Alice and Zeke

Posted on November 9, 2020 by

36 Comments

Alice and Zeke live in the attic of a greying weathered abandoned house. They were out hunting one night when they happened upon it in the middle of the woods. Zeke spotted a broken window near the rooftop and decided to explore. Alice followed close behind and that’s when they found the abandoned nest. It was perfect.

On brumous nights, the stale scent of humans seeps through cracks from floors below. They are safe for there is nothing behind the wall except a space where the wind whistles.

Though they are usually nocturnal hunters, today is a special day. It is mating season and they have chosen one another. Nodding and bowing in a ritualistic dance, Zeke mounts Alice with force. It is over in a matter of seconds, and Alice flies to the nest and lays eggs. There are three. The brooding begins.

©2020 Linda Lee Lyberg

dVerse Poets Pub: Prosery Of Houses Walls and Whistling Winds Merril is hosting today and asks us to write a 144 word story using the following line from a poem by Lisel Mueller: “There is nothing behind the wall except a space where the wind whistles”-
from “Drawings By Children” by Lisel Mueller

Linda Lee Lyberg is a wife, mother, artist, published poet and author. She resides in Mesa, AZ with her husband Pete (aka The Big Viking) of 24 years, and her dog, Ricky Bobby. Linda writes various forms of poetry, as well as short stories. You can read more of her works at: charmedchaos.com
and purchase anthologies containing her work here: Amazon Author Page

Category: Flash FictionTags: , ,

36 Comments on “Alice and Zeke”

  4. A heart-warming owl tale, Linda! I love that they found an abandoned nest, just waiting to be filled. I love ‘brumous nights’ but it’s a shame that ‘the stale scent of humans seeps through cracks from floors below’ – I hope it doesn’t frighten the owlets when they are born.

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  5. An excellent tale, a perfect use of the prompt line; seamless. I smiled at the names of the owls, more fitting for a cat or a dog, or a pair of pack rats for me; good work–smile.

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  11. Love this especially; “On brumous nights, the stale scent of humans seeps through cracks from floors below.” 😀 Gorgeously rendered. 💝

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  14. I love how you told this from the owls’ perspective: the humans have nothing to fear (although the hooting of owls often frightens them) but can the same be said of them? I like your description of the mating ritual as well, made me laugh!

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  18. I love owls!! Great story and I was evoked by the male mounting her with force and then her flying off to lay her eggs and herbrooding beginning. My mind just went to the various definitions of “brooding”.

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