Happiest Place on Earth

Micro fiction (100 words)

Photo by Ella de Kross on Unsplash

Author’s note: I wrote this piece for a 100-word micro fiction challenge in 2021. These challenges require you to write a piece of fiction, under 100 words, in a prescribed genre and incorporating one word provided by the challenge team. In 24 hours!

Genre: historical fiction Word: apart

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He walked toward Cinderella Castle. It loomed where gators once sunbathed and herons waded in the marsh.

He had killed them just a few years ago. Tortoises suffocated as bulldozers trampled their burrows. Eagles’ nests plummeted as the trees were cleared.

Now, crowds in bellbottoms and miniskirts cheered as the Mouse danced down the street.

Without remorse, he lifted a popcorn bag from the cart while the attendant and everyone else fixated on the Main Street parade. The animation pioneer had paid him to take apart a thriving wetland and build a concrete playground.

Progress always has a price.

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Behind the Scenes

This was the second 100-word micro fiction challenge that I entered. Historical fiction excited me. And as a native Floridian, it was fun to set the location of this one.