Last year, at around this time, my sweet daughter burst onto the scene a month early and a few pounds light. She was small enough not to register on the all-knowing-growth-charts and, after a time, the docs diagnosed her as “failure to thrive.” Personally, I wish they had said something like “look, your kid is small…
For Sissy
Eran Soror cinched his bag shut, giving it a final affectionate pat before closing the trunk. She’ll love it, he thought as he buckled up and pushed his Camry into drive. “Alright, Sis, you ready?” She wasn’t much for words lately, but Eran knew her well. He had watched his sister’s life slowly fall apart these last…
Published!
Good morning, readers! I’ve just been published on 308 Words: A flash fiction project from 308 Press, a startup publishing company in Boston. If you want to check out the story [For Sissy], you can follow this link. Don’t forget to check out the other fictive snacks from previously published writers as well or try…
Lacy
The creaking floorboards had quieted and she heard Mr. Scissorbill’s snoring through the ceiling. Assured the house had settled for the night, Lacy pulled down the covers and swiveled her feet to the floor. Tugging a small satchel out from under her pillow, she quietly unfastened it, thumbing through her supplies. Inside was a passport…
Astor’s Stone [100 Words]
“You don’t mean that,” Elwin said, scratching the tip of his blade deeper into his birch tree carving. “Like hell I don’t.” Astor flicked a stone across the lake, yielding three skips before succumbing to water. Blindly, he reached for another stone and chucked it. No skips. “It’s been six years,” Elwin said, turning to his older brother….
Re: “Goodbye” [50 words]
I had you. But you wouldn’t be mine. Your sadness, your tears; you carried them everywhere. Strained, distant, hateful, I sought the you of you. She was buried somewhere between unsaid wishes and doubt. I crave you and your harlequin melancholy. I lost you. I miss you. I love you. This piece is a response to In…
Brother Thomas
Elaine Bristly stumbled into her aunt’s tavern that night wretched and vile with the stench of liquor. Aunt Tabatha had warned her often of the ills in the bottle and had little patience for tonight’s stupor. Still, she collected the shivering Elaine in a blanket and sorted out a set of clothes that didn’t much mater…
Adopted – 100 Word Story
Jolene’s face was pressed against the airplane window, her body turned away from Mrs Kristi so only her tired brown curls could be seen. She had traveled unceasingly for two nights, every moment watching the tapestry of soft yellow and red lights flickering below, sewn into the black fabric of the earth. “We’re almost there,”…
The Captain’s Daughter
The flag whipped above as he worked to keep her from rolling. “Starboard! Starboard, you rosewater bastard!” Effingham, a sour, reptilian man, his snout pressed up nearly to his forehead, was caught haplessly in a beam sea. Had he not found Agatha that afternoon, her nubile figure writhing for him in his quarters, he would…
Buried – 100 Word Story
“Ronnie?” Her voice was hollow, blanketed and absorbed in the walls of their shared grave. Unsure if Ronnie heard, or if she’d even said the words at all, she called again, “Ronnie!” Blood pulsed through her ears.
Much Obliged
I worked eleven hours today. A more-or-less typical teacher Saturday. I know many people do this – pull extra hours for various reasons. Usually money, or pride, or avoidance. I guess I do it for security. I know I do this for security. My wife and our little one on the way are my motivation…
I Am a Camera – Starbucks
LaPlante, Ch 1, Exercise 2 I am a Camera: The goal of this exercise is to observe one’s setting and to provide a sensory description — The timer rings for a short five seconds on the Pike. A tall brunette woman who is charged to care for the in store customers switches off the ringing…
Write it out 