Fandango’s Flashback Friday: November 13

November 13, 2020 ~ oneletterup ~ 16 Comments

Wouldn’t you like to expose your newer readers to some of your earlier posts that they might never have seen? Or remind your long term followers of posts that they might not remember? Each Friday I will publish a post I wrote on this exact date in a previous year. How about you? Why don’t you reach back into your own archives and highlight a post that you wrote on this very date in a previous year?

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The following post was published on November 13, 2018.

For several months in 2018 I entered the weekly 99 word flash fiction challenge hosted by Charlie Mills at Carrot Ranch Literary Community. At the time I was trying my writing hand at flash fiction.

I had never considered myself a fiction writer (my real life stories had always been stranger than fiction anyway), but I thought it would be fun to try it out. And it was.

I will admit, though, that this flash fiction post was more inspired by real life than my other flash fiction entries were…

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Flash Fiction Challenge – Mashed Potatoes and a Superpower

Flash Fiction Challenge: November 8, 2018, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story that pairs mashed potatoes with a superpower. It can be in any circumstance, funny or poignant. Go where the prompt leads.

My contribution:

Mash Master

More garlic! He shouts. I’ll do it.
Masher in one hand. Stick of butter in the other.
And cream. Garlic and cream.

Twenty years old. Slouching. Half awake.
Scruffy beard. Stained sweatshirt.
Waving them aside.
He scoops up twelve cloves. Minced and done.
Their eyes water from the steam. Whirr of the beaters.
Minutes pass.
Taste! He commands.
They obey.
The garlic bite smoothed out by the creamy russets.
Salt!

The pot of potatoes transformed.
They watch awestruck.
His eyes brighten. He stands up straighter. Grinning.
It’s magical.
You’ve done it again, they cheer.

The Almighty Master of Mashed.

Flash Fiction Challenge – Mashed Potatoes and a Superpower

November 13, 2018November 13, 2020 ~ oneletterup ~ 5 Comments

My contribution:

Mash Master

More garlic! He shouts. I’ll do it.
Masher in one hand. Stick of butter in the other.
And cream. Garlic and cream.

The pot of potatoes transformed.
They watch awestruck.
His eyes brighten. He stands up straighter. Grinning.
It’s magical.
You’ve done it again, they cheer.

The Almighty Master of Mashed.

Flash Fiction Challenge – Pasta

September 16, 2018 ~ oneletterup ~ 3 Comments

Flash Fiction Challenge: September 13, 2018, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story that includes pasta. It can be spagetti, macaroni and cheese, or any variety. It can be a meal or a work of art. Go where the prompt leads.

https://carrotranch.com/2018/09/13/september-13-flash-fiction-challenge/

My contribution:

Lunch

“I think I know who she is.”
“What should we do?”

They whisper, but she hears.
Crouching in the hall shadows. Hidden.
Disappearing. Like before.

“Lunch time!” the nice man calls.
The little girl and little boy are at school.
She perches on the edge of her chair.
Her very own place at their table.

“Honey…” the nice lady begins.
“We’re so sorry…”
Looking down.
“You can’t stay here anymore.”

The girl freezes. Stares. Forkful of spaghetti suspended.
Fingers clench into a fist snapping the fork upright.
Steaming tomato sauce spatters.
Drips down her hand.
Red spreading. Staining.
Everywhere.

Flash Fiction Challenge – Epic Workplace

September 9, 2018September 12, 2018 ~ oneletterup ~ 3 Comments

Flash Fiction Challenge: September 6, 2018, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) write about an epic workplace. It can be real or imagined. Go where the prompt leads.

https://carrotranch.com/2018/09/06/september-6-flash-fiction-challenge/

My Contribution:

Works

“I’m doing my works!”
The little girl demonstrates.
Carefully pouring water from cup to bowl.

The silent visitor watches in surprise.
She’s never seen such a grand school.
Small wooden tables and chairs. A low matching sink.
Sun pouring in on many bright, happy faces.

The little boy calls out “Me too. Look at my works!”
Red cubes stacked high.
A place for important work. For all.
Pouring. Sorting. Counting. Writing.
Girls and boys. Older helping younger.
Just like her.

The teacher, sitting on the big rug, smiles.
Please join us for circle time.
Welcome to Greenwood Montessori school.

Flash Fiction Challenge – Bottleneck

September 2, 2018May 25, 2020 ~ oneletterup ~ 9 Comments

Flash Fiction Challenge: August 30, 2018, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story about a bottleneck. You can be literal or use the term to describe congestion. Go where the prompt leads.

https://carrotranch.com/2018/08/31/august-30-flash-fiction-challenge/

My contribution:

The Slide

She sees it. Poking out from under the sofa. She reaches down, closing her hand around the smooth green glass.

Just like Gramma’s! When she played the big guitar. Special for her.

