Sunlight flickered through the leaves of the maple tree creating moving patterns on the sidewalk. The swish of leaves seemed like ancient melodic music filtering down from above. While looking up at its canopy, she heard the warning call of a robin protecting its nest. She continued her work with urgency.
As she struggled with her heavy load, a vibration rippled through her. A thunderous deafening sound exploded overhead. It was too late.
“Die suckers die!” After Jimmy stomped on the hill, hundreds of ants poured out to defend their home and clan.
~~~
I wrote about my battle with these creatures on Monday and thought I would take a walk in their 6 shoes.
Do you ever feel guilty when killing pests?
~~~
Check out this mash up of epic battle scenes!
Photo by Susie Lindau
Susie Lindau's Wild Ride 
I only like ants in the garden. In the house, they’re fair game for death! 😀 I liked the perspective in your piece, though. 🙂
Here’s mine:
http://siobhanmuir.blogspot.com/2012/04/another-200-words-for-fridayfictioneers.html
Siobhan
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Fair game! I like that. “I’ll give you a running start. Go!” Hahaha! Thanks for reading!
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Ooh, cool story, Susie. I do feel bad about killing anything. I have a severe fear of spiders so I will trap them in a cup, hyperventilate, then make my husband take them outside (of course they end up coming back in, usually with their friends…)
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I can just see you! My sister is like that and flew off a chair once when a spider jumped out from the wall at her! I am the opposite. Not very lady-like I know!
Thanks Darla for stopping by and have a fabulous weekend~ 🙂
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The ants go marching two by two. Hurrah! Hurrah!
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I almost looked for a remix of that song Nelle! Hahaha!
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Nah, never feel bad about knocking off a few varmints!
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I’ll get out my shot gun next time. I don’t even have a cap gun! Hahaha!
Enjoy the weekend John!
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.410, .20 or 12… no worries!
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Good one, Susie! I have felt guilty squashing bugs, so I try to gently shovel them outside. Oh, except cockroaches. Never felt much guilt over those!
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Hi,
Loved the story and the twist at the end. 😀
Anything inside the house is a goner outside is a different story. 🙂
We have a lot of deadly little creatures here in OZ and I just won’t take the chance especially with the dog being inside as well. 🙂
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I love how you took that real life dilemma and made it sing. Nicely done, Colorado.
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I LOVE my nickname!
Thanks Cayman. I never really know where I am going with these until the last couple of lines!
I enjoyed your flash too!
Throw your link on my blog in the comments since it is Fiction Friday!
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Thanks Susie…I mean Colorado.
http://drinkswellwithothers.wordpress.com/2012/04/27/shadow-falls-the-rain-come-silent-pt-4/
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Love the moment of realization of who the protaganist is.
Good one!
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Thanks El Guapo! You know me – always the twisted blogger on Fridays!
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I’m also in Colorado (CO Springs) and currently weathering the moth storm. I’ll hold out as long as I can, with your story as my inspiration!
Thanks for an awesome piece.
Here’s mine: http://the-drabbler.com/trespass/
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Hey fellow Coloradan!! I have been vacuuming up moths by the dozens. They are insanely early.
Thanks so much for your kind words Robert!
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Love it. Great picture to help sell the ant pov as well!
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Thanks Derek! I have this little Nikon Coolpix camera that is a workhorse for me!
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You managed to make me feel sorry for the ants, Susie. No mean achievement. Well done.
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Thanks Sandra! I thought it was only fair since I wrote about my battle with them earlier in the week!
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yes, I do feel guilty. but today a red wasp stung me and I might have killed it if my thoughts hadn’t been redirected toward my injury. it was hidden when i went back to seek revenge. usually though I try not to kill things if i can help it.
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Stinkin’ thing! I hate wasps! One time my dad was taking out a window air conditioner and removed a hornets nest with it! I have never heard my dad swear like that!
Thanks for reading Madison!
