Slice of Life - Teachers Write!

    I love participating in Slice of Life, started by Two Writing Teachers and writing a story, reflection, or musing at least once a week.




     It is also time for Teachers Write! founded by Kate Messner.  Nora Raleigh Baskin hosted our Quick Write Tuesday today.  You can read her prompt and post here. This was my writing for today:

     I stood as still as I could. Sweat plastered down my fuzzy blonde curls to my neck. I cradled my Pekin duck in the crook of my arm just right – just how I learned, with my fingers threading through her legs, webbed feet dangling contentedly. She was making that crooning quacking noise. Not the full out quack of distress or happiness. Just little sweet noises, her beak barely open. She was cooperating. The judge made one more pass down the line, looking us each over. The taller boy just to my left, his Adam’s apple sticking out prominently from his skinny neck, jeans and boots dusty. A girl about my height to my right, her ponytail looking perfect and her smile radiant. She was holding a Rhode Island Red, and it was looking majestic. I sighed. Would she win? The boy to my left was having a little trouble. His rooster was getting a little restless, so he was shifting his arms, subtly, but unfortunately for him, noticeably. My hands were starting to tremble. It was taking this judge a long time to make a decision on Champion Showmanship. The trophy with the chicken on top was something I coveted for a long time. For this particular show, we had to demonstrate that we could hold any type of poultry effectively, without feathers flying and loud protesting from the chicken, duck, or goose. I had done the best I ever had before. I got this! I had years of experience, and I was tired of coming in 2nd or 3rd and just getting a ribbon. I wanted that trophy! The judge stepped back, took one last look up and down the line, and nodded to the announcer. She came up with the gleaming gold trophy, and he wrote down his choices and handed them to her. I was in a full out sweat now. Surely, at 12 years old, I deserved this. I worked hard. But…that girl and her perfect poultry beside me….

 

”Congratulations! The Champion Showmanship trophy goes to…” 

 

     I think this is my third year of participating in Teachers Write! and highly recommend it.  The writing exercises, community feedback and encouragement, and the practice you get outweighs the trepidation you may feel at making your writing public.  Consider jumping in if you haven't already!