A Bark Was not Enough
Image, from"Voyage of the Paper Canoe", published in 1877, by N.H. Bishop. Public domain, from Wikimedia Commons.
The canoe was tied. She climbed in and loosened the knot, but Tabby wouldn't come. He barked as she floated off. The paddle sank, immediately. She panicked. The boat swayed, and then it tipped.
They found the canoe, and her body, next day. The dog was on shore, still watching.
Oh. This is lovely and sad. I continue to be amazed by the stories people can tell in the space of 50 words!
Thank you. Really means a lot. I thought of an incident from my childhood, when I took a canoe out on a pond. No one around. Couldn't swim. No life jacket. Made it home and never told a soul, but the tale could have had a tragic ending, like this story.
Wonderful contest. Exercise in economy.
A beautiful tale of tragedy in just fifty words.