Carin pressed her manicured finger on the speaker button, placed the receiver in its cradle, and rubbed her neck. “You know I’ve applied for that. There’s a position in HR you’re more than qualified for.”
Silence.
Ellen’s voice filled the office, “I’m already meeting with Greene about the job tomorrow.”
Carin rolled her eyes, swiveling her chair around before catching sight of two chipmunks on a limb of the oak outside her office window. They dashed toward each other then scurried away, darting back, scrambling for the one acorn that rested on the branch their furry feet danced on.
March 25 Prompt: Juxtaposition (Write a story that includes a juxtaposition between the ordinary and natural worlds)
Love this Sarah…the juxtaposition of the mad scramble. I wondered where your flash stories were, and now I know, having followed your link from The Ranch and mighty glad I did. 😉
LikeLike
Thank you! And I’m so glad you found my collection here. 🙂
LikeLike
I love that last sentence. So evocative.
LikeLike
Thank you, kindly. 🙂
LikeLike
The rat race has evolved into the chipmunk scramble! This is a great juxtaposition — the manicured nails, the office, the speaker phone are all powerful, whereas chipmunks are cute and silly critters. But in the end, we all want the one available acorn!
LikeLike
Haha! Yes, it’s a chipmunk race. We all want that one available acorn.
Thank you, kindly, for your comment. This one was a challenge so I’m glad I managed the juxtaposition.
LikeLike
I love the flash, great combination of inside and outside. For me, the chipmunks were an extra surprise because of course we don’t get them in the UK – apart from in cartoons.
LikeLike
Thank you. That is so interesting. I hadn’t given much thought to it. We have more chipmunks than people in our neighborhood. 🙂 They’re so cute. And VERY loud with their “chip-chip!”
LikeLike
Pingback: Carrot Ranch Communications
I’m like Anne – we don’t get chipmunks here either so they were an added unexpected surprise to the juxtaposition between indoors and out, and office politics. Great flash
LikeLike
I really didn’t think about that. They are so common around here, it didn’t enter my mind. I was too busy trying to figure out how to write a juxtaposition piece. 😉 Thanks so much!
LikeLike
Loved the two squirrels playing their parts…. Nicely done!
LikeLike
Thanks, Roger! 🙂
LikeLike
Great, Sarah! I love the way you have used the image of the two squirrels scrambling after the same acorn to reflect the two women competing for the same job. Nice juxtaposition!
LikeLike
Thank you, Norah. 🙂
LikeLike
I feel like a chipmunk most days, fighting over that acorn. Nice story!
LikeLike
Well that’s unpleasant. I don’t envy you. *chip!* 😉 Thanks.
LikeLike