December, 2021 Archives
Dec
In Pursuit Of Tomorrow
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
A young boy shaped sand sculptures. His parents combed the beach with a metal detector. When clouds rolled in, mother rose, balancing on the only leg spared in a shark attack.
Over driftwood, shells and rocks they trampled to reach the trail that would lead them to a road.
Father turned for one last glance of the abandoned tanker anchored by the coast. He had heard of buried treasures from at least a dozen ships in those turbulent waters.
As he imagined newly acquired wealth for his family, the sea tossed out a bottle. Nestled inside was a folded note.
From Guest Contributor Krystyna Fedosejevs
Krystyna writes poetry, fiction and creative nonfiction. She resides in Alberta, Canada.
Dec
Fire And Ice
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
“He took me for ten grand. Hustled me when I wasn’t in my right mind,” Demar mentioned. The waitress turned back, having forgotten a glass of water.
“So what’s happening to him now?” Jim asked.
“He’s losing everything. Never got a job. Had a streak of bad luck. Getting divorced.”
Looking at the water, Jim noticed it was mostly ice. “Well, that’s great. He deserved those things.”
“I knew this day would come. I didn’t know I’d feel sorry for him.” The water arrived. Demar took a sip, and the coldness of the ice sent a shiver down his spine.
From Guest Contributor Steve Colori
Dec
Crossing The Threshold
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
The greatroom was full to bursting, ghosts everywhere: playing charades, talking, resting, dancing, darting between clusters of spirits engaged in various means of whiling away time.
A newly-born ghost appeared at the doorway and paused at the chaos. The chaos paused in return, all eyes upon the newcomer.
“Come in, Dearie, and welcome,” Eve, the oldest of them all, beckoned.
The new arrival apprehensively crossed the threshold. The others returned to their various activities.
Eve helped the new ghost settle in. Did she have any questions?
Just one, the young ghost said, voice wavering: “When do they notice you’re gone?”
From Guest Contributor Melissa Ridley Elmes
Melissa is a Virginia native currently living in Missouri in an apartment that delightfully approximates a hobbit-hole. Her poetry and fiction have appeared in Reunion; The Dallas Review Online, Eye to the Telescope, Star*Line, Gyroscope, In Parentheses, and other print and web venues, and her first book of poetry, Arthurian Things: A Collection of Poems, was published by Dark Myth Publications in 2020. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @MRidleyElmes
Dec
Soldier
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
The soldier’s leg is broken in two places, but he’s courageous and doesn’t scream. As I’m cleaning the wound, he grabs my arm.
“I won’t be fighting again, will I?”
I gently remove his hand. “I’m afraid not. You’ll be heading home. Your mother will be overjoyed to see you.”
He kisses my hand and looks into my eyes. “At least in this hell, I got to see a beautiful nurse to remember.”
I follow his stare, then lean in and kiss his forehead. “Take care, soldier.”
The sepsis will soon kill him, and he’ll return home in a coffin.
From Guest Contributor Lisa M. Scuderi-Burkimsher
Dec
My Only Friend
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
There is a breeze blowing west. At the top of the biggest tree there is a blue jay bracing in the wind. In my peripheral vision I see a black and white figure below me walking towards the bird. As I realize it is my tuxedo cat, I hear the sound of an engine struggling to drive up towards us. I look to the East and see a truck, I look to the North and see my cat. Then there is blood on my face. As I wipe it off to make myself recognizable, my cat is no longer recognizable.
From Guest Contributor Ina Rose
Ina is a student with a passion for writing.