This is the last Carrot Ranch flash fiction challenge until November 1. (Then it’s NaNoWriMo, yikes!)

As I’ve mentioned, I’ve been struggling a bit with the writing and getting organized, however, that has been going on for around a year 😉 . Perhaps it has something to do with mars being in retrograde? (I’m kidding, it has everything to do with me and my own orbiting around the sun.)

So we were supposed to write about a parade of nations. Here is my effort.

Her Family of Cultures (99 words)

This job at the university laboratory was a stepping stone. She’d get her master’s and then a career. Unexpectedly, her international colleagues became part of her new family.

A Chinese woman taught her joy despite suffering.

A Polish man taught her flirtation.

An Ethiopian woman demonstrated caring through injera and wat.

An Indian confided emotional injury despite pride in culture.

A French woman showed her strength through adversity.

A Mexican taught her the value of beer, laughter, and literature.

A Yugoslav gave her saxophone and gypsy jazz.

When she thought she might finally leave, an Englishman stole her heart.

end

Sascha Darlington