December, 2015 Archives

30
Dec

Christmas Lull

by thegooddoctor in News

Apologies to all our regular readers. It’s that time of year when it becomes a little bit more difficult to get everything done. Please keep sending in your stories and we’ll get back to a more regular posting schedule next week. And I’ll be sending out a new newsletter in January as well. In the meantime, I’d like to thank all of you for a tremendous year of stories and readers. This site would be nothing without all the great authors contributing their work.

Happy New Year!

30
Dec

Predestiny

by thegooddoctor in 100 Words

It was a typical thing for him to say on a first date. “In the future, if we both find a way to travel back in time, we should agree to go back to now, right now, at precisely 8.00pm. Then we will know for certain if it is possible. Deal?”

As she answered, a loud crash startled the couple. Covering their ears from the terrifying screeches, they peered through the restaurant window to a display of smoke, sparks and flashing lights.

She held his hand tightly. Within the twisted frames of metal, lay the scorched bodies of two travelers.

From Guest Contributor JR Hampton

21
Dec

Mall Christmas

by thegooddoctor in 100 Words

Christmas shoppers crush the mall their noisy chatter drowning out tinny holiday music. Fairy lights glimmer from boughs bedecked with fusty smelling red bows. At the epicenter of the mayhem is Santa Claus, surrounded by dingy fluffy snow. Corralling people into a staggering line, the elves keep order as Santa’s beard is yanked — it’s real! — and wishes whispered in his ear. A ruffled and flustered child heads for the over-sized presents next to Santa’s worn throne. Ripping shiny paper away, the child’s eyes fill with tears — it’s empty! A quick-thinking elf offers a fat orange. Tears gone. Christmas is saved!

From Guest Contributor D. K. White-Atkinson

17
Dec

Discovery

by thegooddoctor in 100 Words

The light was dim and in the blue to purple spectrum, but he could barely keep his hands from shaking. There between trembling fingers, was the first synthetic bioluminescent bulb.

He thought he heard a creak in the darkness. The deeper shadows of conspiracy theories crossed his field of vision like eye-floaters: fears that some capitalist cadre would send black ops to assassinate him and ‘disappear’ his research. Beads of sweat chilled along his spine.

Then he noticed a reddish glow from one of the beakers on the bench: one containing a slightly different formula. The scientist chased the child.

From Guest Contributor Perry McDaid

16
Dec

The True Legend Of Santa Claus

by thegooddoctor in 100 Words

Most people are familiar with the Christmas legend of Santa Claus and his reindeer. But only a few know of an alternative legend, about a time long ago in a place far away. That Santa Claus rode a bright red and green dragon. He flew across the countryside looking for those who displeased him. He would then torch their houses, leaving only the stone chimney still standing.

In order to avoid such a fate, the people would leave out offerings for Santa Claus, hoping their gifts would be enough to direct his attention elsewhere. Thus, the Christmas season was born.

12
Dec

The Cookie Jar

by thegooddoctor in 100 Words

Leon sat across the kitchen table, gulping down instant coffee and looking everywhere but at Jaclyn. He was late for work, again, and spoke of nothing else. The toaster pinged and he bustled away.

She felt that their love was like a cookie jar. At first it was full of unexpected treats: crumbly sweetness with sticky jam fillings, dark chocolate coated crunchy goodness, and much, much more.

Now she felt that if she turned the jar upside down and shook it, there might be a few crumbs in there. But it would be too much effort for too little return.

From Guest Contributor Ross Clement

10
Dec

Karaoke Superstar

by thegooddoctor in 100 Words

The sweaty man standing behind the microphone had been a pop star of some renown once upon a time, many years ago. Everyone in the room, even those paying more attention to their drinks than the immolation occurring in the corner of the hazy bar, could tell the man had the voice of an angel. One or two heads turned, thinking the man sounded somehow familiar even though they couldn’t quite place him. A woman, half drunk, nodded a buzzed nod and winked at the man, who barely noticed her, so focused was he on finishing this one last song.

From Guest Contributor Dan Slaten

8
Dec

Christmas Cards

by thegooddoctor in 100 Words

My eccentric aunt sits in front of a stack of approximately one hundred Christmas cards, freshly signed, sealed and stamped.

“May I help? Let me mail them for you,” I offer.

I grab a plastic bag. As I manoeuvre cards into the open bag, about one third fall to the floor. I kneel down to scoop them up.

She begins to wail. “Don’t you realize, I spent forty minutes sorting them into fashionable zip code order?”

Is there any point in explaining they will become part of the greater mass once dropped through the chute at the Central Post Office?

From Guest Contributor Barry O’Farrell

Barry is an actor who sometimes writes, living in Brisbane, Australia. Barry’s stories can be found at Cyclamens & Swords, 101 Words, The Flash Fiction Press and here at A Story In 100 Words. One of Barry’s stories was runner up in the recent Arts Alliance competition.

3
Dec

Pest Party Hide

by thegooddoctor in 100 Words

It wasn’t that butterflies were particularly speedy and – let’s face it – they do a lot of pit stops for nectar. Sean just couldn’t keep up because the path was so uneven of ground and full of over-tactile briars. He just couldn’t keep up.

What was more frustrating about the metaphor which emerged from his childhood memories was that he was married to this one and the “briars” were unbearable bores who insisted they knew him and were unbelievably eager to tell him how.

Sean detached himself, headed to the drinks table and ordered a double Jameson. She could drive home.

From Guest Contributor Perry McDaid

2
Dec

The Pesto of Love

by thegooddoctor in 100 Words

Jasper Bains had not meant to invent a love potion. He had an excess of macadamia nuts and fresh tarragon; it seemed a good idea to make pesto from them.

Every customer of Jasper’s Specialty Foods who bought some returned hand in hand with a new customer. Business was booming.

Jasper spread pesto on crackers and gave them to a frowning brown-haired woman and a young man who’d shot shy glances at her. Eyes met eyes and the winter cold was forgotten.

Jasper’s heart skipped a beat when Genevieve walked in, but he hid the pesto. That would be cheating.

From Guest Contributor Ross Clement