Categotry Archives: Fiction
Portrait of Words #31
Thom of Thom’s Place 4 Well Whatever has a once-a-month writing meme that I’m taking part in. He provides the photos and we come up with a story. Here’s mine: “Have you heard it, now? Patrick O’Leary intends to drive across the ocean.” Shauna O’Mally told her friend as they took the lift to the ground floor after a long, hot, summer’s day at the office. “Patrick O’Leary of the Sales Department?” Regan fluttered her heavy, false eyelashes like they […]
160: Tip Toe
Quiet. He is sleeping. Keep breakfast bowl clatter to a minimum. No talking. Type quietly. Careful with the door. Bang! Never mind. He isn’t sleeping anymore. Monkey Man hosts the 160 Character Challenge. See what you can write in 160 characters or less, spaces included.
Suzie’s House 176: For Want of Teflon Tape
“What does Teflon tape look like?” “It’s that white stuff on a plastic spool. It feels kind of dusty and kind of oily but not really either.” Well, that was clear as mud. At least he knew to look for spools instead of something like a tape measure or a roll of masking tape. He picked through the tool chest, and actually found it fairly quickly. If only he could drop the solution to dealing with Gene into her palm […]
Soft Susurrations
(This is a somewhat random picture, but I’m counting it as a TRP) Her voice Ebbing and flowing like waves of a calm sea Marks the passing of a nap like the tick of a clock. She’s with friends in another room, Sharing the comfortable thoughts Of a social creature Until Silence. He sits up, fully awake. What is wrong? Her voice returns. Oh. A pause in the conversation. He rolls over and sleeps. The challenge, should you choose to […]
Suzie’s House 175: The Slip of the Wrench
Suzie swore. Actual cuss words. Vin couldn’t remember the last time he’d heard Suzy swear. He could hear her over the low drone of the TV, which made him realize he wasn’t watching anyway and shouldn’t waste his entire life like this, constantly changing channels and feeling dissatisfied. So, in a rare break in his own habits, Vin turned the idiot box off, and went to see what had Suzie so upset.
Cowboy Up
The announcer’s garbled voice echoed around the arena as the buzzer went off. The gate swung open and the bull took his first crow hop. Hand up, back jarring, rump slamming on spiny back Slam, slam, slam then Flying Over the horns. Under the hooves, A ton of angry animal bucking away. “Oh too bad. Half a second short.” Cowboy dusts off his pants, grinning. Except his wallet, and maybe some pride, all parts are intact. The challenge, should you […]
Suzie’s House 174: His Call
“I hate her.” Gene slammed the phone into the receiver, the plastic thud of it echoing through downstairs hall. “Who?” Mrs. H said from the kitchen. “My mother.”
Turn Around
Don’t stand there on the cliff edge Telling yourself there is only one way. How can there only be one, when I have called to you for so long, waving and pointing to all the other ways to leave this precipice? My voice is hoarse. My arms are tired But I’ll keep standing here Waiting for you To stop telling yourself lies. The challenge, should you choose to accept it, is to write a story in exactly 55 words. Flash […]
Suzie’s House 173: Pobresito
“Pobresito,” Maria muttered under her breath as she took Drew’s hand. Had it not been for her and Todd, this fine man would not now be addicted to some strange new designer drug. He could have been back in that place he’d come out from, wherever it was, doing simple internet investigations. “What?” Toby moved closer, making Maria tense, and release Drew’s hand. “Poor man, I said.” “Is that all?”
Three Behrs
Baby Behr’s bed is as hard and cold as a tavern wench’s eyes. No wonder he favors blindfolds. Papa Behr’s kindness is soft and yielding though his devotion to duty is firm. Mama Behr’s bed belongs to a man. When all three reach for the prize, what’s a Goldie to do? The challenge, should you choose to accept it, is to write a story in exactly 55 words. Flash Fiction 55 is hosted by the G-man, a host with the […]
Suzie’s House 172: Deep Blue Sea
Drew rolled over. The ceiling tiles were white with holes. Part of his mind knew they were supposed to be a steady, industrial white with regular, randomly spaced holes. The holes weren’t supposed to expand and contract with his heartbeat, and the white of the tiles wasn’t supposed to glisten with rainbows half-seen and half felt. Maria’s face hove into view, whisps of hair falling from her bun to spear toward him like sharp words.
Suzie’s House 171: And Then What?
“Huh. That Tracy.” Ben said as he and Gene walked home. He couldn’t believe she had kissed both Gene and himself right there in Lisa’s living room with Lisa watching and everything.” She’s really something,” “Yeah. She is.” Gene grinned like he knew something more.
Nessa’s Challenge
Everyone said her life was charmed. Always the prettiest with the best grades and rich parents. Cheerleading Captain. Student Council. Dating the quarterback. Some people liked to gossip about her, but she didn’t care. Let them be jealous. She knew they’d be charmed too if a genie was their mother. The challenge, should you choose to accept it, is to write a story in exactly 55 words. Flash Fiction 55 is hosted by the G-man, a host with the most. […]
Suzie’s House 170: Sniper Cousin
Ohgodohgodohgod! Lisa knew Tracy was going to do something crazy to Ben or Gene, but she couldn’t imagine what, and had to stand there helpless, watching what ever it was just like when they were little kids. For several minutes Lisa and Tracy stood behind the couch watching the TV over Ben and Gene’s heads. Then a commercial came on, and Tracy made her move.
Catherine’s Challenge
Martin never thought he’d see the day when Charlotte, the hair dresser, would dump him in the desert. He could still smell the orange crème yogurt she’d tried to feed him in their Vegas bathroom before taking that slow ride to abandonment. Now he’d have to live on flies. Maybe he shouldn’t have bit her. The challenge, should you choose to accept it, is to write a story in exactly 55 words. Flash Fiction 55 is hosted by the G-man, […]
