Saturday, August 21, 2010

Saturday Centus - Vacation Essay

It's Saturday Centus time once again, hosted by the lovely Jenny Matlock at Off On My Tangent. Usually, Jenny provides us with a prompt and we take it from there. A nice little story of 100 words or less. This week, she is switching it up. No prompt. Just a 100 word essay on "What I Did Over My Summer Vacation". Exactly 100 words, no more and no less, written in the first person. Well, this will test my skill. Since we did not get a vacation this year, I'll have to depend on my imagination. Good thing we are allowed to write a fictional account or I would have NOTHING this week!


What I Did Over My Summer Vacation

As the old bus creaked and groaned over the rocky road, I wondered what I had gotten myself into. The heat was unbearable, dust clinging to my wet face like a mud pack in a cut rate spa. I could hear monkeys screeching in the trees, and imagined the size of the snakes camouflaged in the foliage.
Pulling into the village, I saw hundreds of children holding their precious pets. Some needed vaccinations or simple surgery, others had more serious issues. When I saw the hopeful smiles on the children's faces, my discomfort vanished. A summer vacation to remember indeed!



Obviously, this is fiction, but it is based on a real organization that does humanitarian veterinary work all over the world. One of my pharmaceutical reps does a mission trip with them every year, and he said it is the most satisfying work he's ever done. To learn more about World Vets, click on the link. http://www.worldvets.org/
Blogger Templates
Blogger Templates

21 comments:

Annesphamily said...

I need to push my writing creativity and get involved in these stories. But lately life has happened....
I truly loved reading this brief 100 word story. The story is quite incredible and there are so many who go unnoticed that give their lives to help others. Thanks for this uplifting message on a Sunday morning. Anne

Cheryl said...

Beautifully rendered Kat. You captured a moment I'm sure many of those vets experience themselves.

Thanks for the link.

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Kat, you are incredible. You capture the scene of another place without ever mentioning it. I just knew I was in another country, deep in a jungle somewhere. I could also see those precious little childrens faces. Great story and what a wonderful mission for these giving Vets. Hope you are having a super week. Hugs, Marty

Viki said...

I loved this story about people going overseas to help even the animals. It takes special people to do this. Great Centus.

Bookie said...

Great scene with reality background...nice job.

Deborah said...

Wonderful!!

BECKY said...

Great story...I was right there with you!

Malisa said...

What a heart felt story! My favorite line was "dust clinging to my wet face like a mud pack in a cut rate spa". That made me laugh! Very nice and I enjoyed!

I just posted my contribution. Please stop by!

Malisa

Terra said...

oh, how cool is that. Makes you want to help doesn't it! Wonderful.

Unknown said...

Wonderful story. I'm there with you!
Which is a sign that you have blown life into your fiction!
Best wishes,
Anna

Anna's Saturday Centus Week-16

RockiBottom said...

so well described, hard to believe you were never there yourself

Susan Anderson said...

Great story and so authentic I thought it was true.

=)

Shellbelle said...

Not only did you give us another great story, you taught us something also. I've never heard of this organization, but I'm going over now to check them out!

xinex said...

Nicely portrayed, Kat! The snakes kinda scared me though...Christine

xinex said...

Thanks for the "good luck"....Christine

Susannah said...

I loved the line "dust clinging to my wet face like a mud pack in a cut rate spa". :-)

Nice writing!

DesignTies said...

Great story, and what wonderful inspiration behind it!!

Kelly

DesignTies said...

I didn't bring home the purple seaweed from NS, but I did pick up some purple clam shells, as well as other seashells and rocks :-)

Kelly

Kaelin said...

great imagery - felt like I was there!

JennyMac said...

Very well done! Loved the story.

Jenny said...

Kat, your fictitious summer vacation was sooooo neat!

It was way more altruistic then my imagined trip to the beach.

I've hear of this organization before. It's amazing and wonderful how some people are determined to make a difference.

Thank you for linking.

I really enjoyed your essay.