Title: Kronwalled
Source:  Flash Fiction Challenge
Prompt: Write a story without ice.
Word count:  99 words

Photo by Taylor Friehl on Unsplash

Ice. The old-timers spoke the word, reverently. The miracle from their childhood, they waited for it each fall. Water buckets outside the door told them when to don sweaters and hunt for a sheet of holy grail on reservoirs, playgrounds, and ponds. Skates slung over their shoulders, twigs in their hands they gathered for a barnburner and the immortal words, “He shoots. He scores.”

They spoke of gods named Chelios, Esposito, Hall, Horton, Howe, Hull, Mikita, Orr and the Great One—Gretzky. Masters from a vanished game.

Zambonis sat silent and “top shelf” was now Hennessy straight, no Gretzky.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer