Categotry Archives: Flash
Losing His Head
At the Bitterroot Mercantile in Darby, Montana, the clientele expect a certain ambiance. It isn’t enough that there are trophies on the wall. The animal heads must come from something the owner hunted and have a story to go with it. Unluckily for Ken, he’d only ever bagged one animal and that had been more traffic accident than safari. Still, he dutifully hung the ram’s head on his wall and claimed a kinship with Earnest Hemingway right up until the […]
Stormy
When the tornado warning alarms went off, two young men, brothers, spurned the basement in favor of watching the storm. Dark and roiling clouds obliterated the sky, but on land they found mostly wind. There wasn’t much to see. “Hey look. Doesn’t that cloud remind you of someone?” “Yeah, it’s just like what mom’s face would look like if she knew we were out here.” “That one looks like a horse.” The younger of the two pointed to the sky. […]
From the Depths of the Sea
As far as Poseidon was concerned, the hundred years at the bottom of the sea passed in the blink of an eye. He rose to surface in the Mediterranean where he’d often enjoyed bullying the humans. This time, however, the response wasn’t all he expected. No screaming or running or begging for mercy. People actually seemed to find him humorous. “Dude!” Some transplant from another continent bumped into him. “You look down right gnarly. And they tell me that I […]
The Parting
PHOTO PROMPT Copyright-Lura Helms. There came a parting of the ways. The Keeper of the Flame and The Severance Hand, long time friends in the battle for righteousness, disagreed on the likely outcome to the choice of right and not-right. Keeper insisted on right. Severance Hand insisted on might. Each took their choice and slunk into the future alone. Happily Nobody came to the parting of the ways and took the not-right path without hesitation. Fool that he pretends to […]
Historical Documents
“Mommy, Mommy, come quick! Daddy found a newspaper in the walls.” “A newspaper? Oh, you mean where he’s remodeling?” Mommy followed her son to the room they were expanding. “It must be very old. The realtor said everything in the house dated back to the 1900’s, right down to the wall paper.” When they walked into the room, they found Daddy reading the newspaper with a scowl. “Honey, what does it say?” “It says the Red Sox haven’t won in […]
Hail the New Revolution
“Sandra, I went to that dentist you recommended.” Matt dropped into the seat across from her at the Butterfly Coffee House. He looked better, but before she could say anything he was talking again. “That place scares me.” He held up a hand to stop her from talking. “Not because I hate dentists. Because of the windows. They had chicken wire embedded in them.” “Yes? So?” “I thought at first it was to keep the molotov cocktails and rocks out, […]
Been There, Done That
PHOTO Copyright – Douglas M. MacIlroy “I mean, the world if full of the most incredible things, isn’t it?” Sandra’s voice sounded distant on the phone. “Have you ever seen Mt. Fuji?” “Sure. Who hasn’t?” Carly lit a candle, then leaned back with her laptop. She googled Mt. Fuji. “Most of the world, I would think. When have you ever been to Japan?” “I haven’t. But I’ve still seen it plenty of times in pictures.” She picked a particularly appealing […]
Graduation
Photo Copyright -Jennifer Pendergast He steps into the future, like walking through a waterfall. One moment, safe in the cocoon of higher education, the next, into the wide world of unemployment, hungry student loans, and too much competition for each job offering. The reality of an English degree but not a teaching certificate strikes hard. Where his Engineering friends are raking in the bucks, he’s facing a quick trip back to Mommy and Daddy’s house. Sometimes he wishes he’d never […]
Drawing the Property Line
“It’s about perimeters,” she said as she leaned against the fence. “What we had before required a certain amount of trust. So I gave you the benefit of a doubt over and over. But you brought HER home. You knew how that would make me feel. The trust we had before is gone. I can’t do much about the fact we are neighbors, but I don’t have to cater to you anymore.” “You’re point?” He pushed up the front brim […]
Sheepish
“See?” Jane turned her ipad around and handed it to Marg. “You wouldn’t believe how many sheep and goats there were in Mongolia. I swear every time I turned around there were more. What I went there to see were yaks. I saw a few, but no where near as many as the sheep. I wish I’d gone to France with you instead. At least then I could have gotten away from the livestock.” “Really?” Marg grabbed her own ipad […]
Waves
“I’m telling you, there’s something in the water.” Mack gave his fishing line a jerk. “I hope so. Be a pure waste of bait otherwise.” Lewis pulled in his own line, giving up for the day. “Not a fish, you idiot. It’s like the Loch Ness Monster or something.” “Probably an old tire.” “Feel for yourself.” Mack handed Lewis the rod. Lewis gave the line a tug or two, then handed it back. “Yup. Old tire. I’m sure of it.” […]
Candles and Moonlight
He placed the candle next to the bed and grinned wickedly. “No. I’m too embarrassed.” She put a hand over her mouth, but could still feel the flush of excitement creep up her face. “You can trust me. I will never laugh at you or take you for granted.” He kissed her fingers lingeringly. ‘All right then.” In the morning he was gone, his side of the bed already cold. She’d have thought it a dream but for the wax […]
When He Plays, No One Speaks
“Gene, what’s bugging you?” Tracy put her bass guitar on the stand and went over to where he strummed a few cords. “Nothing.” “Come on. I’m your girlfriend. I know when something’s bugging you.” “Leave him alone.” Bruce butted in without leaving his place behind the keyboard. “He’s got issues.” “Yeah? Like what?” Gene stared at the back of his guitar for a long time. “I think I might have killed my father.” Everyone else in the band shut up […]
Hide and Seek
“The first diving helmets were invented in the ‘20’s by Charles and John Deane. They looked a lot like this one, but this is just a reproduction. Look, you can even open and close the faceplate.” Big brother tried to show his little brother and sister how to work the faceplate. “Quick! Hide here!” Little brother dived into the cushions, taking little sister with him. “Squeeeeeee! Giggle, giggle.” Little sister kicked a cushion. “Hold still! He’ll find us.” “What can […]
Celebration
Knowing nothing of weddings or birthdays or decorations, the alien crept into the village in the middle of the night with dinner in mind. All was quiet. With no game to consume it did what aliens of its kind had always done. It attached itself to a point well above the ground in a position from which it could drop down on unsuspecting prey and waited. Sure enough, come morning many edible creatures appeared. “Papa, papa! Look at the pretty […]
