Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: SOUL / SOLE (03/02/23)
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TITLE: A Sole Window | Previous Challenge Entry
By Sharon Nickerson
03/09/23 -
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“Shem, have you fed the monkeys today? They are screeching quite a bit,” said Noah, watching his oldest son approach him.
“Yes, father,” answered Shem dutifully. “They have plenty of bananas right now but some smaller birds have flown into their enclosure to pick bugs off them. That's why they screech. The monkeys prefer to pick bugs off each other and eat them. It seems to soothe them.”
Noah knew Shem adored him. He prayed for his son's faith and asked God to increase it. He knew the temptations all of his sons faced as they built the ark. And now with the floodwaters all around, they could easily be discouraged. “Please ask Ham and Japheth to come and finish mucking out these stalls for me,” Noah said as he put aside the wooden rake. “I must test the waters again today. The raven I sent out did not return. I am certain it had plenty to eat with all of the rotting flesh floating on the receding waters. But I sent out a dove, too. And she came back to me, as there was no land where she could place the sole of her delicate foot. I shall send her out again today.”
Noah climbed the ladder carefully to the upper deck inside the ark. The lighter and smaller animals were up there in separated pens. He walked to the many birds roosting on long branches which were wedged between upright boards. He put out his hand to the female dove and she willingly stepped onto his fingers, turned around with her, and produced some small grape slices in his other hand which she willingly received. He walked slowly to the sole window of the ark. The dove cooed when she saw the clear open sky through the window, and happily flew out.
As Noah watched her fly, Shem approached him from behind. “Father, Japheth is working in the stalls but Ham refuses. He is taking extended naps lately,” said Shem with some chagrin. Noah had always wondered about his son Ham. He silently prayed for his son. “Never mind, Shem, I am watching the dove I just released to the outside world for a test of how much the waters have receded.”
The weatherboarding blocked some of the view, but Noah and Shem could just make out the dove off in the distance, flying over the vast waters. To their horror, they both spotted the raven, which had been resting on the bloated belly of a floating ox carcass. It leapt into the air at the passing dove. The dove picked up speed and dodged his bloody talons. Noah and Shem heaved sighs of relief as they watched the raven settle back down to his trophy of death.
As he worked caring for the creatures in the ark, Noah repeatedly went to the window throughout the day. He prayed for the little dove to return with some good news for him and his family. The sun was setting when Noah stood at the small window, watching for some sign of the bird. And there she was, landed right in front of him. She had come around from behind so he did not see her approach. Putting out his hand almost in unbelief, she dropped a freshly plucked olive leaf into his hand and flew to her mate roosting on a branch.
Noah excitedly showed the leaf to the rest of his family while loudly praising God saying, “Blessed be the Lord Almighty, who has caused the waters to recede from the earth, that life may be restored. He has been faithful to us and will be again. May He once again fill the earth with creatures and the souls of mankind. Praise the name of our God!”
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Look for more than 3 sentences in row that start with a noun.
I don't know how accurate editors expect stories to be, but I have read that the animals were likely in a hibernating state, so there was less feeding and mucking.
Good job and keep writing.