Photo Copyright: Al Forbes
Here we all are at a virtual antique auto show. Our hostess is the gracious and talented author and artist, Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. We’re the Friday Fictioneers group. Our challenge this week and every week is to write an original story with no more than 100 words. It’s supposed to have a beginning, middle, end, and follow the picture prompt for the week. This week’s prompt was supplied by Al Forbes. Thank, Al.
To read the other stories by the group, just click on the link given below, then on the little blue frog in the blue box.
The link for this week’s stories is as follows:
https://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/2016/02/24/26-february-2016/
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Word Count: 100 Words
FAITHFUL OLD CLOPPER by P.S. Joshi
Old Clopper, or Clop for short, had been owned by the Rigleys for years. He’d grown up with the children.
His main job was pulling the family buggy, but he also helped old Blinker the plow horse.
Sometimes the children rode him bareback for fun. He had a good life.
“Yes sir,” Pa often said, “I don’t trust these newfangled automobiles. I bought a tractor but I needed that when Blinker died.”
Mr. Johnson at the next farm bought a Model T Ford, then Mr. Pitt. The next year so did Pa and old Clop was retired to the pasture.
Musings on Life & Experience 
Resistance is futile… Eventually all must give in!
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Model T was an unstoppable force 🙂 Good piece.
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I hope old Clopper had a good retirement and still could take the children bareback… and we know where it all led to.
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somehow he had to keep up with the joneses …er, the johnsons. 🙂
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Thanks, Plaridel. I think he just realized since the horse was getting old he’d be better off with a Model T. They were priced well within the ordinary man’s price range at the time. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Dear Suzanne,
I felt the same way about going from VHS to DVD’s. Old Clopper might have enjoyed the pasture. ) Nice use of voice.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I bet you’re still holding onto those vinyl records too.
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Of course. They make great frisbees and serving platters.
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Thanks, Rochelle. Sometimes it seems we just get used to one new advance and another one comes along. What horse wouldn’t enjoy being in a nice pasture and still being cared for? Yes, he was happy. I’m so pleased you liked the voice in that story. 🙂 — Suzanne
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I hope Clop enjoyed retirement – it sounds like he deserved it after all that work!
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Thanks, Ali. I’m sure Clop enjoyed retirement. He had a large pasture and no more work. Yet, he was still cared for–the family pet. 🙂 — Suzanne
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At least Clop could convert hay into fertilizer. Let’s see a car do that!
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Thanks, Russell. Your right. I’m told horse manure makes great fertilizer also. No car that I know of can do it. 🙂 — Suzanne
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What a lovely story, Suzanne. Changes can’t be prevented, but old Clop, and with him the old ways, was allowed to retire comfortably and in style. What more can we ask for?
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Thanks, Gah. I’m so glad you liked the story. Yes, change will come no matter what. I’m sure most of us would like to retire some day and live comfortably, and in style. A horse certainly couldn’t ask for more. 😀 — Suzanne
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I would still choose a horse over a car! 😀 But the I cant drive legally and horse is less dangerous if I have a seizure. 🙂 Progress drags us all behind it though.
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Thanks, Penshift. Many people love to ride. I never learned, but my parents taught it. They’d stopped riding by the time I came along. I used to drive but won’t do it in India. Traffic is crazy here. Yes, we have to progress to survive these days. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Model T was the downfall of many others besides Clop. Great read.
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Thanks, Yarnspinnerr. You’re right. The Model T brought the first unwelcome traffic problems as well as good changes. I’m so pleased you liked the story. 🙂 — Suzanne
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A lovely story. Old Clop is a great name for a horse. Well done.
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I wouldn’t be able to resist one of those new fangled cars either 🙂 Clopper was happy too, I’m sure!
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Thanks, Diana. I think my dad bought a Model A that came along a bit later. I found a car to be a necessity. I’m sure Clopper found retirement to be happy. 🙂 — Suzanne
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LOL … I was thinking the same thing that Sandra wrote – “Clop has a grat name”.
Modern times are can be frightening. Thinsg are changing very quickly now-a-days.
I wonder if Pa would have been able to keep up. I know I baely can.
Great story, Suzanne. I liked old Clop a lot. I’m glad he was able to retire.
Isadora 😎
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Thanks, Isadora. I’m so glad you liked Clop, his name, and the story. I’m sure Pa saw it was better to invest in a car, especially since Clop was getting old. I think it’s hard for many of us to keep up in today’s world. I’m sure Clop enjoyed his retirement. 🙂 — Suzanne
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As we all should, as well. 😍
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You can resist progress only for so long and then …
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Thanks, Liz. Yes, we finally have to give in to progress or fall too far behind. 🙂 — Suzanne
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I love the name Old Clop, too. I guess we have no choice but to roll with the changes that time brings. Of course, we can always be nostalgic about the past. Great story, Suzanne.
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Thanks, Amy. I’m so pleased you liked Clop’s name and the story. Yes, we have to do our best to keep up with changes. Let’s hope most of our memories are happy ones. 🙂 — Suzanne
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I wonder if we should feel bad for Old Clopper or not. He lost his job but he also gets a chance to rest. I think it’s probably better in the end.
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Well told! My grandfather would tell the same story.
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