“Meet me at noon outside Bloomingdales,” he said.
Perhaps, I’m the only person on Earth, who’s never heard of Bloomingdales. Being an outback Australian research scientist, I thought it was a park…not a shopping Mecca dedicated to greed and excess. Why would he want to meet ME there? Me… “Professor Cow Dung”? I was in New York to present a research paper, NOT to go shopping. We might’ve had a spark, but there’s no way I’m swapping my gorgeously shitty gumboots for a pair of sexy glass slippers for any Prince Charming. I’m no one’s Cinderella.
“Taxi!”
This has been a contribution to Friday Fictioneers hosted by Rochelle Wishoff-Fields
When I first saw this week’s prompt, my immediate response was to think about the glitz and glamour, and then did a U-turn. Have any of you seen the Australian movie: Crocodile Dundee, starring Paul Hogan? That came to mind as well and I liked that resolute Australian character who knows who they are and refuses to conform or sell out. Even knee-deep in cow dung, they’re content.
Hope you’re having a great week. We’ve welcomed two Border Collie x Kelpie pups into our family and we’re currently fostering two kelpie pups…Dobbie and Yoda. They’re all asleep at the moment, but our lounge room and backyard are scenes of carnage. They’re chewing everything in sight, including each other but are so cute and so fun. We love them to bits.
xx Rowena
Beyond the Flow 
I like that woman’s strength of mind! Great story.
Ah bless the pups! Nylabones my friend, nylabones.
Like the prompt response too.
Dear Rowena,
The puppy pictures melt my heart. And I was quite the Paul Hogan fan back in the day. Good for her not being anyone’s Cinderella.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Congratulations on the new “babies.”
Squee…puppies! They are so adorable and I suspect are keeping the whole family on its toes. 😍
Way to go girl 💜💜
She has individuality and spunk. Your super cute pups caught my attention before the story did, especially the two in the bottom row. I have been a mother to a dog, and three kittens.
Surely she can have a bit of both? Nice take.
Go on. After all, he’s a very Charming Prince!
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They are so cute Rowena, have a nice time with them.
Smart woman. Great story.
Defin itely “on our toes” and with our eyes wide open. Trying to keep them outside after meals to reduce the puddles and piles.
Thank you. I’m not sure who inspired this story but there’s a very strong character behind it somewhere. I’d like to meet her.
Speaking of handsome princes, Hugh Jackman was our local heartthrob. I went to an all girls school and he was at our brother school. A friend of mine who was much higher up the food chain than myself, once spotted him at the station and rapidly caught his train in pursuit. Having Hugh Jackman as the Prince would defintiely enhance the plot. I can see a movie in the works.
Now she’ll never know if there really was a “spark” between them. I would of thought that the curiosity would of encouraged her to go. Glass slippers beat shitty boots every day of the week! By the way, the doggies are adorable! Congratulations!
Good ocker aussie that one. She should have at least checked it out before calling a taxi. You never know – he may have been going to buy her new gumboots. I have to admit that I couldn’t read the name on the store. Are you fostering the dogs or taken them on permanently. We have two and the thought of four active puppies is mind boggling although you have two children that would love helping out with them.
I hope she is not wrong in her assumption and hope she doesn’t miss out on something great just because she was a little resolute
A very lovely story and a great character.
Good for her! And good for you, fostering that handful! Lovely pups.
Good luck with that!
Strong minded or panic-stricken? You’ve created a fun character, Rowena, and I like your story. The last word – Taxi! – is very satisfying!
Thanks, Penny. I thin k she knows where she fits in and feels comfortable. Not one to venture beyond that. She could be slightly aspie as well. What do you think? I love tweaking out these characters. xx Rowena
Thanks, Sandra. The pups are a joy and I’m just grateful we haven’t renovated or knocked down the house yet!
