Photo credit to Douglas Mac Illroy
The Wisdom to Ride
by T. Delaplain
“Dumb asses, sit on top of a tornado for 8 seconds and wonder why they is always broke. Broken wallets, broken bones, broken dreams.”
“Yup, I reckoned you’re right Daddy but he’s here to pick me up anyway.”
The sight of the pick up truck brought all the pain home.
“Cain’t no one ride that mean son’ a bitch.”
“I reckon, but I just need 8 seconds.”
“He likes to spin left, been known to sunfish. When he throws ya and he will, don’t let him catch you on the inside. He’ll kill you.”
A quick nod of thanks.
“Open the gate Old Man.”
Join us at Friday Fictioneers and spin a tail.
Tracey Delaplain, MD 
the language makes it really interesting and believable.
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Thank you Larry.
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Speaking of interesting takes on the prompt…
Loved this one, Tracey! Language sounds ’bout right too…
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Pick up trucks and cowboys. Thanks Dale.
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You created real characters with a handful of brush strokes
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Thanks Neil
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Very convincing narrative.
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I’m showing my roots again. Thanks Sandra.
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I agree with other Tracey – lovely language and very natural. Well done
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Thanks Lynn. I’ve known a cowboy or two.
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Loved the dialogue in this and because I know nothing about the subject I found it utterly fascinating!
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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I’m glad to have taken you for a ride. We grow up going to rodeos in Nevada and Montana. My oldest son has actually ridden a bull. Thankfully only once. Bull riding is said to be the most dangerous 8 seconds in sports.
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Great dialogue–makes the story so real.
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Thank you, I have deep Western roots!
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I totally agree with Dad. 8 seconds on a bull sounds like madness to me. At least he knew a handy tip there. The dialog felt believable and real to me.
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Thank you. I’m sure 8 seconds must feel like an eternity.
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It always struck me as an odd way to make a living. Wonderful dialogue.
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Me too. That’s why I went to college and left the ranching life behind.
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One of the boys I grew up with in Denver turned into a rodeo man, rode horses and bulls for about a year until his back was too tired to carry on. Now he owns to ranches and rides very calm horses. Great take on the prompt.
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I started riding again in my thirties for a while and man the ground was much harder than I remembered in my teens.
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i love the dialogue. sounds very authentic.
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I liked this a lot. The action is all in anticipation. And, was your MC female? I can’t imagine a young man calling his father ‘Daddy’!
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The father isn’t too happy about his daughter dating a bull rider. Too many difficult reminders of his own rodeo days.
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When you mentioned 8 seconds, I thought you were talking about Perry’s sex life.
As a youth, several of my friends tried riding bulls and broncs–usually just once. I had a hard enough time just staying on a bicycle without getting thrown.
Great dialogue. You put us right there next to the gate.
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I hear ya, I tried barrel racing (racing is an exaggeration) once. The horse was smarter than me apparently. Perry doesn’t read my fiction so he is dead to me. Ha ha 8 seconds? Really?
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Great dialogue, your terrific piece and the comments give an insight into a world I knew nothing about.
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Glad to take you along for the ride. Thanks Jilly.
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Brilliantly written dialogue.
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8 seconds doesn’t sound like much but it sounds like he’ll have his work cut out for him!
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For sure, these are extreme athletes.
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I have to admit I thought they were going to ride the tornado. I know there are those that chase them but had never heard of them riding them. Have to admit I was pleased to find from the comments that she was riding a bull. That sounds a lot safer. Enjoyed the dialogue even though I obviously didn’t get it.
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She’s dating a bull rider in this scene but there is an female American pro bull rider. Her name is Maggie Parker. Tough stuff. Thanks Irene.
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Whether male or female they must be tough stuff indeed.
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What a great take, action and dialogue. I know very little about rodeo riding, but you lured me right in.
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Amazing dialogue, and takes us right to the heart of the action.
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Thank you
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I loved this, great voice
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Love the language, and you got me really into the risks and the thrill of the ride.
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Thanks Björn. I’m glad you told along.
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I read that just like you wrote it. I almost spit an imaginary stream of tobacco juice! 😉
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That’s another disadvantage of dating a cowboy. Thanks for reading Dawn.
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Dear Tracey,
You nailed the cowboy lingo. I can feel the excitement and hear the gruff voices. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I think I own the market on cowboy flash fiction on Fri Fic. Thanks for reading Rochelle.
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