She was a good dog. When you told her to sit, she sat. When you told her to roll over, she’d roll over.
Personally, Darren didn’t think he could stand it if he was like that. You tell a person to do that and you get no respect if you do. They probably laughed at her just as they would laugh at him if he acted like that. Probably called her a little bitch after she did, just like they’d call him a poof.
Being docile and agreeable counts for nothing; it makes you nothing. You have to be aggressive, hostile to survive. There’s no other way.
—
“Good Dog” Taken from Madison Woods‘ blog.
littlewonder2 
March 16, 2012 at 10:43 pm
Interesting. This could either be some sci-fi tale of someone contemplating how he’s treated by aliens, or it could simply be a man contemplating that he’ll not be taken advantage of. I liked it!
Here’s mine:
http://jansthoughtsovercoffee.blogspot.com/2012/03/waiting-for-my-boy-fridayfictioneers.html
March 16, 2012 at 10:51 pm
Aliens. Sci-fi. What an unexpected interpretation.
March 16, 2012 at 10:54 pm
Maybe I’ve been in this group too long. 🙂
March 16, 2012 at 10:55 pm
Maybe.
This is my third week, having skipped last week’s prompt.
March 18, 2012 at 12:30 am
Jan, I love that you’re seeing aliens and otherworldly things in stories now, even those that might be of our ordinary world!!
March 16, 2012 at 10:59 pm
Sadly I think Darren’s right. But nevertheless there’s some merit in a dog that will do as you ask. The same can be said of men, I suppose …
Thanks, good read.
http://castelsarrasin.wordpress.com/2012/03/16/straight-talking-friday-fictioneers-16-march-2012/
March 17, 2012 at 12:42 am
Someone was feeling a little stepped on. I never make fun of my dog when he rolls over. Sometimes obedience is appreciated, though it is good to be assertive when you need to be. Nice.
My attempt: http://unduecreativity.wordpress.com/2012/03/15/a-little-longer/
March 17, 2012 at 12:43 am
This story is the first to go to a more aggressive place. Good job with the prompt. Outside of the box and on the money.
Aloha,
Doug
http://ironwoodwind.wordpress.com/2012/03/16/answer-to-love/
March 17, 2012 at 12:54 am
I quite enjoyed this! The funny thing is: I read your disclaimer, and then I read the drabble. And then I had to read it FOR the swearing. I didn’t even notice it because it flowed so naturally in the text. Excellent job!
My link is here: http://quillshiv.wordpress.com/2012/03/16/dichromatic/
March 17, 2012 at 9:40 am
Thank you. That makes me feel loads better.
I may as well be honest, though; poof was originally fag. Would that still have flowed well, do you think?
March 17, 2012 at 9:56 am
I think it would flow either way. It is just a matter of whether or not you want your character to be of UK or US origin.
March 17, 2012 at 10:10 am
is poof only said the UK, not the US? Because I live in Australia, and we say it here.
March 17, 2012 at 10:15 am
I’m really not sure, to be honest with you. I’ve used it. But I’m an American. Hmm…I’m not very familiar with Australian slang, so you are the expert here. I’d imagine the character would read Australian to an Australian audience, Indian to an Indian audience, British to an American audience. Language is a funny thing.
I’ll do a little research now that I’m curious.
March 17, 2012 at 10:19 am
Okay, so a quick look says that “fag” would read as an “Americanism” in the UK, so it would make your character American unless there are other context clues in that area of the country.
It really comes down to what you prefer in the end, however. /word nerd.
March 17, 2012 at 2:31 am
As Doug says, it’s quite an aggressive piece, with a fairly poignant message.
March 17, 2012 at 2:53 am
A good piece of life philosophy and a totally different take on the photo than anyone else, Feel like this character has been through a lot to evolve to this point of view.
Here’s mine: http://bridgesareforburning.wordpress.com/
March 17, 2012 at 3:21 am
It’s funny how as a society we appreciate obedience and docility in our animals, while we consider people who do that doormats. Very interesting, made me think.
Here’s mine: http://teschoenborn.com/2012/03/15/friday-fictioneers-2/
March 17, 2012 at 3:47 am
An interesting contemplation of how actions are perceived by others and, in turn, how those perceptions can affect our actions. Your writing has a dark bitterness to it here which definitely grabs attention.
http://andyfloodwritersblog.wordpress.com/2012/03/16/facsimile-forest/
March 17, 2012 at 4:23 am
What a great start to a longer story. Your narrator is a very interesting character. Want to know more!
Here’s mine: http://furiousfictions.com. I also hope you have time to read D.S. Sulaitis’ terrific story, “The Lovers,” which I posted on Tuesday.
March 17, 2012 at 4:59 am
Obedience isn’t ALWAYS a bad thing. But I’m sure that I know a few people who agree with your protagonist. Thank you for sharing this with us.
Here’s mine:
http://sarahthestoryteller.wordpress.com
March 17, 2012 at 6:10 am
Yours is one of the most interesting takes on the prompt. I do think it would have been more effective if you had stayed in the first person. It is about Darrell, not the dog, and that is what makes it unique and interesting.
Mine is at http://repuestodelatabla.wordpress.com/2012/03/16/friday-fictioneers-100-word-story-16-instinct/
There is also a story there, based on a music prompt by Quill Shiv, called Elgar Noir, that you might find interesting. Using a music prompt is a good idea, I think.
March 17, 2012 at 7:27 am
We do need to find balance between conformity and rebelliousness. Don’t we appreciate just a “tad” of “bad boy” in everyone? Well done.
Mine: http://www.vlgregory-circa1800.vpweb.com/blog.html
March 17, 2012 at 10:27 am
Wow, I feel the anger and disappointment of the narrator, and you made superb use of the second person POV. Interesting take on the prompt. 🙂
March 17, 2012 at 9:15 pm
Wow, this is an amazing glimpse into one man’s thinking process. As others have mentioned, a unique take on the prompt.
March 18, 2012 at 12:33 am
I’m not sure it’s a dog’s point of view or a man’s but either way you interpreted my dog’s attitude pretty close! She doesn’t do ‘tricks’, lol, she’s a working dog and demands respect. I imagine she really does feel disdain when she sees the dachshund roll over and beg for treats, hahahaha.
March 18, 2012 at 4:17 pm
It was the man’s point of view, but funny that she’s like that and I actually took that from the photo.
March 18, 2012 at 8:59 am
This would fit in well in a post-apocalyptic setting. And about “poof”; well, it isn’t a word I’ve heard before except as an onomatopoeia. Geographically, I’m from the northwest US, so maybe that is why I’m unfamiliar with the term. I gathered the approximate meaning on context, but it did stumble me some.
And I do love the character coming through here!
Mine: http://nicolettejinks.wordpress.com/2012/03/16/friday-fictioneers-3-16-12/
March 19, 2012 at 9:39 am
This definitely left me wanting to know more about the character, and the world he’s ended up living through. Very interesting, and a stark, original take on the picture prompt. Strong writing here. Liked this a lot.
My entry for this week is over here: http://joannakneilson.wordpress.com/2012/03/16/flash-fiction-friday-send-mitsy/
March 19, 2012 at 4:22 pm
Ah, the difference between obedience and obsequiousness; also, for that matter, between aggressiveness and assertiveness. The misinterpretation of those traits often results in inaccurate reputations. Nicely told.
Here’s mine: http://wp.me/p24aJS-3m
March 20, 2012 at 4:50 am
Not reading anyone else’s interpretation – I just immediately went for sex worker. Both of them could be trannies – or not. Being a sex worker puts you in that strange position of either having all the power or none of it.
You just need the verb “be” in the last sentence – “to be aggressive” – only a typo, but I always keep editing my stories, can’t help myself!
March 20, 2012 at 5:59 am
I’ve learned a few things today. 1st, that you are in Australia…Wow! Fabulous! And 2nd that poof means fag in Australia and UK. Nice take on the prompt. Oh, and tks for visiting me.