July, 2022 Archives
Jul
Duel At Dawn
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
The cool, crisp morning air is cold, even in the fog I see my breath. “10 paces I’ll count; 10 paces then turn and shoot,” said my friend. I begin to walk. One. The wet, dewy grass is under my feet. Two. I wore my best clothes today, complete with the gray coat. Three. Black crows call in the distance, laughing at us fools. Seven. Dear god he is already at seven, I think. Eight. The black trigger of this 50-year-old pistol will have another kill. Nine. “Forgive me, Anne. Forgive me,” I pray. Ten. I turn, aim, and shoot.
From Guest Contributor Hayden Unfred
Jul
Passing Time
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
Quibble was lost in the reality of glass days. Each day was formed and spun and left to cool, and once it cooled, Quibble and the world lived it. Ended days stood around the world like satellites. While the focus of reality was each newly cooled day, the older days could be tapped for hints and clues and prophecies that could step forward into the design of the current day. An industry of gnomes sprang up, ready to point out which past days most likely would help in navigating this day. Quibble accepted their advice, held his tiny hammer hidden.
From Guest Contributor Ken Poyner
Jul
Compassion
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
George staggered into the hallway searching for Cecilia. He didn’t have much time and he needed her to make haste.
“There you are. I signed it.”
She sipped her tepid coffee. “Oh, George, can’t I even take a short break?”
“Just take it. You don’t need to read it.”
“I know, I’m your attorney. I read it already. Are you sure about this?”
George sighed and put the paper in front of her, pushing aside the glazed donut.
It was done.
His estate would go to Myra Ariello, the compassionate nurse who cared for him when no one else would.
From Guest Contributor Lisa M. Scuderi-Burkimsher
Lisa has been writing since 2010 and has had many micro-flash fiction stories published. In 2018 her book Shorts for the Short Story Enthusiasts, was published and The Importance of Being Short, in 2019. Her most recent book In A Flash, was published in the spring of 2022.
She currently resides on Long Island, New York with her husband Richard and dogs Lucy and Breanna.
Jul
March’s End
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
She can feel it slowly growing. All in existence is born of thought. It starts slow and deep, pounding, hiding somewhere in the recesses of her mind. Expectations lead to disappointment, which inevitably gives birth to resentment. Everything buried from years past mutated into fertile embryonies, vibrating, taking on a life of their own.
As March’s end nears, thoughts of isolation waver. A new world awaits those who are willing to embrace its damp offerings. Fruitful grounds to transplant the seeds vaulted away, protecting them from winter’s crystalline grasp. New vessels to transport thoughts. Pollinating all those she will touch.
From Guest Contributor J. Iner Souster
Jul
Preparing For Landing
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
Do we have to visit them?” the eight-year-old asked. “Grandma is weird and…”
“Grandpa is mean,” added her older brother.
Elsa observed the linear perfection of farmland below, largely ignoring her children.
At their age, she rode a tractor alongside her grandfather. They made rows into which other tractors dropped seed potatoes and covered them with soil.
By summer, when Elsa returned from the city, those fields were lush green having absorbed spring rainfalls.
As the plane prepared for landing, she knew her children would experience a different summer vacation.
The farm was no longer a property her family owned.
From Guest Contributor Krystyna Fedosejevs
Krystyna writes poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction regardless of the season, although she prefers spring.
Jul
Paid In Full
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
“Damn you. I hope they will make you pay for this.”
She stood up and walked out on me.
On our first date.
I had carefully checked the reviews and when I made the reservation I insisted on having the best table.
All dressed up, shaved and slightly perfumed I picked her up in my car.
“A surprise!”, I said when she asked me where we were going to.
Looking at today’s special of the Grill House, she could not stop gagging.
I truly didn’t know she was a vegetarian.
And of course, they made me pay for this.
From Guest Contributor Hervé Suys
Hervé (°1968 – Ronse, Belgium) started writing short stories whilst recovering from a sports injury and he hasn’t stopped since. Generally he writes them hatless and barefooted.
Jul
Time Passing Away
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
Time passing. The events to come? A wild nightmare or biblical prophecy? They knew the time traveler to the committee as the long hauler. Why? He had gone to the very doorsteps of hell and back. What had he learned? Hell was not such a dangerous place up to a certain point. And then? Then everything was what I thought the hell of. The point of no return. All your dreams could happen at the cost of your soul or spirit?
How close had he gotten? Moments of two galaxies colliding within a blink of your eyes. To see the end.
From Guest Contributor Clinton Siegle
Jul
Blood
by thegooddoctor in Uncategorized
“Yes, I drink human blood, but only for ritual purposes.”
“The creepy man in the haunted house said that?” Timmy asked.
“That’s what he said, really,” Jonathan replied. “Robert said so. And he’s in high school, so you know it must be true.”
“Well, I’m not trick-or-treating there Friday. You can go alone if you want.”
“Timmy, don’t you see how cool it would be? You should come with us.”
“Sounds scary, not cool.”
As Timmy ran off, Robert spoke to Jonathan. “Talk him into coming, where else are we going to get blood for the creepy guy to drink?”
From Guest Contributor N.T. Franklin
NT Franklin has been published in Page and Spine, Fiction on the Web, 101 Words, Friday Flash Fiction, CafeLit, Madswirl, Postcard Shorts, 404 Words, Scarlet Leaf Review, Freedom Fiction, Burrst, Entropy, Alsina Publishing, Fifty-word stories, Dime Show Review, among others.
Jul
Escape
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
The gunshots up ahead are deafening. The screams, more so. I close my eyes and keep my mouth tightly shut to avoid crying out in terror.
My body begins to tremble when I hear rustling behind me. I am so frightened I can barely move.
A hand touches my shoulder. I know that gentleness.
“Come, my son, the way out is not far.”
Without speaking I follow my mother and she leads us to the river. A small boat is waiting for us.
She reaches for my hand, and we escape to a foreign country only to be trapped again.
From Guest Contributor Lisa M. Scuderi-Burkimsher
Jul
Night Skies
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
Raindrops fell softly with a hiss. Each drop shatters like diamonds when it collides with the earth, leaving a dazzling path that leads back into the darkness. Through the obscurity of night, the city lights are shining.
The air was thick with anticipation for what was to come next, leaving a sense of mystery in its wake.
As I stood there, eyes open to marvel at the majesty of the night sky and the glories of the heavens that filled my view, it felt as if time had slowed down, giving me a moment to breathe and think of home.
From Guest Contributor J. Iner Souster