post-graduate studies at Oxford.
In 2001 she and her husband moved to Southern Spain where they live with their rather eccentric dog and cat.
Her published novels are Domingo's Angel – a romance set in Spain - and Take One At Bedtime – an anthology of short stories. All in the Mind –  about an old woman getting younger – will be released Sept 2012.

34 comments:

  1. Thanks, Mysti. It's always such a pleasure to be on your lovely site.

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  2. Oooo -- I love this, Jenny! There is so much said in what is not said… The mythology surrounding the Minotaur is one of my favourites. Great story!

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  3. LOVE IT!!!!! :) You need to write more flash fiction, Mrs. T.

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  4. Thank you Tori and Tara. You are both wonderful!

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  5. This is a great story, I love mythology and I love how it ended with the little magic saved. Thanks for sharing.

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  6. Thanks, Jeannie
    So glad you enjoyed it!

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  7. Dear Jenny,

    Very imaginative...Only because I know the ending do I feel good about her son sailing. Ths is almost a poem in its skillful ambiguity, rich texture and use of allegory.

    Later, someday, this could be the prologue to another deeply satisfying novel.

    All the very best, Erin

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    Replies
    1. Erin
      I think you are totally fab!
      Love
      Jenny
      xx

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    2. Jenny - great story and your bio is also fascinating. What is an
      escapologist? I sometime forget I finished h.s. at 16. I think they had
      me skip grades 'cuz they didn't know what to do with me!
      Now, I'd be on meds!!! Best, Mary Kennedy Eastham

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  8. Lovely, Jenny
    And knowing what happens next makes it all the more exciting. It's always great to get the woman's side.
    Very well done - but then, you know, I wouldn't expect any less from such a great writer.
    Lyn - aka Mrs Twist's biggest fan!

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    Replies
    1. I love you too, Lyn. You are SO nice to know!
      Lots of love
      Jenny
      xxx

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  9. Erin
    I think you are totally fab! Thank you
    Love
    Jenny
    xx

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  10. Nice and powerful short piece. I wonder how you would describe the ship that returns.
    HUGS
    Bob

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    1. Dear Bob
      Thank you so much. It is, as you know, the legend of Theseus retold rather differently.
      Love
      Jenny
      xx

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  11. The title made me think of the Minoan Bull Leapers and not the Minotaur. In Knossos, the Minoan Palace outside Iraklion on the Greek Island of Crete young women and men would grab bulls by the horns and leap over their backs. I love Crete. I have spent as many as two months at a time at Souda Bay. We would rent a car and go to the ruins of Knossos. I could see the Minoans as if they were still alive. The place brings your imagination to life.

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  12. Hi Ray
    You are quite right. One interpretation of the Minotaur myth is that it is a representation of the sacrifice of the bull dancers and that the labyrinth is simply he vast ans complex palace of Knossos.
    I also adore Knossos and have visited the site twice. Very atmospheric
    So nice to meet a fellow lover of Crete.
    xxx

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  13. Great story. I do like the way she thinks!

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  14. Thank you, Paula. Love and hugs
    Jenny
    xx

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  15. Oooh, this packs plenty of reined-in emotion. Great writing. You are so very good at these, Jenny.

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  16. Linda, it's especially pleasing to have such high praise from you. You are such a great short story writer. I'm a big fan. Thank you, Darling
    Love
    Jenny
    xxx

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  17. First "Flash Fiction" I've ever read. Interesting. You packed a lot in just 600 words. Way cool.

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  18. Thanks James. So glad you liked it.
    Jenny
    xx

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  19. I enjoyed your story. I'm not an expert on mythology, so some of the references pushed me to look up mythology and do a little research. This was a very creative piece that leaves me wanting to know more. Thanks for sharing.

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  20. I'm SO glad you liked it. I took a bit of a liberty with the original myth but it could possibly have happened that way!
    I haven't written anything else along those lines, but I am planning a novel about the Greek Gods, maybe next year. This is my site if you'd like to know more: http://sites.google.com/site/jennytwistauthor/
    So nice to meet you
    Love
    Jenny
    xx

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  21. Each time I've returned here, I've read this -- and each time I smile -- I think it is the magic - a mom's magic - and her strength, courage. I could enjoy reading more with her as a main character

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  22. What a lovely thing to say! I might just do that.
    Thanks, Judy
    xx

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  23. Lovely twist to the tale. Ooops, I was trying to avoid making a silly pun like that! I do apologise. But I do like it, we are all keen on Greek myths in our family - and would love to read more about your Greek gods project.

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  24. Hi Marina. How lovely to meet you. The Greek God project is still at a very early stage, but I've nearly finished the anthology I'm writing with Tara Fox Hall and when I do I'll return to it. The working title is "Cradle of the Gods" but that's a bit twee so I must think of a better one. It's written on the premise that the Gods were indeed spacemen and their ship was called Atlantis. The main characters are Athena and Prometheus, who is a primitive man, and, of course, sees all the spacemen's powers as Godlike. The spaceship crew is forbidden to interfere with the natives but Athena is just naturally curious.........

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  25. Beautiful flash, Jenny.

    I love the simplicity of it. I read through the comments and note that someone mentions already knowing how things turn out. I'm glad I don't know. There is a delicious darkness to this moment as the narrator reveals the depth of both her love and her anger.

    I enjoyed this very much.

    Laurel W.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Laurel
      What a lovely comment. Thank you so much. You've made me very happy
      Love,
      Jenny
      xx

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  26. Hi Jenny,

    I enjoyed this piece very much. It took me back many long years to high school Latin/Mythology class.

    I can see it titled A Mother's Revenge. Men just don't get the bond a mother has for her child.

    Thanks for sharing.

    Leona

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    1. Hi Leona
      I guess you know the end, then? So glad you enjoyed it. I LOVED writing it. It was one of those that just flowed.
      Thanks so much
      Love
      Jenny
      xx

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  27. What a great little story, Jenny! Definitely would make a longer one.

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  28. Thanks, Rosemary. You're such a good friend.
    xxxx

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