Categotry Archives: Fiction
Suzie’s House 223 : A Good Influence.
“So… what are you going to do?” Suzie sprinkled herbs on the roast, then glanced over her shoulder to where Gene sat at the kitchen table. “About the test Friday?” Gene wouldn’t look her in the eye. He hunched over a plate of cut vegetables and dip. The fact he actually put a carrot stick in his mouth spoke volumes about how strong his feelings were. If he hadn’t wanted to talk about the real issue, he would have politely […]
160 – Jump!
“We have to do it. We crossed Zero Latitude, so we have to celebrate, right?” “Yes, but… like this? It’s three decks down!” “Just close your eyes and do it. I’ll be right behind you.” Monkey Man hosts the 160 Character Challenge. See what you can write in 160 characters or less, spaces included.
55 – Which Boat?
“Hey, get a load of that boat.” She pointed over the ship’s railing to the boat floating next to us. “What boat?” The one in front or one of the one’s behind? “The one with all the kayaks attached to the back. Doesn’t it look like a duck?” “Um… no?” “Sure it does. A mama duck with all the ducklings swimming behind it.” The challenge, should you choose to accept it, is to write a story in exactly 55 words. […]
Suzie’s House 222 : Online Dating
“What is this?” Gene didn’t mean to sneer, but he could kind of feel his lip do that thing Tracy hated. But so what? She was doing stuff she shouldn’t, too. “I’m just trying to help.” “That’s what you always say.” Gene groaned and kind of leaned into his hands with his elbows right in the middle of Mrs. H’s desk, right there in front of the computer screen.
In Ayora Port
So many buildings looked broken – iron re-bar sticking from the roofs. I thought “hurricane.” But no. The guides say no such thing hits the Galapagos. Expansion, maybe? Monkey Man hosts the 160 Character Challenge. See what you can write in 160 characters or less, spaces included.
55 – Whale Watching
Under the surface everything looks smaller. They seem close, but all we see are fins, the mist of their breath, and if we are lucky, a tail waving as if to say bye-bye until one breaches splashing water all over the waves and reveling that even a humpback looks small from this distance.
Suzie’s House 221: “But I’m Better, Right?”
“Shall we call it good for today?” I tried not to appear impatient, but my time is always very, very short. It’s hard enough making myself write. I don’t need to waste time talking to a kid who isn’t interested, though I have accepted Ben’s determination. If he were going to change his mind about being a writer, he’d have done it by now. Poor kid.
160 – Hitchhiker
Is a little dinghy floating in the wide, blue ocean really the best place from which to fish? A flash of wing says, “yes”. Monkey Man hosts the 160 Character Challenge. See what you can write in 160 characters or less, spaces included.
55 – Mail Call
We put our trust in the whisky barrel because it is called the Post Office. Our secret hopes, plans, and whereabouts, we give them into the hands of strangers, trusting that they will pass them along to our loved ones just as we pass their messages for them. It beats the old “message in a bottle.” The challenge, should you choose to accept it, is to write a story in exactly 55 words. Flash Fiction 55 is hosted by the […]
Suzie’s House 220 : Initial Hunt
Ben sat at his mother’s desk, hands on the keyboard, butt in the chair. Ms. Audrey called it Bic-hok, which kind of sounded like a swearword to him, but she said it really worked. But she also said you had to watch out for distractions.
160 – Sea Lion
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Playful Swimming beside the boat Flashing tail and flipper Mugging for the camera We take the bait Click, click, click Not knowing how many of his brethren We would encounter. Monkey Man hosts the 160 Character Challenge. See what you can write in 160 characters or less, spaces included.
55 – Jet Lag
“What a pretty sunset. Or is that a sunrise?” “I don’t know. What does the In-Flight screen in front of your seat say?” “It says we’re landing in Dallas.” “Dallas? But I thought we were going to Mexico City.” “Oh no.” “Don’t tell me.” “Yep. We got on the wrong plane.” 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 219 : Initial Observation
Gene couldn’t stop grinning. It was his! Finally! And not a stupid old Epiphone either. It was a… well…. a no-name guitar. The sales guy tried to claim it was a custom-built job and should be worth more, but it was just kind of a dull brown all over and mostly a regular shape except for this weird notch out of the body near the strumming elbow. And Mrs. H. said she knew it had been sitting there in the […]
55 – ConText
Boy: Hey Mom, can I have a ride? Mom: Where are you? Boy: Not far. Mom: At your best friends? Boy: Kind of Mom: at his family’s cabin? Boy: Kind of Mom: At the shack ten miles of dirt road past his cabin? Boy: How’d you guess? 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 218 : Sweet Sound
A beautiful Fender Stratocaster hung on the wall behind the counter. Gene liked the way the middle of the body shown all gold with a dark brown edge. He could so easily see himself on stage with something like that. But that wasn’t what he was here for.
