Jul
Good And Evil
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
Bradley wondered what was wrong with him. Other kids may have complained about working their chores, but they enjoyed eating bacon and hamburgers, and talked excitedly about weekend hunting trips.
Bradley didn’t know anyone for whom slaughtering a cow prompted an existential crisis. There was no doubt he was the weird one in town, and his parents, his brothers and sisters, his classmates, even his teachers, all knew this to be true.
He simply couldn’t shake the feeling that just because everyone else thought eating animals was normal, there was something inherently evil about it.
From the cow’s perspective anyway.
Jul
Surprise Party
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
When I entered the restaurant with Kate, I scanned the room as everyone yelled surprise. I was stunned and stood motionless. Family and friends gathered around waiting to hug the fifty-year-old birthday boy. Balloons of different colors filled the room and small beer bottle opener party favors laid perfectly next to each place setting.
“So, honey, were you surprised?”
“Yes, and then some,” I kissed her softly on the lips.
Everyone yelled speech, speech, so I raised my glass. Before I could get any words out, I thought of how I would tell my wife I just lost my job.
From Guest Contributor Lisa M. Scuderi-Burkimsher
Jul
Interview
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
“Why do you want to work here?”
I’ve been warned about this, the stupidest, trickiest interview question. Don’t say you, like all job seekers, need a paycheck to pay the rent. They don’t want reality, they want flattery. But don’t get personal. Don’t say it’s because the interviewer is charming. It must be something you like about the company, and it must be believable.
Easy! I give her the real reason I’m attracted to this place. The building is right next to a bus stop, so I won’t have to walk far in bad weather.
I don’t get the job.
From Guest Contributor R.K. West
Jul
After Destruction
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
The prophet mutter his pronouncements to a jaded congregation that paid no attention. They didn’t need to hear the truth from the mouth of a crazed zealot to understand this time was different. The world really was coming to an end. At least all the parts that mattered.
War. Drought. Pestilence. Disease.
Everything promised had finally arrived, and the people, rather than tending to their own affairs, were content to rage and destroy and ensure that everyone would meet the same fate. Leave nothing behind.
The prophet continued to mumble for anyone who might be listening.
“After destruction comes rebirth.”
Jul
All I Ever Wanted
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
All I ever wanted was a small measure of happiness to call my own.
I’m not greedy. I’m only asking for my fair share.
Of course, what’s fair for one person may not be fair for someone else. The best among us deserve more than the worst. My share should count for more than the bloodsuckers and sociopaths who do nothing but take. I’m a hard worker, so I’ve earned more than all the lazy people looking for a handout.
If my happiness comes at the expense of all the good-for-nothings in the world, they have only themselves to blame.
Jul
Where’s Frank?
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
It was 2:30. AL’S BAR opened at 3:00. Al, sitting by the counter, squinted at the door.
“Is that you, Edna? We’re closed.”
The place was poorly lit.
“I know. I just wondered if Frank was here last night. He found some money I hid. I figured he must have gone out drinking.”
“Maybe he went to the track?”
“Nah, not enough money.”
“I didn’t see him. Did you try THE TOP HAT or LEO’S LOUNGE?”
“No.”
“How about TED’S PLACE.”
“No way, Al. It wasn’t much money, and you know Frank. He only goes to crummy places like this…”
From Guest Contributor David Sydney
Jul
Run Run Run
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
Last one home is a rotten egg.
Run.
Coach says if I make top two in the state I’ll get a scholarship offer from every school in the country.
Run.
We saw red and blue lights flashing from the front yard at Kristi Fields’ graduation party.
Run.
Becca asked if we were boyfriend and girlfriend now that we’d done it.
Run.
Do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?
Run.
A knock on the door. Blood all over the floor, all over my hands, all over the knife. No one will believe the truth.
Run. Run. Run.
Jul
Confidentiality
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
Busy medical clinic. Patient-chart filing cabinet stuffed. More charts waiting to be shelved, by me. Where to?
It’s the Computer Age. The weight of paper is seriously impacting office health.
I walk by my desk, accidentally knocking down the records I’m to file.
Uncle Frederic is a patient here. He hasn’t told me why.
Footsteps?
Have to gather the wayward folders and pile them neatly onto the desk. The night patrol nods, passing by my opened doorway.
Tomorrow’s a new workday. Perhaps I can linger again after office hours and find out why uncle visits this clinic once a week.
From Guest Contributor Krystyna Fedosejevs
Jul
Guardian Angel
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
Hank takes his job seriously. He clocks in every day on time, and stays exactly how long is required of him. So what if he never volunteers for overtime? There are plenty of colleagues eager to cover for him.
Hank never drinks to excess while on duty. Sure he may get a little tipsy on occasion, but not to the detriment of his charges, who remain his top priority. If anything, drinking in moderation calms his nerves and makes him more effective at angeling.
Yes, he sometimes parties with some friendly devils, but he’s trying to convince them to repent.
Jul
Bird With A Broken Wing
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
One day a bird with a broken wing showed up on the back porch of the old man’s house. He tried nursing the bird back to health. He bought birdseed and he put out water. He took the bird to the vet, and the vet told him there really wasn’t anything they could do for the bird; the wing would never heal enough for the bird to fly again. The man took the bird back home, but the vet was right. One day the man looked out at the porch and saw a single feather, but the bird was gone.
From Guest Contributor Dan Slaten