Crisp, my aged companion, was talkative after seeing the brochure for the Rustic Farm tour.

She’d been brought up on a farm and loved to tell me stories about the farm.

She had a brother Ned, who when out on the tractor one day spotted a large goanna climbing a nearby tree.

Ned took his shotgun and shot the lizard. It fell to the ground and believing he had killed it took it back to the homestead to show it off.

The young Crisp saw her brother approaching holding the goanna. As he came closer announcing he had killed a big one Crisp noticed a flicker in its eye and told him it wasn’t dead. Ned eager to prove himself right placed the goanna on the ground whereupon it came to life and scurried up under the house.

It found a spot where no one could get at it and subsequently died.

The smell lasted weeks, and Ned never again took on the role of goanna protector.

Written for: https://crimsonprose.wordpress.com/2019/06/05/crimsons-creative-challenge-30/