Categotry Archives: Friday Fictioneers
Used Car Lot
“The air is so clean today!” Alicia stopped in the middle of the path through the woods and spun. “It feels like there is no one else in the world.” “It’s pretty rugged here.” Liam glanced past both Alicia and Sally. He talked about walking in a place where no human had ever been before. “Better than a used car lot.” “I’ve never been here before, have you?” Alicia looked at them. “This could be it, the last untrammeled place […]
Tips
“If you’re going to work me so hard, you could at least give me more allowance.” Liam leaned the snow shovel against the wall and stomped loose clumps of white fluff from his boots while his father just stood there. “How much you want?” “I don’t know. Something more than I get now. Just, you know, randomly throw a little extra cash my way for a job well done. Like put out a tip jar for me.” “Right.” The next […]
The Ascension
“I don’t get it.” Alicia held a pair of shoes. “It’s not really the end of the world, is it?” “My mother says visionaries predict the end of the world all the time. And every time, people kind of believe. So what if God really did take people into heaven, leaving only their shoes?” Sally made it look like someone had been running when they disappeared. Liam giggled as he put his shoes down pigeon-toed. “Whatever.” Alicia found a good […]
One Track Mind
Edmund liked to walk on railroad tracks. Like stacking stones, each step takes concentration. To fail is to fall. Each not-fall is a victory. Edmund didn’t have a lot of victories in life. He treasured each one, not even daring to look up from the tracks to see where he was. He walked until he heard the train whistle. Oh, right – tracks were for trains, not little boys. Edmund stepped off the tracks, making room for the train to […]
Squeaky Wheel
“Marcia! Have you seen my oil can?” Fred put his tools down on the workbench and leaned from his little corner of the garage into the kitchen to yell. “Aren’t they on the wall next to the gas cans?” He tossed stuff around on the bench – wrenches, sawdust, iron shavings, nuts and bolts, car keys. “It’ll be easier just to buy a new one. I’m going to the hardware store.” He left. When he got back and went to […]
Hitting the wall
“Becky, Honey, slow down!” “Tag! You’re it, Mommy!” Becky screeched and giggled as she ran around the corner of the old historical site. Her mother couldn’t keep up. Who knew a little girl could run so fast? Or maybe it was all the worry; where the next paycheck would come from, who would provide daycare, where Becky’s father disappeared to. This trip back home wasn’t helping. Sometimes it was enough to take her breath away. She made it around the […]
Communing With the Deadhead
“I thought we were going to have a séance.” Deborah followed Inga through the stately old mansion to a round table overburdened with cups and coffee urns. “It’s certainly the right setting, but what’s with all this?” “Some of the people objected when they found out we were going to try to talk to Jerry Garcia. One thing led to another. A bunch from Narcotics Anonymous got involved. We had to make some adjustments.” “So… no séance?” “No seance.” “Then….” […]
Cultural Reference
I tried to make my kids watch Singing in the Rain. The Boy barely lasted through the opening credits before going off to talk to his girlfriend. The Girl squirmed in her seat until I couldn’t stand it, then wandered off. I’d almost quit too when The Girl came back. Gene Kelly splashed in puddles. “Oh,” she said. “I’ve seen this!” “That’s why I wanted you to see the movie. That way you’ll understand when people talk about….” “I don’t […]
Trick or Treat
Around Halloween, Ruth liked to play with the neighborhood kids. She put up fake cobwebs, wore ragged old clothes, and answered the door of her old Victorian herself. Of course they thought they were playing ding dong ditch, and she was playing peekaboo. (Bonus section 1:) The door creaked open. All but one of the kids ran screaming. “Yes?” Ruth raised an eyebrow at the intrepid soul. “I’m Ted’s friend, Sally.” “Oh. Right. I’ve been expecting you. Come on in. […]
Moving Day
Crack. Miranda suppressed an urgent need to roll her eyes. Just her luck to bump something while carrying a heavy box right behind Diane who disappeared into her new apartment. The now broken mirror sat on the lawn with scattered boxes and furniture. Miranda squatted in front of it. “Mirror mirror on the lawn. Who’s the….” She took in the teased high hair, the tight clothes, the hint of wrinkle, and break in the reflection, and couldn’t resist rubbing the […]
Today’s Event
Marge did not feel the majesty of the moment. She could see it clear enough. The hopeful expression on children and adults alike. The sheer mass of the flickering lanterns set upon the sea to bear wishes to the gods had an appeal. Maybe she’d been traveling too much. It was striking her as just another festival. Well, tomorrow’s itinerary looked promising. The Kanamara Penis Festival. The Challenge: Write a story in 100 words or less The Challenger (Hub): Rochelle […]
Substance Abuse
Ted, Garry, and Anna sat around Garry’s living room. Ted went expecting to do lines, but the powder was already all blown when he got there. Garry was so strung out he was shaking. Anna kept lighting up cigs then stubbing them out half smoked. “So, how was Hawaii?” Ted watched the last of the liquor go into Garry’s glass. “Hot. Lots of lava.” Anna nodded vacantly as she grabbed the pack and came up empty. “And you didn’t bring […]
Safe!
Zed and Zoe transitioned from the world of faerie to Earth on sheer willpower. When they arrived, they were too weak to confront the hoard of students leaving the biology department’s main building. “Quick! Become small!” Zed shrank himself to his utmost. Zoe left no more than a flickering impression as she followed to the size of a beetle. They hid in the grass while thundering feet shuffled past. “Whewh! We are safe.” Zed wiped a brow. “Not yet.” Zoe […]
The Urban Spelunker
Jack hid behind a pile of bricks while Toby set another moving pallet on top of the trap door in the old Merc building. The guy seemed real determined to cover it up. He probably robbed a bank and hid his loot in there – like the underground city would keep it safe. Hah! Jack headed for a hole in a wall that would get him into the rail tunnels. From there it would be easy to worm his way […]
Tabula Rasa
I stared out the window. My editor expected another thousand words. My readers were complaining about two of my characters, neither of whom could be killed off anytime soon. I had a chance at an award if I could come up with something good enough. Nothing I thought up seemed good enough. The longer I sat and stared, the less I could imagine and the closer came the deadline. Would I end up splashing dreck on the pristine page and […]
