I filled the dog’s water bowl with my popcorn.
She won’t drink water from anything but my popcorn bowl and I’ve grown weary of arguing in barks and growls.
The popcorn tastes of salt. I can’t be sure if it’s the spice of the bowl, the popcorn, or my tears.
Just a thought 72
Popcorn image courtesy of Max Pixel
Sharon Lynne Bonin-Pratt began her writing career the way so many others have done: by first doing everything else. Winning entries in grade school art, story, and essay contests convinced her to become a writer, but the real world intruded in adulthood and demanded she pay bills, raise kids, be a contributing member of the community. Along that rutted path she worked in the commercial art field designing patterns for surfer shorts, bikinis, and Hawaiian style shirts, taught after-school art through a city recreation program, and structured an art curriculum for three private schools. Ten years ago the writing muse, struggling to breathe in letters to friends and art articles, found its way to the surface. In a two-week period Shari wrote 60 pages of her first historical novel, and didn’t stop for three years. By then a second book demanded paper – OK, computer space – and now the third is in final revision stage. Of course, final revision is two words with a long shadow and a little footprint. Some folk claim they will write when the floors get vacuumed, the family accounting completed, the new garden planted. Shari is proof that all those things can be successfully ignored but not the urge to write. Her fiction explores human relationships, revenge, rage, forgiveness, redemption, and all the labyrinthine quandaries that mess up otherwise perfect lives. She resides in Southern California with her husband who’s learned to vacuum but not to cook. And the garden needs help.
Sharon Bonin-Pratt's Ink Flare 
Comments on: "Popcorn Bowl" (30)
How old is your dog, Sharon?
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I bought a plastic bowl so when or neighbor’s dog visits, we can slake his thirst. I chose a pink bowl because I like pink but Nuka is, like all dogs, color blind. So the bowl pleases me and only the water pleases him.
This flash is not a true story, however, but a character sketch. Just trying out the idea. Hoping if my life calms down to get a dog I’ll name Jupiter.
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Phew! I immediately leapt into problem-solving mode.
We are getting our little dog tested for Addisons. Salt cravings is one of the symptoms. 🙂 It is more likely that our dog has irritable bowel, on top of the copper storage that has already been diagnosed.
but we have to go through this stepped diagnosis process. Just when we thought, we had it sorted…. What a conversation starter your post has turned out to be. 🙂
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Oh, Tracy, I’m so sorry. What a miserable situation, that your dog has such a health problem. Since I’d never heard of Addison’s disease in dogs, I looked it up. Sounds utterly terrifying but the article said that it can be successfully treated and a dog can live a normal life. I hope this proves true for your dog. Must be scary to work through the diagnostic process, especially since she can only show you her discomfort but not talk to you.
Please tell me your dog’s name and what kind of dog she – he is. Yeah, any mention of a dog and everyone wants to talk about theirs. Wishing you a healthy outcome.
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glad to hear this is just a character sketch – at first worried that we haven’t heard from you in a while due to sadness referred to in it. in that case, I love this post ❤
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You’re perceptive, Daal. Lots of stuff going on but please don’t worry. I’m working through everything. Thursday’s post ought to make you laugh if you read it.
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Will do. I often feel like my writing (including my talking) is really me talking to myself, writing & saying the sort of stuff I’d like to hear…
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You raise an interesting idea, Daal. I’ve read elsewhere that fiction and poetry are to a degree autobiographical and you can always detect a bit of the author someplace in the story. Same, as you note, as talking.
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Even a fictional account can ring true as dogs can be quite quirky and intelligent. I read that dogs have the intelligence equivalent of that of a four-year-old child. A toddler forever!
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And just as much fun. Dogs are loyal, loving, and devoted social companions.
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Animals (including humans) can be stubborn! My rabbit decided that the corner by my father’s lounge chair was the perfect place for her litter box. We could not deter or retrain her. I can still hear him grumble about “that damn rabbit.”
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I’m giggling, Jenna. We’ve had lots of pet bunnies and they all had such great personalities. Some were stubborn. The two we had when we were kids dug an elaborate tunnel under the porch next to their bunny hutch. My dad kept shoring up the tunnels with rocks but they kept digging.
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My dogs are finicky like that Sharon. I saw that this is fiction, but it’s plausible! Fun flash story. 🙂
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Glad you liked this, Diana.
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hehe! Reminds me of my Phineas… best not to question and just enjoy the absurdity of it all! 😉 💕
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I can see Phineas giving you that look, Charlie, and moving on to make his own choices. LOL
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Yep… Philippe does the same thing actually. But since my whole goal in life is to inspire people to make their own choices, it always feels very gratifying. 😊
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I’m betting Philippe has more rights than Phineas. And your attitude is fantastic – no joke there at all.
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Thanks, Sharon! 😃💕
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A funny flash fiction story, Shari! I once tempted my aunt’s dog to follow me with salted peanuts since she didn’t want to have a bath but badly needed one after a rainy muddy day! 😄
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Dogs bring such joy to our world, don’t they? Such funny and loving creatures.
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They do! 😀
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Sorrow in this write, but I’m comforted. How encouraging. Thank you, Shari.
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I think you’ll understand going through a rough patch. Be good to yourself, dear friend.
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Such great writing!
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Thank you, I’m pleased you grasped this one.
On an entirely different note: do you beta read?
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We might be twins. I’m obsessed with popcorn and my dog’s bowl gets the overflow. ❤️
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We are as alike as we are different – and that’s the blessing, isn’t it? I’m continually awed by your brilliant writing and art. A Healthy, Happy New Year to you, E.
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❤️ Likewise Sharon. Thank you so much! A happy and healthy new year to you too!
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🙂
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