I like to people-watch. It’s fun to imagine stories about the humans who cross your path. I was at the mall today and couldn’t help but notice the woman strutting down the corridor in front of me. I thought she was putting a lot of effort into that walk with no one to appreciate it. When she stopped and turned to look at a window display, I could see she was very pregnant. I almost laughed out loud, not at her, but at myself, for not being able to tell the difference between a strut and an uncomfortable waddle.

Written in response to Charli Mills April 9, 2024, prompt at Carrot Ranch Literary: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story about someone (or something) strutting. What has caused the overconfidence? Is it arrogant? Foolish? Legit? How does strutting shape a story? Have fun and go where the prompt leads!