Through head-high grass – flash fiction

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The boy was slashing through the head-high grass with a stick. An explorer, he was cutting his way through a jungle.

The meadow sloped up to a little knoll. On the knoll, enclosed by a white spindle-fence, was a grave of broken stones. He was hoping to find snakes. Imagined them waking from their winter sleep, basking on the stones in the sun.

But when he got to the fence a woman, who must have been sitting on the grave, stood up. Her head and shoulders appeared suddenly above the grass.

‘Who’s that?’ Sharply.

The boy crouched down. What had he woken?

Through head-high grass

© TheSupercargo


The above was written for the Friday Fictioneers flash fiction forum. The prompt: a photograph of white painted metal railings and tall grass.


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18 thoughts on “Through head-high grass – flash fiction”

    • Thanks Björn. The 167 word draft looked to be swelling rather, so I never finished it, took a step back and cut it down. However, I may go back to it, let it swell again and see what develops. If I think it’s readable I’ll let you know.

  1. Great image of him beating his way through the grass. I’m intrigued to know what he has awoken.

  2. I enjoyed this story. Wondering if he really woke the dead or just some woman with a story of her own? Love the drawing too.

  3. Several commentators wonder… what has he woken? Yes indeed.
    And what does he think he’s woken?
    What does he imagine he’s woken?
    What will he have woken when he comes to tell this story later?
    And as Kelly says, surely the woman he woke (if that’s what happened), surely she has a story of her own.
    I was quite pleased with the open-endedness.
    Thanks for all comments!

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