I hadn’t thought of that, Moon and you make a great point. Adding a friend to the story could lengthen it and turn it into a solid short story. The friend could be more flexible and encourage her out of her limitations. Thanks. xx Rowena
Thank you for that extra glimpse of her character, Rowena. Yes, being aspie might explain why she defends her image as Professor Cow-Dung so fiercely, as it is the persona she has constructed to be able to relate to the world. Nice that you like tweaking the characters; I’m just the same. xx Penny
Hi Irene. We are keeping the two older pups and fostering the two younger ones. We each take part in the caring process and I also get domestic assistance which is helping. I’m washing the floor multiple times a day! With our two pups, we found they occupy each other quite a lot and they run around the garden. They still need a final vaccination before they’re allowed out. They are mixing somewhat with Lady and Zac in particular saw her as Mum and persevered with her. Lady rarely has anything to do with the micropups and Zac has become something of the fun-loving uncle and they run all over him etc. The kids are helping with feeding, playing,poop duties along with my husband.
Despite having 5 dogs here, I still don’t think they’re as much work as a new baby! My cousin’s about to have her first so I am mindful of that.
First – puppies, I love puppies. I’m so jealous. Now your story. You created a really interesting character with your descriptions. I can’t help thinking that she may be missing out on something.
Your character sounds like one determined lady, perhaps to determined?. Love the pups.
Thanks very much, Nan. We are loving the doggies.
Personally, I could use a faiy Godmother to wave her magic wand and cast me into a fairytale, even if I am already married to my handsome prince.
Thanks very much, Gaia. Will do.
Iain, a great point. I think this character could be well suited to a longer piece where she’s challenged to beak out of her comfort zone and embrace new challenges. Perhaps, she needs to go on something like The Batchelor.
Reena, a true animal lover at heart. We originally had our Border Collie, Bilbo and sensing he wasn’t going so well, got Lady who was a 2 year old Border Collie x Cavalier who is more cav like in nature. Bilbo died a few months ago and a friend of ours is doing dog rescues and also adopted a Guide dog puppy. She told me about two Border Collie x pups coming into care and we thought we’d adopted one and foster the other. Both dogs are so close and we loved both and so they’re staying. I’ve joked that it’s taken two dogs to fill Bilbo’s paws, just like when that indispensable person at work, gets replaced by two people. I see so much of Bilbo in Zac though and he makes a great lapdog and he’s also the one who plays most with the pups.
Thanks, James. I swear even 4 pups are less work than one newborn human.
We get additions, not replacements. Their love is so unique.
That’s very well put, Reena. I love and appreciate that! Best wishes, Rowena
Thanks for yourinsights, Michael. I’m thinking she’s a bit of a black and white thinker who fails to see the kaleiscope
of all she could become while still being herself…if that makes any sense. It’s been very helpful to receive people insights into her character and it’s helped me take her further. Thinking of pulling a longer story out of this. Best wishes, Rowena
Yes, I hadn’t considered that when I first wrote it, but reading the responses is really helping take the story further.
The puppies are fantastic and so much fun. Have never considered fostering before and it’s provided us with such a fantastic opportunity to spend time with puppies, especially having the 4 week old pups. I’ve never seen a pup so young before. They were smaller than an adult guinea pig and had to be bottle fed for a week. I have some health issues so am at home a lot so it’s been something I could do from home in addition to my writing and research. It’s been wonderful. Best wishes, Rowena
Bravo to her, Rowena! It would be so easy to allow one’s self to be swept away by something different. She knows who she is.,
Goodness, she knows her own mind, doesn’t she? Love the puppies.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
I only had one pup and my life was totally disrupted. Sounds like a happy busy, probably chaotic household.
What a sweet set of pups… good luck with them..
I think prince Charming might have a surprise for her… like a trip to Alaska (otherwise he’s not worth it)
Thanks very much, Bjorn. The pups are great and this pup rescue business allows me to be something of a puppy floozie. JUst when they start to grow up, they move on and it’s in with the new. Mind you, we’re having a break after these pups. We need a break from all the puddles and piles, as much as we love the little cuties.