Friday, December 05, 2008
The Tradition
No one knew when the tradition had started. It seemed to most that it had just always been. When her name was drawn that year she felt as if she had been punched in the stomach. This was her last year in the drawing and she was certain it was not going to happen to her. Each of the last three years she had prepared herself for her name to be called, but this year she was not ready. Not ready to hear her name called by Thomas the newly appointed record keeper and her best friend. He smiled sadly at her because he alone knew she was not ready for this. He alone knew she had not prepared for it. She had destroyed all of the previous years' carefully prepared plans. She had been a fool. With dread she walked up the stairs to the stage, held her hands up and thanked the kingdom for this privilege, the privilege to live in the castle, wear silks and satins, to eat enormous amounts of food and pretty much do anything she wanted for an entire year as the Queen. She felt sick to her stomach.
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7 comments:
Hmmm... what's wrong with being queen for a year?
A huge responsibility--being queen. I wonder, did she sign up to have her name in the hat?
Very teasing. Sets a scene and begs so many questions I want to read more.
Hmm. One wonders if it isn't like the Aztec tradition--their king for a year was sacrificed at the end.
i had thoughts along the same lines, why was it dreaded? and if this was her last year, what happens afterwards....great anticipation!
Love the twist on The Lottery.
Ditto. Nice twist on "The Lottery," with nearly the same anonymousness of the drawing and a building sense of dread. I wasn't expecting queen-for-a-year but feel for your heroine!
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