Well, it’s a year of contests for me. They’re keeping me writing and just like last year, the visual to inspire the story was so much fun! After I wrote it, I actually wanted a different gif, but I couldn’t find one that existed and I didn’t want to dive into making one… although I did consider it momentarily. Maybe you can guess what my gif would have been?
![](http://lexidonahue.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/047db50323430134275e1604a412ece2-1.gif)
“Bip” by Lexi Donahue
"Bip!" She points. "There's no Beeping, Aneexi." Brow furrows. Lips purse. "Bip." "Come on." I pull my cousin towards the slide, her one true love. Her face lights up. "Ide!" We climb to the top. "Feet first," I remind her. "Whee!" Aneexi claps at the bottom. But instead of asking, "More?" she takes my hand and pulls me back under the tree. "Bip." "Aneexi, I don't know what to tell you. There's no beep." I lean over and squint, trying to figure out what she's babbling about. She takes my face between her chubby toddler hands. "Buh- ip. Bip." And a droplet falls on my nose. "Drip?" I ask. Her eyes light up. "Bip!" And on the first day of spring, the sky opens and along with the sun, rain showers the playground. Aneexi and I dance the rainbow welcome. "Bip." I say, and I pull Aneexi into a hug.