It's time again for one of my favorite contests of the year, Vivian Kirkfield's #50 Precious Words. With a word limit of (you guessed it!) just 50 words, this contest is equal parts challenge and fun. The teeny-tiny word limit forces precise word choice and stretches our ability to tell a complete narrative succinctly.
So without further ado, here is my 2022 entry coming in at exactly 50 words, BALLOON AND BOY.
BALLOON AND BOY (50 words)
By Andrew Hacket
Boy was kind, but Balloon longed to fly.
So he slipped through Boy’s grasp.
Didn’t look back.
He soared and explored.
Had adventures galore!
Until…
Thunder and lightning.
Freedom was frightening.
Alone.
Isolated.
Balloon sank, deflated.
Then...
Footsteps.
A gasp.
Boy had come back.
Both filled with love once more.