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The Man with the Hyena Laugh

February 9, 2014 By Talya Tate Boerner 38 Comments

Daddy’s latest beer-drinking buddy almost permanently moved into the spare bedroom. For several days and nights he ate our food, smoked Daddy’s cigarettes and watched his favorite shows on our television. Even though his beady eyes and piercing hyena laugh made the invisible hairs on the back of my neck crawl, I politely smiled and waited. I knew Momma would eventually tire of playing hostess and maid. Sure enough on Tuesday night, Momma threw a hissy fit and declared his vacation over while he stood at the open refrigerator wolfing down leftover Sunday pot roast. But like a stray dog, a few weeks later he followed Daddy home again.

hyenaGrace Grits and Gardening

This was written especially for Fearless Writing Alumni Practice. Prompt: 6 Sentence Story Structure from Sacred List Crawl

Musical Pairing:

Chow Down, The Lion King Hyena Song

Filed Under: Humor, Memories, Writing Tagged With: BAT, Mississippi County, Thomas Tate

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Comments

  1. Renee says

    February 9, 2014 at 8:07 am

    It just doesn’t matter what they throw at you. You are always up to the challenge! Just keep it coming, I’m spoiled now ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      February 9, 2014 at 9:37 am

      Thank you Renee! I’ll do my best to keep you spoiled:)

      Reply
  2. Bryan Jones says

    February 9, 2014 at 8:10 am

    pretty good! I think you’re up for anything they can throw at you!

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      February 9, 2014 at 9:38 am

      Thanks Bryan:) This was easy. The Bat Cave is still haunted by the hyena laughter…

      Reply
  3. Staci says

    February 9, 2014 at 9:08 am

    I knew who it was before I even looked LOL! Greatness!

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      February 9, 2014 at 9:38 am

      I knew you would:) haha

      Reply
  4. Barbara Tate says

    February 9, 2014 at 9:34 am

    Very funny!!! I can still hear that laugh. Oh, me!!!

    Reply
  5. Michelle says

    February 9, 2014 at 10:13 am

    My cousin has a hyena laugh and we crack up! However he doesn’t live with us so it’s great to hear from a distance! Great writing!

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      February 10, 2014 at 6:32 am

      haha thank you Michelle.

      Reply
  6. Kim | TwoMomsandaKid.com says

    February 9, 2014 at 10:18 am

    This is awesome. Love it.

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      February 10, 2014 at 6:32 am

      Thank you Kim. Glad you enjoyed it.

      Reply
  7. Colene says

    February 9, 2014 at 10:33 am

    Do these responses just pop into your head immediately or do you have to give it lots of thought? You are amazing either way when given a prompt!

    Reply
  8. Dorothy Johnson says

    February 9, 2014 at 10:58 am

    Good job in making me feel what you felt. I hope he didn’t get to stay the next time he followed your dad home.

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      February 10, 2014 at 6:33 am

      Of course he stayed. He always stayed. Thank you Dorothy!

      Reply
  9. mark says

    February 9, 2014 at 11:25 am

    “Oh Thomas, what the hell?”
    I remember hearing about this scavenger. Good one, Talya!

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      February 10, 2014 at 6:33 am

      Scavenger. Good word for him:))

      Reply
  10. Donna says

    February 9, 2014 at 2:33 pm

    Love reading your stories and seeing pictures of rural Arkansas on Facebook.

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      February 10, 2014 at 6:34 am

      Thank you Donna.

      Reply
  11. Martha Orlando says

    February 9, 2014 at 3:40 pm

    You create such vivid scenes with your words. I felt as though I was right in that kitchen when your mom through the hissy fit (definitely, a Southern thing).
    Keep it coming!
    Blessings!

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      February 10, 2014 at 6:34 am

      Thank you Martha. I appreciate your comment!

      Reply
  12. Tim says

    February 9, 2014 at 5:55 pm

    You have such incredible stories on your blog, Talya, and my best advice to you when it comes to your sharing them with us, is…”do it again, do it again.”=)

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      February 10, 2014 at 6:34 am

      ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  13. Tom Sweeney says

    February 10, 2014 at 5:50 am

    You have a special knack for a final sentence that makes me look at a story, one that was already commplete in my mind, in a new light.

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      February 10, 2014 at 6:35 am

      Thank you. My zinger sentence?

      Reply
  14. Tom Sweeney says

    February 10, 2014 at 5:51 am

    Hey! Where’s that picture come from? Where’s my Geezer picture you took at DH?

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      February 10, 2014 at 6:35 am

      I was wondering the same thing!

      Reply
  15. Kayla says

    February 10, 2014 at 8:32 am

    Ha ha! Makes me want to go watch The Lion King

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      February 10, 2014 at 4:23 pm

      haha me too!

      Reply
  16. Jennifer says

    February 11, 2014 at 12:13 pm

    This is fantastic. I love the visual you created with your words.

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      February 11, 2014 at 1:39 pm

      Thank you so much:)

      Reply
  17. Linda Gardner says

    April 30, 2014 at 9:39 pm

    Talya, I love reading your stuff, how do I finish reading the rest??

    Reply
    • Linda Gardner says

      April 30, 2014 at 9:41 pm

      I want to read the rest of The man with the HYENA LAUGH..??

      Reply
      • Talya Tate Boerner says

        May 1, 2014 at 4:37 pm

        Thanks Linda! I haven’t written much more about him although he appears in the book I’m working on:))

        Reply
      • Talya Tate Boerner says

        May 3, 2014 at 11:30 am

        That’s all there is for now although he makes an appearance in the book I’m writing:) Thanks Linda!

        Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      May 3, 2014 at 11:29 am

      Thanks Linda. You can scroll through all the old stuff with arrows at the bottom. I have over 600 posts.

      Reply
  18. Lisa says

    June 19, 2014 at 10:00 am

    His name wasn’t Robert, was it? That was the name of the stray in my memories.
    Wonderful

    Reply
    • Lesa says

      December 2, 2016 at 3:30 am

      I’m out of league here. Too much brain power on disylap!

      Reply
  19. Norma Stracener says

    December 6, 2014 at 10:59 am

    Love the hyena story Talya. Love all your blogs — your writing definitely makes my mind travel to the neatest places! Good luck with your book! Love, Norma

    Reply

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Hi! I'm Talya Tate Boerner. Writer, Reader, Arkansas Master Naturalist / Master Gardener, Author of

THE ACCIDENTAL SALVATION OF GRACIE LEE (2016)

GENE, EVERYWHERE: a life-changing visit from my father-in-law (2020)

BERNICE RUNS AWAY (Now Available!)

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