January, 2014 Archives

28
Jan

The Expedition

by thegooddoctor in 100 Words

The expedition lasted for several weeks. The scientists carried all their own supplies, which consisted mostly of food and batteries. After week two, they set the record for deepest penetration into the Earth’s surface. By that point, they had stopped trying to map the cavern, and just kept going further down.

Finally, the heat prevented them from traveling any deeper. They found a promising stalactite and began taking measurements.

“The readings are positive, sir.”

Even here. It was truly hopeless then. The rise of hipsterism was complete. There was literally no place left on Earth that wasn’t dripping in irony.

22
Jan

Stopping To Retrieve What Might Be Lost In The Brush, Quiet.

by thegooddoctor in 100 Words

Late afternoon, Tuesday, I have gathered sixteen leaves into four stacks, and a dog wanders closer to my clean patch of dirt and moss, and this book of symbols is open to the first page on interlocking circles, and four hours of collecting hues through a borrowed lens feels too brief, and this final autumn egg sits askew, broken open, sticky, not drying fast enough, and the dog is coming too close, coming soon, and some winter begins collecting itself near hatchings left to wander into this too early night, and I stand, bend at the waist, and look inside.

From Guest Contributor, Kelli Allen

Kelli Allen’s work has appeared in numerous journals and anthologies in the US and internationally. She served as Managing Editor of Natural Bridge and holds an MFA from the University of Missouri. She is currently a Professor of English and Creative Writing at Lindenwood University. Allen gives readings and teaches workshops throughout the US. Her full-length poetry collection, Otherwise, Soft White Ash, from John Gosslee Books (2012) was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize.

20
Jan

This Story Takes Place In Minnesota

by thegooddoctor in 100 Words

Rebecca hurried from the office. She jumped into the front seat of her car, tossed her bag down next to her, threw the key in the ignition, then suddenly paused.

There was a stranger sitting in the backseat. Rebecca pulled out of the lot and headed towards the highway while trying to avoid looking in the mirror. An awkward silence hung in the air. Rebecca refused to be the first one to say anything.

When she finally pulled into her garage, Rebecca grabbed her bag and hurried into the house. She hoped the man would be gone by the morning.

17
Jan

The Spoon

by thegooddoctor in 100 Words

Victoria had believed their house was haunted, until they moved and the weird stuff in the kitchen didn’t stop. Maybe it was her mom who was haunted.

When the so-called experts, most of whom were crackpots, realized there was a real phenomenon, most ran out faster than Victoria’s father had.

In the end, it was her mother’s new boyfriend who made the connection. David was an oceanographer, and he recognized the sounds coming from the spoon as whale song.

Victoria wanted to keep the spoon, but her mother sold it. After that, Victoria went to go live with her father.

15
Jan

While The Dragon Yet Lives

by thegooddoctor in 100 Words

Sir Hadder rested against the boulder. He needed time to catch his breath after hauling his heavy armor and weapons up the mountain. Unfortunately, the racket had warned the dragon of his arrival, and Hadder heard the beast emerging from its cave.

One peek around the corner showed Sir Hadder a field littered with the charred skeletal remains of the many heroes who had preceded him on this quest. No knight could wed the King’s daughter while the dragon yet lived.

It made him wonder if marrying the princess was worth it. After all, she was now over 40 years old.

13
Jan

Spelling Bee

by thegooddoctor in 100 Words

The third grade spelling bee at Crispus Attucks Elementary was an annual event that attracted international attention. Students trained strenuously for the competition in hopes of being crowned champion. Thanks to corporate sponsorship, the prize had surpassed one million dollars. Just making it past the first round was considered an exceptional feat.

“Fugacious.”

“Legerdemain.”

“Pusillanimous.”

Parents complained about the difficulty of the vocabulary. Officials ignored them, claiming it was the whining of losers. You never heard the winner complain.

“Oneiromancy.”

I.A.N. was the winner again this year. It marked the 13th straight year the artificial intelligence device had emerged victorious.

10
Jan

The Dream World

by thegooddoctor in 100 Words

Lesley entered the dream world for the first time the night after the accident. She fell asleep in her hospital room with the aid of painkillers and woke up to find she could walk again.

It is common for people to have their first experience of the dream world after an unexpected trauma. The sudden vulnerability allows them to touch aspects of reality our minds try to keep hidden.

Our greatest heroes are usually those who navigate the dangers of the dream world and become something greater than they were.

Lesley was not one of those. She died almost immediately.

9
Jan

Some Things Will Always Remain A Mystery

by thegooddoctor in 100 Words

When Bob achieved omniscience in heaven, pretty much all the crazy shit that had never made sense now became clear. But as he sat on a cloud with Baby Jesus, there was still one mystery that confused him.

“You forgive everyone, right?”

“That’s right,” Baby Jesus said.

“Even those religious fundamentalists who preach intolerance?”

“Yes, even them.”

“I guess they’re lucky you’re a forgiving God.”

Baby Jesus giggled. “To tell you the truth, I don’t get why they worshiped me in the first place. Why not go in for one of the more vengeful religions that better suited their temperament?”

8
Jan

Final Contact

by thegooddoctor in 100 Words

First contact with an alien life form came in 2015 when the pods landed. They entered the Earth’s atmosphere across the planet. They landed in empty fields and busy streets. They filled the oceans and eventually washed up on shore.

The creatures that emerged were soft, benign-looking, and responded well to cuddling. It wasn’t long before every child on the planet wanted one for their very own. Supplies were limited at first, but the pods kept coming, and eventually the fad became outdated.

The creatures took three years to mature. Once they started breeding, the enslavement of the human race began.

7
Jan

The League Of Ruin

by thegooddoctor in 100 Words

The test for entry into the League of Ruin is simple yet fearsome. Initiates are given two vials and asked to choose. One contains a power-granting elixir, the other a deadly poison. Anyone who wishes to join the league must overcome the test through a combination of bravery, deduction, and perception.

The truth, known only to the members of the League of Ruin, is there really is no choice. Each petitioner either has two vials of elixir or two of poison. The decision has already been made long before the actual trial, based upon the initiate’s popularity, deviousness, and attractiveness.