Short Story

Punta Cana

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶

Written for The Unicorn Challenge where
we are urged to get creative in 250 words or less.
The photo below is our inspiration; this is my story.

© Ayr/Gray

Lydia stirred slightly; she must have dozed in her hammock in the shade. Languid days in Punta Cana agreed with her. After struggling through the agony of a toxic marriage, she was ready to start over. But first, a little get-away was in order. Lydia recalled her final thought before nodding off: ‘I’m never getting out of this thing’, she had sighed.

Suddenly the sound of deep growling on the other side of the fence rattled Lydia. When she realized it was the neighbor’s dog gnawing on a bone, she laughed at herself for being so skittish. She’d been terribly on edge lately. At least the dog wasn’t barking; she could live with the gnawing.

Lydia was lost in thought when again she was startled by furious snarling and scratching at the fence. She glanced over; the bamboo hedge was shaking. Now afraid, Lydia’s heart began racing. The little hairs on her arms stood straight up.

Panic set in as Lydia watched a long snout break through the barricade. A huge, salivating mouth with razor-sharp fangs became visible. In the next second a giant lupine-like beast crashed through the wood fence and headed straight for her. 

Lydia screamed and flailed frantically in the hammock but she only managed to get tangled up. There was no escape from the attacking wolf-dog. The last thing she remembered was beast’s demon teeth ripping into her tender pink flesh.

Poor Lydia was right …. she was never getting out of that thing.

NAR©2025
250 Words

This is “Howl”  by Florence & the Machine

The Unicorn Challenge-28/02/2025

All text, graphics and videos are copyright for Nancy’s Notes 🖊️🎶, The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephant’s Trunk, The Rhythm Section, et al., and are not to be used without permission. NAR©2017-present.

45 thoughts on “Punta Cana”

  4. any store (online or brick ‘n mortar) should require an affidavit declaring the age of the intended user!
    (variation on carnival ride: “You must be this young to get in one.’)
    fun story

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      1. So true! 😂 Years ago, I had to help a little neighbor off one, after he flipped upside down and was hanging on for dear life. Not exactly the Spiderman he hoped to be. 🤣 You’re so welcome! I appreciate your stories and shares. 🎶

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      1. I am sure some parts are lovely, but in Santo Domingo there were too many flies buzzing all around, because the people put their garbage out on the curb in plastic bags, instead of durable containers, so the flies always had a place to lay their eggs. I hate flies when I am trying to eat, and I had a lot of outdoor meals there.

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        1. Ew! I hate flies period!

          When we were visiting Disney years ago, we went to an attraction called Typhoon Lagoon. The kids loved the big waves but Bill and I hated the BIG horse flies that were everywhere. They were probably attracted to a combo of sweat, food and sun product smells in the breeze-less, sun-filled hot summer day. It was so bad, we grabbed the kids and took off!

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  13. ‘I’m never getting out of this thing’That would be my reaction to trying to get out of a hammock, even without the beast!  Seriously, a deliciously frightening and bloodthirsty story, Nancy.Still shivering!

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    1. Whoever invented the hammock deserves a good beating! I’ve fallen out of my share; it’s painfully humiliating, even when no one else is around to see!
      Glad you enjoyed my story, Jenne. My MC was grossly mistaken when she thought she could live with the gnawing. I just love wordplay!
      Thanks so much!

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  15. Don’t you just hate it when the neighbours can’t control their pets!

    I tried (and failed) to translate your title, felt sure cana must be dog – but not Italian, Sicilian or Spanish!

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    1. Yes, I do! But my MC’s big mistake was getting in that damn hammock in the first place!

      “Punta Cana” translates to “Tip of the White Cane” in English. The name refers to the Punta Cana resort region of the Dominican Republic and is derived from the local “cana” grass, which is a type of white reed that grows in the area. The term “punta” means “tip” or “point” in Spanish. De nada!

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