Posts Tagged ‘Guest Contributor’
Jan
A Centuplicate Of Cosmic Horror
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
The audience sat, rapt, as the medium paced the stage before them, one finely-manicured hand cupped to his ear. “I’m picking up a name.” The crowd ooo-ed. “Does anyone here know a…sorry, can’t quite catch it.” He frowned in concentration. “Kuh- two…?” An impressed murmur swept the auditorium. “Too…too…Lou?” He scrunched his eyes up. A dimness began to beset the cheaper seats in the balcony. “Kuh-too-lou. Does anyone here, ladies and gents, have a loved one of that name who-” A rushing wind drowned his last words. The lights went out. Someone, or some thing, screamed.
From Guest Contributor Matt Thompson
Jan
Kitchen Of The Future
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
Jack Masterton placed a smooth red potato in a clear plastic box and
pressed a button.
Tens of microbots crawled out of a chute and onto the potato. Jack
watched their coordinated dance, each microbot leaving behind a
straight white line exposing the starchy flesh.
Stage two. The microbots circled between the potato and an exit chute,
each carrying a tiny ball of peel which they flung in the chute. Each
then returned to the potato.
Stage three. Jack removed the perfectly peeled potato from the box and
smiled to himself. Amazing that people once used a knife for this.
From Guest Contributor Ross Clement
Jan
Fresh Start
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
“That didn’t work, nor this,” Nancy said striking out rows on her list.
A friend called. “How’s the dieting going?”
“What dieting?” Nancy answered.
“I’ve started,” April said. “No carbs. Only healthy eating.”
Nancy sighed. “What’s the point? You’ll be packing on pounds at Valentine’s, then Easter. Why start now?”
“It’s a new year, Nancy. I’m overweight. So are you.”
“I’d rather be happily plump.”
“You still have time before the next new year if you start planning now. Chinese New Year starts on February 8th.”
“I love Chinese. Won’t see me starving at a Dim Sum.”
“Neither will I.”
From Guest Contributor Krystyna Fedosejevs
Krystyna writes poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. Her work has been published at: Nailpolish Stories, 50-Word Stories, 100 word story, 101 Words, Boston Literary Magazine, From the Depths (Haunted Waters Press), ShortbreadStories, SixWordMemoirs, and Espresso Stories.
Jan
Jobs For Humans
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
The android smiled at Brad. “Did you enjoy your work day last week?”
“Watching androids build walls? Are there any jobs where I actually do
something?”
The android paused. “A day as a headmaster at a school?”
Later, another android greeted Brad at the school gates. “Mr Earnshaw,
come this way.”
“What will I be doing?”
“You’ll be giving the human day teachers a motivational talk on how
important their role is.”
“Do they teach?”
“The children are busy with android led classes.”
Brad was stood in front of a room of bored humans, and left to do his job.
From Guest Contributor Ross Clement
Jan
A Viking Burial
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
“Who does this anymore?” Joshua asked. “A viking burial — is it even legal?”
I looked out at the lake, its opposite shoreline no longer visible under the moonless night sky. The family lake house was well secluded, shrouded in forest nearly twenty miles thick.
“It’s what he would have wanted,” I answered, glancing down at the lifeless figure in the wooden canoe, hands gracefully folded, with a wreath of crumpled newspaper haloing his head.
With a heavy sigh, Joshua waded the canoe out to water as I lit several matches. He smirked.
“Feels like cheating, without the bow and arrow.”
From Guest Contributor Amanda S.
Jan
Death’s Splendid Gifts
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
Death and beauty were bound by love.
Its strength bore them two children in turn.
A prophet, intuitive and quick.
A defender, strong and kind.
Content together, all offered their talents so the world could partake of their bliss.
Beauty blessed creation, allowing all to enjoy its earthly splendor.
The prophet gave insight to decipher and atone for man’s errors.
The defender offered courage and strength to the masses.
Death bestowed his touch to all, releasing them from life’s toil.
Under their hand, humanity found constants, forever extant as long as man lived.
All inevitable, all wondrous and all binding.
From Guest Contributor Michelle Vongkaysone
Jan
Spending A Penny Dreadful
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
The Fleadh Ceoil festival was at its height. Those who hadn’t arrived early were relegated to rural camp-sites.
Still, even on the outskirts of the small Kerry village the women’s toilets were dutifully labelled with the Gaelige ‘MNA.’ It wouldn’t do for traditional/folk festivals to be less than authentic.
The next generation of the attending family carnivals had finished their setting-up chores and, thankful of the break, watched with some amusement as the drunk approached with strained gait and increasing urgency until finally bursting into the ‘Ladies,’ zip down.
Screams.
“Must be a wil’ handling being dyslexic,” one mused.
From Guest Contributor Perry McDaid
Dec
Predestiny
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
It was a typical thing for him to say on a first date. “In the future, if we both find a way to travel back in time, we should agree to go back to now, right now, at precisely 8.00pm. Then we will know for certain if it is possible. Deal?”
As she answered, a loud crash startled the couple. Covering their ears from the terrifying screeches, they peered through the restaurant window to a display of smoke, sparks and flashing lights.
She held his hand tightly. Within the twisted frames of metal, lay the scorched bodies of two travelers.
From Guest Contributor JR Hampton
Dec
Mall Christmas
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
Christmas shoppers crush the mall their noisy chatter drowning out tinny holiday music. Fairy lights glimmer from boughs bedecked with fusty smelling red bows. At the epicenter of the mayhem is Santa Claus, surrounded by dingy fluffy snow. Corralling people into a staggering line, the elves keep order as Santa’s beard is yanked — it’s real! — and wishes whispered in his ear. A ruffled and flustered child heads for the over-sized presents next to Santa’s worn throne. Ripping shiny paper away, the child’s eyes fill with tears — it’s empty! A quick-thinking elf offers a fat orange. Tears gone. Christmas is saved!
From Guest Contributor D. K. White-Atkinson
Dec
The Cookie Jar
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
Leon sat across the kitchen table, gulping down instant coffee and looking everywhere but at Jaclyn. He was late for work, again, and spoke of nothing else. The toaster pinged and he bustled away.
She felt that their love was like a cookie jar. At first it was full of unexpected treats: crumbly sweetness with sticky jam fillings, dark chocolate coated crunchy goodness, and much, much more.
Now she felt that if she turned the jar upside down and shook it, there might be a few crumbs in there. But it would be too much effort for too little return.
From Guest Contributor Ross Clement