Posts Tagged ‘Guest Contributor’
Jun
Who Am I?
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
When my parents told me the news that I was adopted, it didn’t shock me. I knew that I was different. I have black hair and deep brown eyes, and both my parents have hazel eyes and blond hair. I was told I took after my grandfather who died before my time. Conveniently, no one had pictures.
I decided to track my biological parents. Now we’re meeting for the first time at their home, and I have a lot of questions.
I stood outside pondering whether to go in since I may not like the answers.
I turned and left.
From Guest Contributor Lisa M. Scuderi-Burkimsher
May
Something To Eat
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
“The city is breaking up the encampment, clearing us out,” Olivia said. “I’m leaving.”
“Where are you going?” asked Simone.
“Jail.”
“Jail? Why?”
“In jail I’ll eat every day, have a place to sleep, shower and go to the toilet.”
Simone shivered and pulled the blanket tight around her shoulders. “Jail is awful.”
“Being old and homeless is worse.”
“How will you get sent to jail?”
Olivia opened her coat, exposing the pistol tucked in her waistband. “I’m robbing the first bank I see.”
Simone watched Olivia walk away and tried to ignore the hunger growling deep in her belly.
From Guest Contributor Robert P. Bishop
Robert, a US Army veteran and former Biology teacher, lives in Tucson, Arizona. His short fiction has appeared in numerous online and print journals.
May
Top Ten Tips For Spies In The Dentist’s Office Waiting Room
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
1. Power down the flip phone (V2.0) hidden in your black loafers.
2. Set video camera sunglasses to record in 4K resolution.
3. Be suspicious of anyone sporting sunglasses in waiting room.
4. Scan wall posters for cryptic ciphers such as ‘Password=PW123.’
5. Take notes, e.g., ‘Subject has engaged eye contact.’
6. Respond with ‘thank you’ if anyone says ‘You’re acting all weird, man.’
7. Refuse offers of Xylitol-laced lollipops, esp. sour cherry flavoured.
8. Ask yourself, ‘Does my dentist have a Russian accent?’
9. Keep eyes open, mouth shut, antenna tuned.
10. Avoid divulging important state secrets while sedated.
From Guest Contributor Elizabeth Murphy
May
Wanderlust
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
The pulse of the city is becoming my own. I woke up with a thrumming headache this morning. The night and the dawn are a patchwork in my aching head. When I walk down the street, steam ripples off the pavement, as intangible as my disintegrating memories. How is my stranger? I wonder. The one from last night’s club. Gone now. He’s returned back to his own life after our brief collision: my drunken frame hung off his neck. His glassy brown gaze still holds me. Power lines cross my heart. My eyes swim in the summer sweat and rain.
From Guest Contributor Siri Harrison
May
It Happens Like This
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
How many years since your hand found her knee? She will never leave you. Your voice is her background music, her dance. Smile at her from across the kitchen, her hands sorting knives and forks. Her smile is for you, but her thoughts are there, with him. That day. Cold wind pulled them close. Her hand on his neck, his hands in her hair. She knows by now she’d have tired of him as well. Forgotten how she spent afternoons in his freckled arms. She’d gaze across a room not seeing him, not feeling more than this slow, quiet day.
From Guest Contributor Beth Mead
May
Fool
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
People stared as my white wedding gown dragged along the pathway to the motel room, my head piece barely hanging on. I shut the door and removed the pins from my hair shaking the curls loose. That snake cheated on me with my best friend on our wedding day. I snuck to the house and packed a bag as soon as I saw them together. Now I’m in this dumpy motel, my wedding gown thrown on a chair that has cigarette burns, while staring blankly at the television.
I won’t be made a fool of.
They’ll find that out soon.
From Guest Contributor Lisa M. Scuderi-Burkimsher
May
We Will All Stop Using Acronyms
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
Friday afternoon: Another email pinged through from the boss, full of acronyms and bullet points. Bullet points always made Stella want to shoot herself.
“WTF,” Stella replied. “This is CRAP. CBA, TBH.” She went home.
***
Monday morning: “Stella. My office. Now.”
***
“Well, of course I mean Wednesday/Thursday/Friday,” Stella explained. “There’s to be a Completion Report After Production. Your IRK suggestion Can Be Arranged. Your third request, the prioritization protocol presentation, I’ve marked To Be Handled.” She drew a long breath.
***
Another email pinged through as Stella returned to her desk: “Moving forward we will all stop using acronyms…”
Stella smiled.
From Guest Contributor Fiona M Jones
May
After The Verdict
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
“Mr. Bromley, before I sentence you, do you have anything to say to this Court?”
“I’m innocent, Your Honor.”
“I meant anything more than that nonsense. You’ve been found guilty by a jury of your peers. You understand, don’t you?”
“I think I would’ve done better with a different lawyer.”
“By the way…Why did you choose your brother-in-law, Mr. Bromley?”
“Because, Your Honor, my sister-in-law cost a lot more. But I tell you, I’m innocent.”
“I told you to stop saying that.”
“Your Honor…”
“Yes…”
“Maybe if I’d offered a better bribe? Would that have made all the difference?”
From Guest Contributor David Sydney
Apr
The Ghost Fox
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
We had never seen such a white fox. At first we called it a ghost fox.
Foxes cannot talk so think of it as a fairy story and go with it.
I was teaching the white fox binary arithmetic. There are 10 types of fox. Those who understand binary arithmetic and those who do not.
What he said at first was reassuring in a way.
“We do not eat humans. You are too big and the meat just goes off.”
“We do kill you though.” The last bit was a little muffled because he had his teeth in my neck.
From Guest Contributor Derek McMillan
Apr
Breakfast
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
“Mel, you don’t happen to have any rat poison on you, do you?”
“What’d you mean by that?”
“Well…it’s a kind of poison that you use on…”
“I know what rat poison is, Ed.”
They were at the counter of AL’S DINER, eating their breakfasts.
“You don’t need to get upset.”
“Look, Ed, I’m trying to finish my oatmeal.”
“I know. But I asked Marge already.”
Marge was the waitress.
“She said they didn’t have any to take care of the rat that’s been running around the place this morning.”
“What?”
“The one there…That one, by your foot.”
From Guest Contributor David Sydney