Member-only story

This Cycling Craze … It’s Dangerous!

RWDrabble 2.0.016:Banjo

Maria Rattray
Fiction Shorts
2 min readJan 16, 2025

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Australian Outback Photo by David Clode on Unsplash

The story is based on the outback image provided.

The drabble’s inspiration is the poem: Mulga Bill’s Bicycle by Australian bard Banjo Paterson.

“This penny-farthing craze is catching,” Banjo muttered. “Yet Australians are horse riders—cycling’s for … Brits.

He watched as horseman Mulga Bill strode into the local shop to buy a bike.

“Can you ride this beast?” the shop assistant asked.

“Me? Ride this? Watch me. “I’ll ride this here two-wheeled concern right straight away at sight.”

Banjo and the assistant winked. Dressed in cycling clothes, Mulga looked the part, but only time would tell.

They watched as he turned the cycle down the hill, leaving the track and heading straight for Dead-Man’s Creek.

“Another poem!” whispered Banjo.

Mulga Bill’s Bicycle was my daughter’s firm favourite book.

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Fiction Shorts
Fiction Shorts

Published in Fiction Shorts

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Maria Rattray
Maria Rattray

Written by Maria Rattray

Writer, author, teacher, fun-loving poet. Trying valiantly to make the world a better place. Helping you to guide the future. Find me at: https://ponmyword.com

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