It’s time for the first Song Title Challenge of 2014

Write a short piece of fiction, around 300 words, using the song title as your story title but don’t listen to the song.  You can pick your own genre or use the one suggested to me.  Remember to link back to this post so I can find yours.

If you would like to suggest a song title for a future post, you can do so from the challenge page.  You can also leave a suggestion on the Facebook page.

This week’s song is Mustang Sally by Mack Rice and the genre is Fantasy/Sci-Fi.  The blogger who suggested it has sadly since deleted their site.

Mustang Sally

“What’s that?”

Hugo turned around at the sound of his daughter’s voice.  She stood in the door, wide eyes staring at the creature before him.

“Come in.  And shut the door.”

The program unfroze as the door to the virtua-chamber closed and the animal came back to life.

“It’s a mustang, Sally,” said Hugo.  “A young horse.”

“Oh,” said Sally, staying back.

“Come closer.  He won’t bite.”

Sally eyed him dubiously, but approached nonetheless.  He could understand her reticence.  She would never have seen one before.

“Is it from Earth?” she said.

“Yes.  It’s from Earth.  I had one when I was a boy, not much older than you.  Rub his nose.  He likes that.”

Sally reached out her hand and lightly touched the beast’s muzzle.  It leaned into her hand and she jerked back.  Hugo took her wrist and guided her strokes.  Sally smiled as the horse dropped his head and closed his eyes.

“I think he likes me, daddy.”

“I think so too.  Do you want to ride him?”

Sally took a step back.

“Ride him?  You mean like I ride a scooter?”

“More or less.”

“But where are the controls?  How do I steer?”

“You don’t.  I mean, there is a way, but for now I’ll be leading you.  You don’t have to be afraid.”

“I’m not,” she said, but when he put her on its back she sat stiff like a pole, panic evident on her face.

“Relax, hon.  I won’t let you fall.  You can hold onto the long hairs on his neck.  Just don’t pull too hard, okay?”

Hugo made a mental note to program a saddle next time as he led her around the generated paddock.

It wasn’t long before Sally was smiling and giggling and leaning forward to stroke its neck as she rode.

“That was fun, daddy,” she said as they left the virtua-chamber.  “Can we do it again tomorrow?”

“We can go riding every day if you want, hon,” said Hugo.

“Cool.”

Hugo ruffled his daughter’s hair and smiled.

Copyright © 2014 Herman Kok

Here’s the video of Wilson Pickett’s rendition of the song.  Let’s ride into the new year.

• Fiction
• Song Title Challenge