Sep
Voices Of A New Generation
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
Dealing with young people at work, Carson experienced flashbacks to his own sometimes turbulent adolescence. He recalled vividly his occasional intense suffering, not from outside influences, but from his own changing body. In particular, an unanticipated growth spurt when he shot up several inches in height in a short period of time. He even got stretch marks around his knees. Growing pains are real.
As he monitored hundreds of gestation tanks occupied by genetically-modified beings constantly infused with growth hormones, Carson was assailed by endless waves of primal screams.
Who’d have thought growing a clone army would be so noisy?
From Guest Contributor John H. Dromey
John’s short fiction has appeared in Mystery Weekly Magazine, Stupefying Stories Showcase, Thriller Magazine, Unfit Magazine, and elsewhere.
Sep
Sign Up For Our Newsletter
by thegooddoctor in News
Hey everyone,
Remember when I used to send out the occasional newsletter? Well, it’s been awhile. In fact, it’s been so long that MailChimp deleted my account. So I’m starting over.
Based on the fact I went a whole year without accessing my MailChimp, I don’t think I need to explain that you won’t receive many emails from me. But as an aspiring writing professional, having a core audience is essential, and I’m committed to making it work this time.
What can you expect from the occasional Entropy Squared newsletter? Well, I’m glad you asked. I’ll be featuring 100-word contributors, providing writing updates on my own projects, and sharing exclusive stories you won’t find anywhere else. There will also be some fun links and videos that fans of this site will likely enjoy.
Like this:
Here’s the link for signing up: http://eepurl.com/gANT09
I really appreciate everyone who reads and contributes to the site, and to anyone who signs up, thank you!
Sep
Illusion
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
“Do you love me?”
“Yes. I do love you. Don’t you trust me?”
When his love was gone, the reality hit him and it was very harsh. He wanted his love back in his life but it was impossible. He didn’t know what to do, where to go. He had lost everything. His love was gone forever. When things became unbearable, he lost his mind. He could feel those eyes staring at him. He could hear them laughing and screaming. When things went beyond the walls he tried to resist but failed. His dreams turned wet and became an illusion.
From Guest Contributor Sergio Nicolas
Aug
Midnight
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
Nancy Botkin loves midnight. She stands on the porch, wind whispering. She watches moon drifting. Luminous, motherly, never leaving. A new day awakens. Possibilities rise.
She imagines a father who doesn’t burn her stories. Crinkling creation. Flames consuming.
A father who doesn’t demand her to clean. Buy booze.
She conjures leaving. Like Mama, selfish, enviable. Going wherever whims call.
Nancy can’t imagine the shape of winning. What a miracle truly feels like.
Dad always emerges, demands she get inside. She slinks in, weary, unable to find words. Leave me alone.
She hides pieces of dreams, waits for the next night.
From Guest Contributor Mir-Yashar Seyedbagheri
Mir-Yashar is a graduate of Colorado State’s MFA program in fiction. The recipient of two Honorable Mentions from Glimmer Train, he has also had work nominated for The Best Small Fictions. His work has been published or is forthcoming in journals such as 50 Word Story, Molecule Lit Mag, The Write City Magazine, and Agony Opera. He lives in Garden Valley, Idaho.
Aug
Daddy’s Little Girl
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
His little girl called and said that she was getting married.
When he first held her she weighed about as much as two large apples. He was told it could be only hours so say goodbye.
Hours turned into days and then years.
His wife never wanted to try again so his little girl would be the only one that went to see the Yankees with him and share the dogs, the overloaded nachos, the wings, sundaes, and when she was old enough, the brewskis.
“How do I look, Daddy?” The gown was perfect for her 400 pounds.
“Beautiful, Baby.”
From Guest Contributor E. Barnes
Aug
Decree 349
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
Five naked women had been lined up against the wall. Something about the one in the middle caught the captain’s eye, whether a tattoo or the way she shyly covered her breasts with her hands. “May I offer you some candy?” he asked. It was only then she remembered that Kafka was buried in a plain wooden coffin, a stray fact that under other circumstances might have been interesting to share. That’s just the sort of place this is, no time for a chat, not even about who it was that tracked in blood on the bottom of their shoes.
From Guest Contributor Howie Good
Howie is the author most recently of What It Is and How to Use It from Grey Book Press. He co-edits the journals Unbroken and UnLost.
Aug
Death’s Head
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
Retreating from Leningrad respect for the Soviets had grown amongst SS Totenkopf, elevated from Untermensch – ‘suhumans’ – to Bolsheviks.
After the bombardment from the eerily howling Katyushas – ‘Stalin’s organs’ – half of Franz’s platoon had been blown to bits, their blood staining the snow.
Silence.
Then line after line of T-34 tanks covered in infantrymen appeared over the frozen steppe.
The odds were impossible, yet none would surrender, warriors moulded by the code of blood, iron and unconquerable will.
Franz, 19, watching the approaching hordes, glanced at the Totenkopf – ‘Death’s Head’ – insignia on his lapel.
Yes, this was what he existed for.
From Guest Contributor Ian Fletcher
Aug
Quest
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
“Are you going to die soon?”
“Yes, I guess.”
“Will you take me with you?”
“Can’t do that”.
“Why not?”
“I just can’t.”
He was in search of true love. His search wasn’t easy. He searched everywhere but never realised how close his love was to him. He had been looking for love at all the wrong places. His quest for love only got longer. He stayed up all night and dreamt all day. The sun went down. The night deepened and darkness hid everything. He thought what could be more mysterious than night when you have secrets to bury.
From Guest Contributor Sergio Nicolas
Aug
Young Love
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
Elsie opens the window and the warm breeze enters the room. She sits next to William holding his hand, remembering.
“It’s a beautiful spring day. It reminds me of our first picnic in the park. After eating and talking for hours, you finally leaned my head back, kissed me and wrapped your hands gently around my waist. Your lips were soft and tasted of salt from the chips.” Elsie brushes William’s hair behind his ear. “I can’t believe that has only been a year ago.”
Elsie’s eyes begin to water, and she wonders why dementia has taken her young love.
From Guest Contributor Lisa M. Scuderi-Burkimsher
Aug
Maxine and Me
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
Linda bought it for me at the museum gala. “So many wonderful things for a donation.” she said, “You should have come, my dear! Meet new people.”
She’s part mother, part matchmaker. I need both.
But do I need this? A burnt, ugly, pockmarked lump of rock. The note with it read “Deaccessioned. Meteorite acquired by Dr. Harris, Labrador 1905. Once much larger, visitors took pieces for many years.”
My friend must think I’m like this thing. Dark, scarred. Fragmentary since Bruce left.
I call it Maxine. Sits brooding under a lamp on my desk. We keep each other company.
From Guest Contributor Karen Walker