Myshuno! 2014 Prompt: Ice skating competition (153 words)

[esmeiolanthe]

The prompt for this story was "Ice skating competition," submitted by biglenny. This story fits into Chapter 42 of Already in Progress.

Rating: G

Dramatis Personae
Cecil Shankel, aged about nine
Josephine Shankel, his twin sister, and naturally also aged about nine

Setting
The ice skating rink in town. Cecil is stumbling his way along the middle of the ice, while Josephine is working her way along the edge of the rink, hanging on the edge.

CECIL: Let's race!
JOSEPHINE: No.
CECIL: Come on, it'll be fun!
JOSEPHINE: No.
CECIL: What -- afraid you'll lose?
JOSEPHINE (stung): I won't lose! I'm as fast as you! Faster!
CECIL: Are not!
JOSEPHINE: Am too!
CECIL: Are not!
JOSEPHINE: Am too! And anyway, you'll fall down.
CECIL (cheerfully): I know I will. I'm the best faller-downer this side of Sim City.
JOSEPHINE: You are not! I can fall down lots better than you!
CECIL: Can not.
JOSEPHINE: Can too!
CECIL: Can not. I have bruises.
JOSEPHINE: I can get bruises too. Bigger ones! And more of them!
CECIL: You can not.
JOSEPHINE: I can too.
CECIL: Prove it!
JOSEPHINE: You're on! Count of three?
CECIL: (nods) One. Two. Three!



Note: The title and the inspiration for this story came from the song "Anything You Can Do" from the musical Annie Get Your Gun. Although the song is awesome, I can't really recommend the show, which plays up a rivalry and unwilling romance between real-life American sharpshooters Annie Oakley and Frank Butler. (In actually, Frank Butler knew a good thing when he saw it, and not only started working to convince Annie Oakley to marry him pretty well as soon as they met, but he also retired from sharpshooting to become her manager/assistant in the act. They had a long and happy marriage with no competitiveness at all.) But you should totally check the song out anyway.

Comments

[katrisims.livejournal.com]

Aww, this was cute. :) There's a competition I'd be pretty strong at, too! :D

[esmeiolanthe.livejournal.com]

I bet I'd be stronger at it than you! :P (Seriously, though, I get horrible bruises from rental skates because they are so narrow and my feet are so wide.)

Glad you enjoyed the short -- thanks for reading! :D

[celebkiriedhel.livejournal.com]

LOL. That's funny! Glad that they can find extraordinary skills in whatever they do! :D

[esmeiolanthe.livejournal.com]

You can find the extraordinary everywhere, if you look the right way. ;)

Glad you enjoyed the story -- thanks for reading and commenting! :D