I started a personal challenge to write a story that is exactly 50 words! Thank you, Boy with a Hat. Not that he set up a formal challenge, but it was his idea. And his writing is worth checking out. So please click the link and find out what he’s up to. If you want to begin at my beginning, click here or search in the side panel with the words, “fifty day.”

So how to proceed? For the most part, I’m using my character inspiration, Dorothy Astoria’s The Name Book. Today, I have a new inspiration: an Australian musk duck who learned to mimic a caretaker and incorporated the “words” into his mating ritual.

I thank my good friend, Diane, for suggesting I set up a formal Challenge. Almost everything she writes makes me smile. (Except when she makes me cry.) Check out her blog at “On the Border.”

When Zelda visited, the door seemed to creak open in a sultry way. She uttered three words before Zeke succumbed.

Perhaps their lovemaking success motivated the captive Australian musk duck. He mimicked the creaking door followed by, “You bloody fool!”

What worked for the girl, failed miserably for the drake.

Yes, it’s true, the musk duck did learn to mimic a door opening and those three words as part of his mating ritual.

Wednesdays are super-fun and challenging because paring down to 50 words is really hard.

I never know what’s going to flow directly from my brain to my fingertips and onto the virtual page. This week I couldn’t resist imagining the thoughts of a duck.

I love finding out what you think.

Would you like to join me in for a 50-Word Wednesday Challenge? Please add your link in the comments section. I promise to pop over and read your stories. And feel free to copy this picture. Please include the caption, or add my link, into your blog, so your readers can find me.