Maisie smacked her head against the window as the car rocked down the main street.
‘Thought they just fixed these potholes? Didn’t do a very good job.’
‘Maisie.’
‘Every year this road gets worse.’
‘Maisie.’
‘Cracks turn to massive holes in the road.’
‘Maisie. Stop and look.’
‘We end up with tyres blown out.’
‘Maisie, what am I pointing at?’
‘And then the suspension will go.’
‘For the love of God, Maisie, look at the road.’
‘There’s no need for that tone. Why have you stopped?’
‘Because of the rhinoceros.’
‘Because of the what?’ Maisie turned her head from Harry to the windscreen.
‘I think it’s going to charge.’ Harry put the car into reverse and started a creeping retreat.
The rhino lowered it’s head, took two steps and then picked up speed.
‘Floor it!’ screamed Maisie.
Harry did, spinning down a side street as the rhino hurtled passed.
‘Lucky escape,’ Maisie sighed.
Thud. The car lurched and tilted. They heard the rubber tyre flapping.
‘Think we hit a pothole,’ Harry said.

Written as part of Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers. The challenge is to write a flash fiction story in aroundย 150 โ 175 words, based on the weekly photo prompt. Thanks as always to the challenge host Priceless Joy. For more information visitย HERE.
To read other stories based on this weekโs prompt, visitย HERE.
36 responses to “IN THE ROAD”
Threw me for a turn with the entrance of the rhino. Funny story!
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Thanks, a bit of surreal fun this week ๐
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LOL! Seems the pothole was the least of their worries. Hahaha! Glad they got away even if they did get a flat tire. Cute story, Iain! I like how you used the prompt photo!
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Thank you PJ, a bit of fun this week ๐
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Yes, you did! LOL!
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Potholes are nasty, but next time I complain to my local council, I am going to tell them about the rhinoceros .
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Might as well try it and see if it makes them come round and fix them for a change!
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Battling first[pot holes and now rhinos as well. Good story.
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Thanks Neel, a light-hearted piece this time.
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That was a narrow escape
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Not from the pesky pothole ๐
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This was a clever and funny take Iain. “Dodge the Pothole” couldn’t compete with Grand Theft Auto as a console game, but if you add a rhinoceros …
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Adding a rhino to any story is always a good thing ๐
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That must be true – it’s there in black and white!
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Should have gone for a bakkie. A car won’t cut it in rhino country.
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And it is the rhino’s country too.
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What a nightmare of a ride it must have been!
Wonderful story ( as always)
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Thanks Moon, just a bit of fun with this one ๐
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Lovely characterisation. I imagine Harry doesn’t often get his words said or heard.
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No, he spends a lot of time being ignored ๐
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What an escape! But still stuck, I guess. Funny story, Iain.
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Thank you Norma, something a bit lighter
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Better a pothole than a rhino.
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In most cases, yep.
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Hoo! ๐
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Indeed ๐
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I’m thinking the local government ought to worry about the rhinos first. There’s more than a flat tire at stake there. I love the way you built up the arrival of the rhino. You’ve still got me smiling.
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I appreciate a smile ๐ I bet the council still gets more complaints about the pot holes than the rhinos though.
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Ha ha ha ha, the poor guys just can’t catch a break!
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Stumbling from one pot hole to the next ๐
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I’ve dodged many a deer and hit far too many potholes but nothing quite like this! Nice one Iain.
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Thankfully not too many rhinos on the roads round here! Thanks Keith.
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I hope they don’t run into any more rhinos, they might not manage to get away with their tyre in tatters! A wonderfully bizarre story, Iain. ๐
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Thank you ๐
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Well, THAT was unexpected. Those pesky rhinos. Maybe I need one to gaurd my neighborhood road, cause the potholes don’t stop people from coming by too fast.
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Haha, a great form of traffic control ๐
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