During 2018’s A-Z Challenge, we wrote the first draft of “The November Deadline” and to celebrate that this is now (finally) out with beta readers, we’ll be producing a daily piece of micro-fiction linked to it – some prequel, some containing a detail not included in the story, some snippets from sequels currently being written.
Isaac hacked along the path, skirting the coppice-willows, and came down to the small lake in the centre of Jack’s estate. He dumped his pack, took off his boots, and stripped down to his trunks, before running into the chilly water. He started off with a fast crawl, slicing through the water and leaving a delta-wake spreading out behind him. Near the opposite shore he tumble turned and returned using a back stroke. Back and forth once more, breast-stroke both ways, and he was done with his swim. He whipped a rough towel out of the pack, dried off and dressed, and was back running again in a matter of minutes.
“Best be keeping ready” he thought to himself. “I ‘spect summat’ll be along dreckly.”
© 2021, David Jesson & Debra Carey
Fiction Can Be Fun 
Sounds delicious! Swimming weather is coming again soon, and this passage made me especially excited about that. Though I am personally a wuss about “chilly water,” and take about ten minutes to get in.
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I keep on hearing about the mental health benefits of open water swimming but… This little bit of story takes place at a time when only the most hardcore would be outside swimming. Luckily, Isaac is used to arctic operations!
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Issac knows something is coming, not just suspects it. I hope he will be ready.
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Isaac gives the impression of being quite simple, but I think he could give an Eastern sage a run for their money. He’ll be ready for anything by not being ready, if you see what I mean. Maybe that’s too zen?
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I get the feeling that Isaac is one of those who’s ever ready 😉
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