Posts Tagged ‘writer’s groups’
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I have been very fortunate to belong to a local writers’ group, The Talespinners, for the past ten years. This group provided valuable critique and encouragement while I struggled to complete my first two books. We are an eclectic group with a variety of writing styles and genres, and we have a lot of fun. Today I am featuring one of our members and her delightful story based on a familiar nursery rhyme. Enjoy!
Mystery Solved by Joan Charlton
“Hey diddle, diddle
The cat and the fiddle
The cow jumped over the moon
The little dog laughed to see such a sight
And the dish ran away with the spoon.”
On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong landed on the moon, followed by Buzz Aldrin, while Michael Collins orbited in Apollo Eleven. The two men cavorted around the lunar landscape, gravity-free, in big spacesuits.
They planted the American flag, shot a few golf balls and toured around on a L.E.M. vehicle. They collected rocks and soil samples before they came back to the mother ship to return to earth.
Their recovery was a big deal, they landed in the Pacific Ocean and were transported to land, where they were kept in isolation and observed.
The world was enraptured by their success but it was a frustrating time for them. While undergoing tests, they were unable to communicate with the public, or even their families.
After a few days, their commanding officer addressed them through intercom and television.
“Gentlemen, we have a problem.”
“What, Sir?” asked Neil.
“Well, those samples you brought back, contained bone fragments.”
“Bone fragments, Sir? Does that mean that I wasn’t the first man on the moon?”
“We don’t know yet, when we do, we’ll get back to you. Dismissed.”
Neil was distraught. “My God, fellows, what about the T. V. shows, the interviews, the books, the movies, the fame? It’s all over.”
“Must be those damn Ruskies,” said Buzz. “They’re so bloody secretive; they must have landed before us.”
“Now I know how Commander Scott felt when he found out that the Norwegian Amundsen beat him to the South Pole,” said Collins.
“We’ll just have to wait.”
Four days later they were summoned to a meeting with the Senior N.A.S.A. officer via T.V.
“Gentlemen, I have good news and bad news.”
“What’s the good news?”
“You were the first humans on the moon.”
“And the bad news?”
“The cow didn’t make it.”
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