Happy summer and happy #SunWriteFun! This annual writing contest, hosted by Karen M. Greenwald is a celebration of nonfiction (and info fiction) in 200 words or less. The theme this year was “Dreams.” You can read all the details – as well as the entries – here.
Faster, Higher, Stronger
(c) 2023 by Katie McEnaney
195 words
The cage jostled. Peristerá’s wing bumped the side. Her keen pigeon magnetic sense knew that this was the furthest she had ever traveled.
But why…
Was it time? Finally? Time to speed through the skies, cruising past carts and chariots? Time to prove her worth?
Her leg tingled in anticipation. She would carry a life-changing message someday; she just knew it.
Koroibos patted the cage. “We’ve made it to Olympia! Let’s find our spot.”
The next few days were a blur. Koroibos appeared and disappeared: ceremonies, training, praying to Zeus. It was all the same to Peristerá, secure in her cage. Her wings ached to fly.
A noisy crowd approached. Koroibos appeared, his face glowing. Her moment had come!
Koroibos unlatched the door. He wrapped a small scroll around her leg and tied it on tight. “Now, my friend, fly!”
Peristerá pumped her wings. Her homing sense knew the way. She raced home to Elis, straight and true over the rugged Greek mountains.
The household rushed to the pigeon loft as they saw her approach. She had done it!
Koroibos’s mother cried as she read the scroll aloud…
“Koroibos has won the first Olympic race.”
A Bit of Back Matter
Ok, so #SunWriteFun didn’t allow for art notes (PS this is set in 776 BCE) or back matter, but especially with informational fiction, I wanted a chance to share a little about what we *do* know about this story.
Fact: The first Olympics (as defined by archaeologists and historians) took place in 776 BCE in the city-state of Olympia in ancient Greece. There was probably only one event – a foot race – and it was won by a man named Koroibos, a cook from the city-state of Elis.
Fact: The Greeks were one of several ancient civilizations that used homing pigeons to send important messages. Pigeons did report on the winner(s) of the Olympics.
Implication: Because homing pigeons only fly back to their own loft, this meant that every potential Olympian would have to have brought their own homing pigeons with them *in case* they were the winner! It was this idea (plus the theme of ‘dreams’) that made me think about all those poor homing pigeons who had to travel back from Olympia in their crates with no news to bring home.
Fact: Citius, Altius, Fortius (Faster, Higher, Stronger) is the Olympic motto of the modern Olympics and was added in 1924.
Opinion: I find it very amusing that the motto is in Latin despite the Olympics beginning in ancient Greece.
Question: What do you wonder about homing pigeons or the ancient Olympics?
This is fantastic! I love the backmatter and reading about all of the amazing historical details embedded in your story! So wel done, as usual, Katie!
I loved seeing the 1st Olympics through Peristerá’s eyes. I also learned something new today – that the 1st winner was a cook! Thanks for sharing this interesting story & good luck in the contest.
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