Zoo Gang
This is my fifth April A-to-Z Challenge. The past couple of years, I’ve written 100-word flash fiction each day. This year I’m doing the same, only with a twist: each day’s story will be inspired by the title of a Paul McCartney song. Today is the last day of the challenge, so let’s finish up with…
ZOO GANG
Joe passed the beans to Amy.
“Where’s Rob tonight?”
“Working late,” she said, taking a spoonful. “So, tell me more about your squad. Rob hardly mentions it.”
“Not surprised,” said Bill through a mouthful of steak. “Iraq was tough.”
“But we bonded,” Joe said, nodding to Bill.
“Remember our gang?” Bill smiled. “You, me, Rob, Pete.”
Joe laughed, “Yes! We even gave ourselves code names. Who were you?”
“I was Gorilla,” said Bill. Amy smiled. Given Bill’s physique, it fit. “Pete was Monkey—that laugh. And you were–?”
“Panther,” Joe said. “Obviously.”
“What was Rob called?” said Amy.
“Cheetah.”
That’s it for this year’s A-to-Z Challenge! Thanks for reading, especially if you’ve been following my flash fiction for the past month. I hope you’ve enjoyed it.
“Zoo Gang” was the B-Side to Wings’ 1974 single “Band on the Run” in the UK. It has subsequently appeared as a bonus track on CD re-issues of the albums “Venus and Mars” and “Band on the Run.” The piece was originally composed by McCartney for the short-lived UK TV series, “The Zoo Gang,” which ran for six episodes between April and May of 1974.
Here are the opening titles to the TV show:
Cheetah by name cheater by nature? A great end to a terrific series.
My final A-Z story features 13 neglected Z words
You got it, Keith. Thank you so much, and thanks for hanging with me this month. 🙂
Stopping by for the last letter of the challenge. You are a seasoned pro at this, I can tell.
Thanks. I don’t know about seasoned pro, but I’ve had plenty of practice, that’s true. Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
Oooh – Cheetah! I get it. “Working late,” right.
It’s been a blast following all your stories through this month. I’m looking forward to seeing what you do with the story contest over at the Reef. This one is a real challenge!
Thank you, Celia. It was fun writing these, even if some of them gave me hives trying to come up with a story! Janet’s certainly trying to “up the ante”–and from what I’ve read so far, people are more than rising to the challenge. She’s in for a treat this weekend.
I haven’t read any of the submissions yet. I never do until I’ve posted my own, for fear I will throw up my hands in despair and give up. This is a group of awesomely talented writers!
Likewise. I posted mine, then went back and read entries.
Me too. If I read the entries before, I’m either too intimidated, or I find another story with similarities to mine and chicken out.
That’s one of my biggest fears–that I’ll come up with this awesome idea, spend hours working on it, and go to post it only to find someone else had exactly the same idea and beat me to the comments. Of course, that has never actually happened, which is testimony to the creativity of Janet’s readers.
I love this story and how it ends, Colin! And I’m also looking forward to seeing what you will write for Janet’s contest. It’s always such a delight to read your stories… 😀
Thanks, Lilac. And thank you for your lovely, encouraging comments. 🙂
Fantastic, Colin. A great end to the series. We made it. Yes. These have been so much fun and have given me a greater appreciation for Paul McCartney. Good job.
Well, that’s the double-win there I was hoping for: enjoying the stories, and appreciating Macca’s music. Thank you so much for hanging out with me this month. It’s been fun sharing stories. We’ll have to do it again sometime. Next year? 😉 Unless we’re all too busy meeting publishing deadlines…
Congratulations on making it to Z. I know I’m relieved.
Thank you, Silver Fox. And thanks for your comments and support this month. 🙂
Hey! You ended with one I understood. Thanks =)
And congrats on making it thru another AtoZ. Now we all can nap………….
YAY! *Happy Dance* 😀 Thank you for following along with your support and comments this month, Dena. This has been a blast. 🙂
Well-brought! Super smart writing. And congrats on the whole alphabet 🙂 You wrote the heck out of it.
Thank you, Me! And thanks for your comments and support this month. 😀
Wow! That last word – wow!
I’ve really enjoyed the ‘challenge’ of this A to Z; thank you for suggesting it to us over at the Reef. Although I’m not sure if I’ll do another one… they’re rather exhausting!
Congratulations on making it through another year of this 🙂
Thanks, Kae–and you’re welcome! 🙂
Congrats on making it through the challenge. Your flash fiction was excellent.
Thanks, Patricia! 😀
Colin,
Exquisite ending to a great month of writing. You really nailed your flash fiction, and some of them really stood out. A few would have been winners over at the reef, I’m sure of it.
In addition to congratulating you on a superlative month of writing, I have to say thanks as well. I’m pretty sure you’re the first person who told me about this challenge and I don’t think I would have entered if not for you. I enjoyed it thoroughly even if it did exhaust me. And getting to the end is like finishing a long hike or a race or some such. You feel so good that you made it, you completely ignore the exhaustion factor.
Keep writing!
Thank you, John. And thanks for your comments and kind words over the past month. I appreciate the encouragement. This has been fun, and made all the more fun for the interaction. 🙂
You are very welcome. I’m glad you took up the challenge! I’ve enjoyed your six-sentence stories. Congratulations for getting through the month. 😀
I’ve loved your stories. I love the music connection.
You are the twist master! No cheetah just darn good writing.
Thank you so much, Angie! This was fun. 🙂