Hi everyone. I’m still completely swamped with moving and packing but only for a few more weeks. I feel really bad I haven’t been able to read more of the other Friday Fictioneer stories, but be patient with me, if possible. In other news, my two-year blogging anniversary just passed. In some ways, it seems way longer than that.
copyright Ted Strutz
The Procedure was Painless
Saja’s tongue ran over the foreign terrain of his now-vacant gums. He looked down at his weaponless paws.
Guards escorted him to the ship, alert for predators.
“Welcome aboard,” the captain said. “When we reach Languenpax, everything will be provided: food, mates, anything you want. Still, you’ll need to be caged for the journey.”
“Why?” Saja asked. “I’m not dangerous anymore.”
“You’re still extremely strong. We do have a weakening procedure . . .”
Saja just nodded. It would be worth it, he hoped. Nevertheless, as they led him away, he cast a last glance back at the wild savannah of his birth.
The Green-Walled Tower 
June 12th, 2014 at 1:01 am
moving can be a nightmare! good luck!
http://www.awordofsubstance.wordpress.com
June 12th, 2014 at 5:29 am
The ‘weakening procedure’ sounds worrying – I fear for Saja and his vacant gums …..
An interesting look and interesting perspective on how we humanise animals. Well told
June 12th, 2014 at 10:47 am
And Saja talks – to humans. What manner of creature is he?
June 12th, 2014 at 2:58 pm
He’s a lion in a fantasy setting, I guess.
June 12th, 2014 at 12:00 pm
Vampire? Werewolf? One scary dude? My gums hurt reading this. Nicely done.
June 12th, 2014 at 2:57 pm
You can take it as you’d like, but it’s supposed to be a lion, in a slightly fantasy setting. Apparently it wasn’t very clear. 🙂
June 12th, 2014 at 3:58 pm
If its savanna it has to be a lion ! 🙂
however the 2 things he is offered – food and mates – will he be able to enjoy them without his teeth ?
June 12th, 2014 at 4:20 pm
will hope things turn out to be great for Saja in foreign shores…
June 12th, 2014 at 4:23 pm
Oh my… well done. I wasn’t sure what to expect.
June 12th, 2014 at 8:05 pm
Thanks, Ted. I’m glad you liked it, although it seems I needed a few more words to fully explain the situation.
June 12th, 2014 at 9:16 pm
David, I hope the remainder of your moving goes well. Good story. I understood it better after your explanation. Perhaps an intro outside the story could have helped and not counted in the 100 word count. Well written. 🙂 —Susan
June 12th, 2014 at 9:31 pm
What has happened to this animal that he looks forward to an even more “weakening procedure” as opposed to the life he lives now.
June 13th, 2014 at 2:04 am
I loved this…very visual…made me look at all your FF pictures again that inspired me to go try and post NY Diary again on my front page…can’t get the image in place…even went back to your post that explained it…Am I brain dead? Now I have 4 reconfigure your image announcements on my home page I can’t delete…if you have any tips, please help…UGH
June 13th, 2014 at 2:57 am
Your stories so often leave me with images of strange worlds and this is no exception. I see a lion-like creature with no teeth, no claws but plenty of hope. A fabulous take on the prompt.
June 13th, 2014 at 5:07 am
Such a story that leaves me thinking.. whatever can be the reason to weaken a creature like this… and I guess making him able to talk made it even sadder in a way.
June 13th, 2014 at 4:03 pm
so they will first drain life out of him and then provide him with his wishes, sounds like his captors are human beings.
June 13th, 2014 at 6:41 pm
Dear David,
This sounds frighteningly similar to marriage…. Poor Saja.
Aloha,
Doug
June 13th, 2014 at 7:45 pm
Ha! What a great comment. You nailed it, Doug. 🙂
June 14th, 2014 at 7:37 pm
I’ve been married before. It was not a stretch to see it. Thanks, Russell. Aloha, D.
June 13th, 2014 at 6:42 pm
Dear David,
Happy blogaversary.
Is Saja a werewolf? Strange, but well written as always.
Shalom,
Rochelle
June 13th, 2014 at 7:48 pm
There won’t be any tearing meat off the bone for Saja. I wonder what kind of soft food they’ll have for him and if the prospective mates will be toothless as well.
June 13th, 2014 at 10:54 pm
HAAA! Hahahahahahaha!! Sorry…That’s my hometown! I’ll go back and read the story now…
June 13th, 2014 at 11:06 pm
Hmmmm…My take is colored by the fact that two blocks from this site, Homeland Security (could we get more Orwellian?) has taken over a large office space in the middle of town, installing holding cells and the whole shebang.
June 15th, 2014 at 1:33 am
Dear Doug, Really good story – I never have imagined this – but I can now! Very good! Nan 🙂
June 15th, 2014 at 12:37 pm
I feel bad for him and that he’s being violated. Original take! Good luck with all the moving. Are you still in the same city?
June 16th, 2014 at 11:02 pm
I think he is being violated, although with his permission. Why, I’m not sure but you can decide.
I’m currently in the same city I’ve been in, but we’re moving from Korea to North America. I have four days of teaching left here.
June 15th, 2014 at 10:38 pm
So sad, the trade in wild animals. Poor Saja. Madness awaits.
June 16th, 2014 at 10:59 pm
There is that aspect of it too, thinking of him as voluntarily going to a zoo or circus. Madness might very well be in store for him, or at least regret.
June 16th, 2014 at 2:38 am
David,
Your story this week is sad and poignant. It reminds me in some ways of a friend who responded to a mention of declawing cats with the comment, “Why don’t we just cut off their legs too so they can’t run around and get into mischief.” On another level, it spoke to my love of Xmen,
Best of luck with the move!
Cheers!
MG
June 16th, 2014 at 10:58 pm
Thanks, MG. Just a few days now. This week I’m still here, next week I’m on the road and the week after that I’m back in North America somewhere.
I meant this story as a metaphor for trading power for luxury or convenience. It is sad, although we don’t know in this short story, what motivations would cause him to do it.
June 16th, 2014 at 11:57 am
Loved your cat tale. I knew right away that Saja was a big cat. I like to think of him as a Bengal tiger…regal…even minus his teeth…
June 16th, 2014 at 10:56 pm
Thank you. Honestly, he could be any large cat, although I think of him as a lion, since “saja” is lion in Korean.
June 18th, 2014 at 3:07 pm
missing your stories… 😦
June 18th, 2014 at 8:38 pm
me too. 😦 But the end is in sight. We’re moving in four days.
June 19th, 2014 at 3:55 pm
happy journey, dont forget to send me your postal address when you are settled in USA 🙂