April, 2020 Archives
Apr
Gold
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
HISTORICAL FICTION SUBMISSION:
It was a scene out of a Joseph Heller novel. For three weeks, Nyhoff’s platoon, at the behest of Colonel Walters, had driven them to take the god-damned hill. There was no apparent strategic value, and everyone assumed it was another cockamamie order from the generals. The generals rarely knew what they were doing.
But they eventually took the hill, and a lot of men died. Nyhoff wouldn’t say they were good men, but they were men, and now they were dead. All because Colonel Walters had heard rumors of an abandoned cache of gold.
There was never any gold.
From Guest Contributor Gary Linehan
Apr
Sick World
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
It’s like a post-apocalyptic movie. A usually bustling city is eerily vacant. Essential supplies have come to include liquor, guns, and toilet paper. Who isn’t secretly embarrassed? Around midnight I take a puzzle apart just for the hell of it. The next morning my department holds a Zoom session on how to prevent cheating in online classes. Other professors mention they also have been having strange dreams. In mine, I’m eating Crown Fried Chicken on a bench while eyeballs the size of boulders roll across the grass and dirt, and a woman I recognize from TV weeps into her hands.
From Guest Contributor Howie Good
Howie Good is the author of What It Is and How to Use It (2019) from Grey Book Press, among other poetry collections.
Apr
It Would Be The End Of Prohibition For Harry
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
HISTORICAL FICTION SUBMISSION:
Harry didn’t know what the big deal was. Sure, alcohol was prohibited (it was called Prohibition after all) but it was readily available if you knew where to ask. Harry knew where to ask.
His favorite place to get a bottle was the jazz joint by the river, the one popular with the colored folk. As far as Harry was concerned, they had the best gin and the best music. There were plenty of white folks there too, but Harry did his best not to be seen.
If his Ma ever found out he was drinking on a school night…
From Guest Contributor Jesse Debbins
Apr
Sacrifice And Prayer
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
John jumped into the trench for cover, and a dead soldier stared blankly into nothingness. John silently prayed, took a deep breath, reloaded his rifled musket and repositioned. He abhorred shooting at his own people, but that was the only way. President Lincoln wanted slaves freed and John believed slavery was inhumane.
John pulled out a picture of his wife and stared at her radiant smile. He said another prayer, kissed his wife’s face, climbed up the trench and fired. Return shots echoed in his ears.
His wife’s photo remained clutched in his hand as he fell to the ground.
From Guest Contributor Lisa M. Scuderi-Burkimsher
Apr
1970s Justice
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
HISTORICAL FICTION SUBMISSION:
Nevada shivered from the rush of adrenaline. Life was not fair, so why should she be? She cried for justice for her daughter. He laughed. She had never fired a gun. So uninformed she didn’t know if she held a rifle or shotgun, nor the proper distance from her target. She took the gun, the one he used camping and to bag deer, from his end of the closet. She did not know the blast radius or the kick that would knock her on her ass. She did not know how to hunt a moving target, but she could learn.
From Guest Contributor Leah Holbrook Sackett
Apr
Searching
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
Robyn rolls down the car window and breaths in the fresh air. It is warm, but not enough to sit on the beach and take in the sun, or swim in the water.
Robyn notices a lone woman standing on the dock. Her back is turned, and head erect. The wind blows her black hair above the shoulders and seagulls soar in search of prey, while the waves ripple.
After Robyn finishes her coffee, she puts the car in gear and slowly backs up. She hears deafening screams and jams on the brake.
The woman on the dock is gone.
From Guest Contributor Lisa M. Scuderi-Burkimsher
Apr
Strange Sightings
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
HISTORICAL FICTION SUBMISSION:
Bill watched as fire tore the sky. Just as suddenly, the flame disappeared and a streak of dark smoke hit the ground. Whatever noise sounded at the impact was too distant for Bill to hear.
He hopped on his tractor and headed to the next field. He’d heard of airplanes in Albuquerque, but never actually seen one.
What Bill found at the crash site sent him running. As he drove to Roswell to inform the authorities, he was passed by a line of army trucks headed to his farm. By the time he returned home, the strange vehicle was gone.
From Guest Contributor Chris Thompson
Apr
The Universe’s Greatest Hero
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
As the handsome Captain Cahill hurtles through the cosmos at 186,000 miles per second, his mind wanders back to his finest victory. At the Battle of Vynsenulon VI, when he lured the Gigarachnids into a narrow crevasse and lit the charges above them, burying their army under five tons of granite. His actions that day earned him three medals, one for heroism, one for bravery, and one for valor. Captain Ronald Cahill, the universe’s greatest hero.
“I’m leaving you, Ronny.” He barely hears from virtual reality, “Call me if you ever grow the fuck up!” His wife slams the door.
From Guest Contributor Rob Howard
Apr
Pests
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
Two men relaxed on a patio overlooking a lush garden, talking conversationally.
“I’m having a lot of trouble with these pests. They’re just everywhere! In my backyard, my pond, and even the kids’ sandbox,” the larger man said, shaking his head.
His companion sipped from a bottle. “Same with us. They destroy everything, but I still feel bad about killing them. They’re probably just trying to survive.” The smaller man paused before pointing to the ground. “Look, there’s one now.”
The larger man stomped on the creature with a look of disgust before wiping his boot.
“Pesky humans,” he grumbled.
From Guest Contributor Caitlyn Palmer
Apr
Wifely Advice
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
HISTORICAL FICTION ENTRY:
“Gaius, dear, you know you don’t have to go. You do look quite ill and the vote will wait till tomorrow.”
“Yes, but I am Consul and it is my responsibility,” he answered while slipping into his toga.
“But the augurs said that today is inauspicious. Why don’t you stay home?”
“I suppose I could. You are very convincing, my dear.”
A loud knock on the door interrupted their conversation. The door opened and Brutus said, “Hurry up, we’re late for the Senate.”
“I won’t be long, dear. We’ll dine together,” promised Caesar as he walked out into the atrium.
From Guest Contributor Janice Siderius