Posts Tagged ‘Tree’
Oct
Miss Plum In The Bedroom With The Candlestick
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
Crime was common back then, and the law itself often criminal. Nobody was safe from the thugs prowling the city. It took constant and wearying vigilance to survive. If I happened to fall asleep, I’d wake up afraid. I think I was afraid she wouldn’t be there, peering out through a crack in the curtains. Why you here? I asked the first time she appeared. She just gave a fuzzy, fragile smile. The ambiguity was intentional. When you leave details out, it opens up possibilities for what can be – an ancient tree whose entwined branches support 34 brilliantly burning candles.
From Guest Contributor Howie Good
Howie co-edits the journals UnLost and Unbroken with Dale Wisely
May
The Snake Tree
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
The forest saw it all. Less than a moon turn she lasted.
Wrapped in a shroud, he planted her in the leafy earth under the shade of birch and pine. Worms and beetles took her to the forest, bit by bit.
She called to him from the snake tree, and he rushed to her while the moon shone across the water. They lay on sheets of green. Her embrace was stronger than death. Beetles and worms took him bit by bit. The rustle of leaves and the sighing of wind.
The forest saw it all and the forest was pleased.
From Guest Contributor David Rae
David lives in Scotland. He loves stories that exist just below the surface of things, like deep water.
He has most recently had work published or forthcoming in; THE FLATBUSH REVIEW, THE HORROR TREE, LOCUST, ROSETTA MALEFICARIUM, SHORT TALE 100, and 50 WORD STORIES. You can read more at Davidrae-stories.com
May
Happy Max
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
Perhaps it’s the abundant sunshine, or the bees pollinating the flowers, or even the birds flying from tree to tree. Or, it could just be that Max is a happy man. Yes, happy. He walks around the neighborhood listening to his favorite group U2 on his iPod. His stride quickens to their song, The Streets Have No Name. He waves to his young neighbor Tammy, who is riding her pink striped bicycle.
“Max, watch out!” Tammy bellows.
Max turns, but it’s too late. The last thing he sees before the car strikes him is birds soaring above, and feet approaching.
From Guest Contributor Lisa M. Scuderi-Burkimsher
Mar
Storm
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
Having left my car behind, smashed against a tree in the forest, I’ve been walking for hours, with the snow and wind against my face. My feet half frozen, barely able to breathe and my hands numb, I’m lonely and afraid. If only I could see in front of me, but it’s becoming dark and the snow distorts my vision.
I can’t go any further. I fall to the cushioned ground and pray my death will be painless. I close my eyes and feel the snow cover my body. I drift off, and the last thing I see is darkness.
From Guest Contributor Lisa M. Scuderi-Burkimsher
Dec
The Tiny Box
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
Rosa watched the Christmas lights flickering on the house across the street. Green, red, blue and white, gleaming through her window. She took a sip of tea and let the warmth settle in her stomach.
Under the Christmas tree sat a tiny box from Steve, neatly wrapped in gold paper and a red bow.
A year had passed since Steve’s death and Rosa wouldn’t open the box without him.
Deep inside she knew what would be in the box, but truly knowing would break her heart.
Every year Rosa continued putting the box under the tree and never opened it.
From Guest Contributor Lisa M. Scuderi-Burkimsher
Nov
Nothing To Lose
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
Tim pressed his foot to the accelerator.
“Hey, moron, you’re all over the road,” yelled the man in the next lane.
Tim screamed and threw his beer bottle at the car. He lost his job, his wife and just found out he had terminal cancer. He continued swerving, cars honking, until his eyes blurred and his head ached. Inebriated and driving recklessly, he crashed into a tree.
“Oh My God!” yelled a jogger passing on the dirt path. “Are you okay?”
Tim moaned before answering.
“I’ll never be okay again.” He backed up and drove away, leaving the woman dumbfounded.
From Guest Contributor Lisa M. Scuderi-Burkimsher
Oct
Deadly Hour
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
John, riding down the dark empty road at three o’clock in the morning, takes a swig of beer.
“I can’t believe Amy is marrying that jerk! She said she loved me. That lying witch!”
Inebriated, he swerves in and out of lanes, his vision blurry. He presses on the accelerator just missing an approaching car. The driver honks his horn profusely at Johnny. Laughing, Johnny takes his eyes off the road and crashes head on into a tree.
Lying dead with his head on the steering wheel and his thumb pressing on Amy’s cell number, the phone begins to dial.
From Guest Contributor Lisa M. Scuderi-Burkimsher
May
Summer Days
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
Joseph peered out his bedroom window, the summer sun beating on his old tired face. At ninety-five, he didn’t care. He enjoyed watching the children play hopscotch, giggling and waiting for the bells of the ice cream truck. Every time, the girls would drop their chalk and run to the sound. In the background birds flew from tree to tree. Joseph remembered those summer days as if it were yesterday.
“Time for your medication, Joseph,” said the home care nurse.
Joseph turned in his wheelchair and took his medication. He knew any day he’d never see those children play again.
From Guest Contributor Lisa M. Scuderi-Burkimsher
Apr
Bad Journey
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
Rob drove down the back road at excessive amounts of speed. After losing his job, his fiancée, Felicia, broke off their engagement. He swerved into the next lane and an oncoming car approached.
“Watch it, nut!”
“Screw you,” Rob yelled.
Those few seconds his eyes were off the road, he came head on with a tree. His head slumped on the steering wheel, horn honking.
Several hours later he awakened handcuffed to a hospital bed with a policeman standing next to him.
“Once the doctor releases you, you’re coming to the station with me.”
Could Rob’s life get any worse?
From Guest Contributor Lisa M. Scuderi-Burkimsher
Dec
The True Meaning Of Christmas
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
Three-year-old Hannah placed a reindeer ornament on the Christmas tree while her mother put on the sparkling red star topper. The tree with its colorful lights lit up the room.
Hannah’s mother admired its beauty. “Your father will be very surprised.”
“Do you think Santa will bring me everything I asked for?” Hannah danced in a circle.
“Presents aren’t the true meaning of Christmas. We celebrate the birth of baby Jesus.”
Hannah didn’t quite understand, but picked up the baby Jesus from the manger.
“Mom can we buy Jesus a present for Christmas?”
Hannah’s mother touched her face and smiled.
From Guest Contributor Lisa M. Scuderi-Burkimsher