“Honey, this is a bottleneck slide. It goes on my finger. Look!”

Then Gramma would smile, wink and whisper…

“This song is just for you.”

Pressing on the strings, she’d slide the glass. And sing. And fill them both up…

”If not for you…I’d be sad and blue if not for you…”

The little girl finds her there.

Holding the green slide. Tight.

“You found it!”

Flash Fiction Challenge – Magic

August 25, 2018 ~ oneletterup ~ 7 Comments

Flash Fiction Challenge: August 23, 2018, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story that includes magic. It can be a supernatural force, a moment or idea, or use it as a verb. Go where the prompt leads.

https://carrotranch.com/2018/08/24/august-23-flash-fiction-challenge/

“Breakfast”

Nobody even mentions the comet.

But she saw it! Last night. Out the window.

Would they even believe her?

Nobody believes her. Ever.

The little boy squints at her over his oatmeal.

Come on…what’s your name?

She shakes her head. Chews.

The little girl smiles at her.

If only she could stay here forever.

She wishes hard for a magic wand.

Poof! She would belong in this blue house with the swings.

This nice man. This nice lady. This little girl and little boy. And her. Safe.

She would stop remembering.

And she’d never have to go back.

Flash Fiction Challenge – Comet

August 19, 2018May 28, 2020 ~ oneletterup ~ 7 Comments

Flash Fiction Challenge: August 16, 2018, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story about a comet. You can consider how it features into a story, influences a character, or creates a mood. Go where the prompt leads.

https://carrotranch.com/2018/08/16/august-16-flash-fiction-challenge/

My contribution:

The screen door slams behind them.
She rushes past the little boy. Runs upstairs.
The little girl stays behind.

What happened? he asks.
I think she’s scared, the little girl answers, eyes wide.
Someone was spying on us from the woods!

They like this new silent mysterious guest.
She stays upstairs. They let her be.

Day becomes night.
She crawls from under the bed.
Peeks out the window, eyes scanning left and right.
Nobody out there.

Transfixed by the starry night, she sees it.
A blazing white streak across the sky.
Like from the book.
A comet!

She remembers.

Flash Fiction Challenge – Peering from the woods

August 12, 2018May 28, 2020 ~ oneletterup ~ 3 Comments

Flash Fiction Challenge: August 9, 2018, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story that includes an act of “peering from the woods.” Go where the prompt leads.

https://carrotranch.com/2018/08/09/august-9-flash-fiction-challenge/

My contribution:

She likes it here. How the breeze blows her hair as she swings. Back and forth.
The soft sweat pants protect the scabs on her legs.

What’s your name? the little boy keeps asking.
But she keeps shaking her head. Silent.

The little girl asks Ya wanna swing with me?
She smiles and nods.

In mid swing she sees it.
A flash of red. Movement.

In woods across the street.
Foot down scraping grass.

Swing slows. Jumps off. Stares hard.
Fists clench.

Someone is peering at her from under a tree.

Turning around, she runs.
The little girl follows.

Flash Fiction Challenge – Yellow Tent

August 5, 2018May 28, 2020 ~ oneletterup ~ 3 Comments

Flash Fiction Challenge: August 2, 2018, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story that includes a yellow tent. Where is it and who does it belong to? Think of how the color adds to the story. Go where the prompt leads.

https://carrotranch.com/2018/08/03/august-2-flash-fiction-challenge/

My contribution:

A Little Yellow Tent

Are you okay kid?
The last thing she remembers is a truck door closing.
Then sleeping in this soft lap.
She struggles to open her eyes. So tired.

Where Am I?

Kid! What’s your name? Who are you?
She turns toward the voice. A kind voice.
A smooth hand covers hers. Gentle and warm.
Something in her untwists.

Tears escape, sliding down her face.
She feels herself lifted up.
Hears a door opening.
She peeks. A blue house. Flowers. Swings.

A little girl. A little boy.
A little yellow tent; flap up. Toys inside.
“Ya wanna play?”

She smiles.

Flash Fiction Challenge – Stranded Suitcase

July 28, 2018 ~ oneletterup ~ 2 Comments

Flash Fiction Challenge: July 26, 2018, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story about what happens next to a stranded suitcase. Go where the prompt leads you, but consider the different perspectives you can take to tell the tale.

https://carrotranch.com/2018/07/27/july-26-flash-fiction-challenge/

My contribution:

The Respite Suitcase

She is so very tired. Of walking and walking.

The sun blinding as she emerges from the woods.

Dirty. Legs scratched. Cotton dress torn.

Cars roar by. A motorcycle backfires.

She jumps, turning to go back.

Then she sees it. It looks kind of familiar.

Grimy and gouged, its rusty metal corners bent in.

An old suitcase stranded in the brush.

She stumbles over to it, considering.