Ruby’s birthday is only a week away, she is going to be 10.
Here he is, Tom, Ruby’s Dad, on his way to buy his daughter a birthday gift. Thinking of the excitement on Ruby’s face, Tom runs faster, with his horse Nally.
Life on prairie could be dangerous. Wolves, bandits and natural disasters may hit them unexpectedly. It is end of May here, the temperature is fitting, but there was a tornado two days ago near their hometown and the family is safe because they have a shelter underground, some food supplies plus bottled water are stored there.
It’s getting hard and harder to come up with a birthday gift for Ruby. She almost has everything a girl ever dreamed of: loving parents, teddy bears, Barbie dolls, a kitten, and a puppy…her Mother Sarah has been home-schooling Ruby….and now, she is getting a pony. Life could not be better.
Tom is wrong, Ruby is depressed for quite some years now, she is a girl growing up barely getting out of her home, despite times she spends outdoor playing with her puppy or kitten.
Ruby wants something, something she could hardly think of it concretely.
Here is a list of things that might help Ruby:
1): a friend of her age
2): going to public school
3): a younger sibling
4): living in a city
Can you add yours if none of the above works in your personal perspective? What do you want if you were Ruby?
Have fun!
*****
My entry for Short Story Slam Week 2:
http://bluebellbooks.blogspot.com/2011/05/short-story-slam-week-2.html
Write a poem or a story based on the image you see, you can create if you want to!
Jingle Nozelar 
Can I just say…clever! I like the photo choice this week. It is going to be fun to create a poem to go with it! I liked yours very much! Since I, too, have a 9 1/2 year old I would say that Ruby may want new books that could take her on new adventures! But my daughter, in 2011, would probably say a “date with Justin Bieber” Ha Ha!
Thanks for the fresh story, it gave me pause for thought and that is always a good thing!
I like your perspective and take on the prompt ! Very different !
I think Ruby really wants no.1 ~ a friend of her age !
the first three.
interesting way of using images.
This is terrific, Jingle. I recall, when I was ten, I wanted to be twenty. Don’t think dad can make that happen. The other thing that can be done and my mother did, was redecorate my room. Lovely surprise.
Gosh…such a different perspective…If I were Ruby I’d want a hug…
That was great. I like how you changed the person from John Wayne to some one else. Have a great week. 🙂 E
ahhhhhhh that is so creative 🙂
Very clever. A mesmerizing poem, full of love. Thank you for this poem!
Very clever use of audience involvement. 😉 I like choice 1.
I think she’s had too many things and she’s lonely. If she just had someone to talk to and share her feelings. Great ideas.
Love how you’ve created a story with reader participation!
I say, No. 1 plus…. meeting her daddy’s parents, ’cause they’ve never met — her dad and his dad had a fight before she was born, which is why they live so far from anywhere…
Interesting… adding your own images to the mix. A very clever use of the prompt.
#1. Not only a friend of her age but a caring and loving friend..tQ
Oh! I thought we ought to write a story and not a poem…
Your creation was nice and sweet Jingle. Thanks for dropping by. You are such an encouragement…
I like your take. Dads try so hard (and fail so often!) Ruby probably wants another girl to talk to most of all.
If she could have her grandpa and grandma to stay or go to visit them, she would feel a lot better, I love the way you turned this into an interactive session! so creative.
This is a good story with a strong message that needs to be heard. It comes from the wise and compassionate teacher/mom in you, Ji. Good job and thank you. Enjoy slam.
A great story with a message, and I would have to say if I were Ruby, I would want choice…..
Great job! Certainly that lifestyle would be hard a child parents sometimes don’t understand that money just doesn’t buy happiness
Ruby has all she needs, maybe a gun to shoot snakes? 🙂 Lovely entry!
Maybe Ruby just needs to be truly seen and heard instead of entertained…
I love it !
A lovely story filled with lots of messages throughout. I enjoyed it very much. It is nicely done for the challenge. The entries are so varied. Hope you’ll stop by and read my take on it. Thanks …!!!
Isadora http://insidethemindofisadora.wordpress.com/2012/08/22/a-daunting-task/