Once upon a time, Mama, Papa and Baby, although he wasn’t really a Baby but a strapping young boy, set out to the forest for a picnic under an unusually giant pine. They built a fire, roasted hot dogs and ate them slathered with ketchup. As the day wore on, they fell asleep down by a river that ran close by.

Awakened by the crackling and popping of dried leaves and brush, the forest was ablaze. They had forgotten to douse their campfire. They ran and ran and ran with the other forest animals – bears, deer, rabbits, mice, and all. Fire crews responded post haste and were able to contain the blaze before it got too far out of control.

When the family returned sometime later, all around was waste except the unusually giant pine. Why was it spared? Well, you see, it wasn’t a tree at all but a cell phone tower disguised as an unusually giant pine.

WHAT IS A COWSINE STORY SPINE?

The Cowsino is located at the Carrot Ranch in the Saddle-Up Saloon and hosted the first of each month, this month by D. Avery,

Here are the Rules of Play

1. Use the three pictures that spin to a stop as inspiration or subjects (use in any order).
2. Write seven sentences following the Story Spine (you don’t have to use the phrases of each step):
   • Once upon a time…
   • Every day…
   • Until…
   • Because of that…
   • Because of that…
   • Because of that…
   • Finally…
3. Share your story here at the Saloon (post on the story/comment board below).
4. No links to other places. Play the slots as much as you like (you can write more then one story).
5. Say howdy to those playing with you! Be friendly and have fun!