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I didn’t feel sorry for them until I read this story! 😦
That said, I thought the writing was brillant! The problem is you’ve ruined me for ants now. Don’t think I’ll ever be able to kill one again. The Pixar movie didn’t even do that for me! 🙂
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Wow! That is awesome! You should read my post from Monday. How I Became a Mass Murderer. It will get you killing ants again!
Thanks John!
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This photo is one of the best I have seen this week (and I read tons of photo blogs) Ants need a good war!
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Wow! Thanks Michael! That means a lot to me coming from you!
See you soon! 🙂
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indeed, we are leaving now just to get into town…that photo really is awesome
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Of “buggy things”–I find ants the least offensive. Prefer them outside than in, though. As long as they’re outside, they’re safe from me. Enjoyed your story from their perspective. Good job!
Mine: http://www.vlgregory-circa1800.vpweb.com/blog.html
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Thanks VL! I am glad you enjoyed it. I feel the same way about them except if they are the huge biting red ants! Ouch!
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Who really wants ants crawling through their kitchen? *shudder* but if they’re outside, doing what ants do, I don’t mind them and this boy just appears unnecessarily cruel! Effective use of the ant’s POV though. A great build up and a violent change in perspective in the final section which worked very effectively.
My entry for the prompt is over here: http://joannakneilson.wordpress.com/2012/04/27/flash-fiction-friday-wire-pilgrimage/
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Thanks Joanna! I had recently found them in my kitchen where war was declared. I wrote a funny post about it earlier in the week. I continued the theme on Friday.
I will be over to check it out!
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Beautifully written, Susie.
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Thanks Hook!
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Ms. Lindau,
I was injured severly a year ago and have been sitting around doing nothing but trying to walk correctly again. In a moment of inspiration, I wrote a story so I am a newbee if you will. I have been reading various blogs on the big WP and find your writing interesting, colorful and wonderful. You have a wonderful gift and I can only hope you keep writing for the next 50 years. Thank You for the ride,
Wayne Baker
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Wow Wayne thank you so much!
I am so sorry to hear about your injury. We never know what life has in store for us. I am glad that you have begun to write. You will find that WP is an amazing community full of wonderful people from all over the world!
I host a Use Me and Abuse Me party for my friends once a month where you can drop a link into my comment section. I hope you will come back on July 11th and join in the fun! It is a great way for bloggers to meet new writers and maybe get a few new followers!
Enjoy your Sunday and thanks again!
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I do have a question Ms. Lindau,
You have a “copyright” Statement in the left hand colum of your blog. Is that for real or is it there as a joke (I am not kidding) ? And, If it is real, how does one go about placing a copyright on their written and printed material? I am very curious as well as slightly paranoid because I have some one of a kind pics I would like to caption and post and I was told to be careful with them. Posting them freely means anyone can use them and I was also told that I may very well be able to realize some money from them. I am literally in “kindregarten mode” out in the blogosphere and would appreciate any info I can get so as to make my learning and mistake curve as easy as possible to negotiate. Thank You Very Much Ms. Lindau,
Wayne Baker
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Hi Wayne! Once our material is “blogged” it really is protected by the time date stamp and we can prove that it is ours.
I know what you mean about being ripped off. I would look into putting a “signature” on your photos. You can use a program like photoshop to type in your blog url or name on the bottom corner of your photo. That really would turn off would be “thieves.”
I am not as worried about my stories being stolen. Even without the copyright mumbo jumbo on my site, I can prove I own it.
If you are really worried, I was told that you can compile everything you have blogged and send it to yourself snail mail and keep it sealed. Then you have the postage date on the envelope to bring to court as proof. I don’t think you have to go that far.
I hope that helps! Welcome to the blogosphere!
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Ms. Lindau,
I know that time is important and I appreciate the time that you have given me. That was first class information and I will use it like I have a copyright on it, (joke). Thank You Very Much,
Wayne Baker
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If you have any more questions let me know!
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