5. Write about a time you were tricked.
My step dad was taking us Snipe hunting. I didn’t believe in killing animals but Bob promised we wouldn’t be hurting them. He was an avid hunter so it makes sense that I wouldn’t trust him completely.
“No I mean it! It’s a family tradition!”
I had never heard of a Snipe before. Bob described it as a bird-like critter and I envisioned a cross between a quail and a penguin. The mystery behind the hunt and the possibility of maybe catching the strange animal did have an appeal to me. The whole family seemed to be looking forward to it.
“You guys ready for the Snipe hunt!?!”
“Who needs a bag?”
“I’ve got flashlights!! Anyone need a flashlight??”
The skepticism I had was fading as it got darker. You can only hunt Snipe in the dark. That’s when they come out.
“Okay we need a group of chasers and a group of catchers! If you’ve caught before then you need to chase this time…let’s go ahead and break up!”
The chasers went to one end of the field and us catchers stayed behind with our paper bags and flashlights. When you shine your flashlight through the end of the paper bag the frightened Snipes (chased by the chasers) run toward the light and BAM! You close your paper bag.
Snipe caught.
So the time came.
We tip-toed out into the wide-open field. Pitch black dark, shining stars, whispers and excitement. We were ready! Everyone got into position and then we heard it…Bob made the call to run and the chasers ran and yelled and banged sticks. I waited readily with the bag, nerves pounding, the chasers getting closer…oh my gosh what am I going to do with a BIRD!?!
The birds hit the bags, but mine tore right through the other side. The only thing I had to show for the Snipe hunt was a giant hole through the bottom of my bag. I looked around to see if anyone had gotten lucky, but all I found were a whole lot of giggling experienced campers.
No one caught a Snipe that day.
BECAUSE THERE WERE NO SNIPES TO CATCH.
We were tricked. Elaborately tricked.
Now it’s your turn!
Choose a prompt, post it on your blog, and come back to add your name to the link list below. Be sure to sign up with the actual post URL and not just your basic blog URL (click on the title of your post for that URL). For good comment karma try to comment on the three blogs above your name!!
The Prompts:
1. Tell us about a time you saved the day for someone.
2. Write about a time you called in sick to work to do…what?
3. Tell us about a memorable day at work.
4. Write a blog post inspired by the word: fine
5. Write about a time you were tricked.
John Holton says
Sounds like an odd tradition, almost like an initiation rite.