Breakfast in the Jungle

Breakfast in the Jungle.
by Stephen A Abell.

Number of Words: 299


The eagle owl watched the snake from its vantage point in the temple tree. His eyes followed the blood python’s twisting and turning path through the jungles thick foliage; never once, leaving its prey. So intent was the owl that he failed to notice the human sitting on the steps of a ramshackle abode.

Slowly, the man put down his wooden bowl and spoon. All the while, taking great care to make no sound or cause a disturbance. He had been hoping and wishing for this moment to arrive for the past week. Now he couldn’t believe his luck. There was a lot riding on the outcome of the next few minutes. The rifle sat on the other side of the door, to his right. As he exhaled and inhaled long and slow breathes, he gradually began his hands arduous journey towards the weapon.

The python had passed out of the banana tree’s shade and the man could now see the owls prey for the first time and he smiled. If he was careful and quiet, he could bag his dinner as well as his prize. His fingers brushed the inside of the door jamb as he spotted the owl tense. The bird was about to attack. Timing was everything.

With a beat of wings the owl was airborne. Suddenly it twisted in midair and plummeted ground-ward. The man seized the rifle and brought it to his shoulder. Pulling up, the owls talons grabbed the viper. Hunter and prey were heading into the jungle just as the man squeezed the trigger...

The tranquiliser dart skimmed past the owl with a millimeter to spare.

As the bird and snake disappeared from sight, the man laid down the gun and took up his wooden bowl to finish off his breakfast.



For the contest "Daily Flash Fiction Challenge"  based on the prompt “Include Owl, Banana, & Spoon in your story.”