Posts Tagged ‘Office’
Oct
Mystery Hour
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
A 9-year-old girl trick-or-treating in a black-and-white Halloween costume got mistaken somehow for a skunk. The lead detective on the case is borderline Asperger’s. Covering an entire wall of her grubby office is one of those conspiracy theory maps, with all the pins connected by strings. “I’ll break anything in order to figure out how it works,” she’s famous around headquarters for saying. Her brisk confidence irks male colleagues. “Go away,” one shouts, “and take your shitty forest!” She can’t hear him. She’s out in a far corner of the city collecting evidence of the refulgence of pearls of blood.
From Guest Contributor Howie Good
Howie is the author most recently of Spooky Action at a Distance from Analog Submission Press. He co-edits the journals Unbroken and UnLost.
Dec
Cindy’s Day
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
Cindy sipped her hot cocoa and let the warmth hit her stomach, as she listened to the serene crackling of the fireplace. She opened her book, and cuddled on the couch with her dog Bree, until the phone rang.
“Who could be calling me on my day off?” she asked Bree as she barked. “I feel the same way,” she said as she patted Bree’s head and answered the phone.
“Stan has called in sick. You need to come to the office now,” Cindy’s boss said without a hello.
Her planned relaxing day became a hectic day at the office.
From Guest Contributor Lisa M. Scuderi-Burkimsher
Aug
The Benefit Of Integrity
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
He sat alone at lunch. The rest of the section gathered near the tea urn to create a susurration of disapproval, which reached for some sort of crescendo which might adequately protest his being promoted without due process.
The manager emerged from her office, paused at the door – interrupting her daily early escape – to absorb, glancing occasionally in his direction. Then she approached – a study in authority.
“Sean–”
A sudden gust whipped the vertical blinds inward, toppling a desk tidy perched atop an in-tray filled with unexamined client files. The clatter distracted.
“We’re public servants. They’re entitled. I told them.”
From Guest Contributor Perry McDaid
Oct
Sam
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
Sam was a contradiction. He wore shirts partially tucked in with socks often mismatched. His hair combed in glossy strokes.
He tiptoed to his office cubicle ignoring everyone. They ignored him. Except for Anne who monitored his quota. It must’ve been adequate for he continued to pass me at the reception desk.
One day, I didn’t notice the scent of his signature aftershave. Nor saw his forlorn face staring at the patterned floor as he entered.
A radio news feature announced him as a “person of interest.” Missing. His apartment trashed.
Suddenly, everyone at the office became interested in Sam.
From Guest Contributor Krystyna Fedosejevs
Krystyna writes poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction.
Oct
How To Succeed In Business
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
Stephen had run out of work nearly an hour past and so resorted to tidying his inbox and creating email filters that would almost certainly remain unused after tonight. He thought about brewing another pot of coffee, but the late hour warned him against any more caffeine.
Stephen perked up when he saw the light go out in Mr. Campbell’s office. He scrambled for his bag and coat, flipped off his computer, and almost ran for the elevator. He had a clever joke picked out already.
Mr. Campbell hated these encounters. Tomorrow he would call HR and have Stephen fired.
Sep
Waiting
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
Johnny sat in the waiting room, with sweaty palms, anxiously awaiting the doctor’s results. His eyes searched the area and came across a plump brunette sneezing into her handkerchief. She stuffed it back into her purse and Johnny cringed. He hated germs.
Finally, the nurse called Johnny into Dr. Lovell’s office.
“Johnny, you are perfectly healthy. I called you in because I want you to see a therapist to control your obsessive behavior with germs. Here’s a reputable doctor.” He handed Johnny the paper. “Go home and stop worrying.”
Johnny, relieved, left, but not before sanitizing his hands with Purell.
From Guest Contributor Lisa M. Scuderi-Burkimsher
Oct
The Mad King
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
You timidly stepped inside the royal chambers, unnerved by the rumors of random beheadings and incoherent proclamations. Many people went for a sovereign audience and were never heard from again.
An old man sat the throne. He looked regal, not crazed, dressed in the golden robes and diamond crown of his august office. He stared sternly as, wobbling, you inched forward. In his lap sat a cat, which he stroked gently.
The man opened his mouth to speak and you dropped to one knee.
“The King has an announcement to make.”
Everyone froze as the King opened its mouth.
“Meow.”
Sep
Wedding Anniversary
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
I have gotten myself into trouble over the years, forgetting simple little things like Valentine’s Day, wedding anniversaries, and such. Yes, her birthday too but only sometimes.
This year will be different. I have loaded all the important dates into my iPad, which I left in the office last night by accident.
Nothing can distract me this morning; I am buying a dozen long-stemmed roses, a box of chocolates and a wedding anniversary card, on the way into work.
In the office, I double check my iPad.
Today is the anniversary of my first marriage. What to do now?
From Guest Contributor Barry O’Farrell
Barry is an actor who sometimes writes, living in Brisbane, Australia. Barry’s stories appear in Cyclamens and Swords, The Flash Fiction Press, 101 Words, and of course here at A Story In 100 Words.
Jul
Confession
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
I did it. I killed her in cold blood. I hesitated at first, but she finally got on my nerves.
She tickled my ears, sat on my lap, and touched my private body parts. I asked her to stop but she kept going.
I slapped her in the face. She dropped onto the floor at once. Her skinny, crooked legs twitched a few times in utter disbelief and then she went silent. I picked her up, dropped her dead body in the garbage can, washed my hands, and went back to work.
My office is a “No-Fly Zone.” No exceptions.
From Guest Contributor, Olga Klezovitch
Olga is a scientist who lives in Seattle. Her previous work has appeared in 50-Word Stories and Necon E-Books.
Jan
This Story Takes Place In Minnesota
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
Rebecca hurried from the office. She jumped into the front seat of her car, tossed her bag down next to her, threw the key in the ignition, then suddenly paused.
There was a stranger sitting in the backseat. Rebecca pulled out of the lot and headed towards the highway while trying to avoid looking in the mirror. An awkward silence hung in the air. Rebecca refused to be the first one to say anything.
When she finally pulled into her garage, Rebecca grabbed her bag and hurried into the house. She hoped the man would be gone by the morning.