March 1 – Flash Fiction – Raven

02 Mar 2018 45 Comments

by Ritu in #CarrotRanch, Fiction, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Charli’s prompt this week:

March 1, 2018, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story that includes a raven. It can be in nature or used to describe humanity as a metaphor. Follow the bird. Go where the prompt leads.

We have a set of ravens that congregate on the roofs of the houses of our neighbourhood… but they weren’t the inspiration for my flash today.

No.

I ended up thinking about the famous ravens at the Tower Of London. I knew they were meant to always be there, but wasn’t sure why, so it was time for a little research again.

Did you know they clip one wing, so the birds don’t leave, though there have been ‘escapees’ and they had to ‘sack’ some because Raven George kept eating Television aerials, and Raven Grog was sighted outside an East End Pub, drinking on the job!

I kid you not! If you want to read a little more, click here!

And here is my little attempt!

“It is a worry indeed, Your Majesty, yes. We’ve had to sack three of them this year, and getting decent replacements, well that is an increasingly tough task.”
Beefeater Chambers looked out of the window, whilst speaking to the Queen on the Royal telephone.
The requirement was six ravens to be guarding the Tower of London at any one time, or the Tower and Kingdom would fall, and this new generation, well they were useless.
They didn’t have the spunk of their ancestors, calling in sick all the time, too busy posing for the tourists and Instagram selfies.
Really!

https://carrotranch.com/2018/03/01/march-1-flash-fiction-challenge/

45 Comments (+add yours?)

  1. Trackback: Ravens « Carrot Ranch Literary Community
  2. Trackback: Ravens « Carrot Ranch Literary Community

  3. Charli Mills
    Mar 08, 2018 @ 00:39:03

    Great flash, Ritu! I love the ambiguity — it can be read that the Beefeater is referring to the ravens or royals! Of course, with your research on the some of the ravens who’ve been sacked, I’m thinking the demise belongs to the clipped ones.

    Liked by 1 person

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  4. Irene Waters 19 Writer Memoirist
    Mar 05, 2018 @ 02:21:41

    LOL. Ravens employees of the crown. Good take. The prompt took me to the Tower also. Loved your additional info.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  5. Aimer Boyz
    Mar 03, 2018 @ 17:01:10

    They maim the birds? That’s awful.
    Good thing we don’t have any story about birds circling the CN tower 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  6. Hugh's Views and News
    Mar 03, 2018 @ 16:12:31

    I love this. You could have entered it into the blog post competition. It made me laugh so much. Great research work on your part, Ritu.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  7. Jennie
    Mar 03, 2018 @ 11:41:44

    This is funny!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  8. Fourth Generation Farmgirl
    Mar 03, 2018 @ 00:35:57

    Great read and fun post, Ritu! Enjoy your weekend!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  9. Erika Kind
    Mar 02, 2018 @ 21:13:36

    Haha… love your story! Oh, those modern times and too much social support from the government.
    I remember that raven legend from my visits to the Tower of London.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  10. Michael
    Mar 02, 2018 @ 18:37:50

    Fascinating story Ritu. I only recently heard the story of the ravens in the Tower. I think it was on QI…

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  11. dornahainds
    Mar 02, 2018 @ 18:31:06

    Wonderful! And a Great reflection of the so-called today’s youth, for sure.. 😎🥀😎🥀😎🥀

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  12. robbiesinspiration
    Mar 02, 2018 @ 17:51:53

    Ha ha, Ritu, a jolly good take on the prompt. I hope your arm is feeling much better now.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  13. syl65
    Mar 02, 2018 @ 16:01:51

    What are we going to do with the ravens of this generation! 😄 Thank you for sharing the London history Sister!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  14. OIKOS™-Redaktion
    Mar 02, 2018 @ 15:47:20

    Reblogged this on Die Erste Eslarner Zeitung – Aus und über Eslarn, sowie die bayerisch-tschechische Region!.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  15. Annette Rochelle Aben
    Mar 02, 2018 @ 15:24:40

    Wow, I loved reading this a couple times…. Makes one wonder whose wings needed to be clipped, eh?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  16. willowdot21
    Mar 02, 2018 @ 13:07:55

    Love this one Sis it’s gorgeous 💜🌹🌹

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  17. Norah
    Mar 02, 2018 @ 11:49:19

    Thanks for adding the backstory to your story, both of which are fascinating.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  18. pameladbeverly
    Mar 02, 2018 @ 10:06:22

    Ha ha (raven selfies) although the history of the ravens in London is sad. Actually it is outrageous, in my opinion. The birds are essentially prisoners.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

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