Tag: Flash Fiction

Fandango’s Flashback Friday: November 13

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Fandango’s Flashback Friday: November 13

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

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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 – Pasta

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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

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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 – Comet

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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

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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

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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

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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.

I’ll just rest here for now. It’s okay.

She cleans a spot for sitting, picking off dead leaves.

Carefully lowering herself down, she sighs; eyelids closing.

As a truck pulls over. Unnoticed.

Flash Fiction Challenge – Fannie Hooe

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Flash Fiction Challenge: July 19, 2018, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story about Fannie Hooe. Although she is a legend in the Kewenaw, feel free to go where the prompt leads.

https://carrotranch.com/2018/07/19/july-19-flash-fiction-challenge/

 

My contribution:

Fannie Hooe

Let them think I’m out picking blueberries!

Fannie’s mind raced as she ran through the woods; not noticing her long dress catching on low branches. Leaving a fabric trail.

Fannie this Fannie that. Do they think I’m just a servant? I’m mighty tired of taking care of everyone. She dreaded going back to Virginia. And she loved it here near Fort Wilkins. Beautiful and calm.

The lake! There it is! She smiled. Sweat dripped from her face.

“FANNY HOOE!”

Thornton must be looking for her, but she didn’t care.

It was so hot and the water was so close.

Flash Fiction Challenge – Broken Fence

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Flash Fiction Challenge: July 12, 2018, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story about a broken fence. You can mend it, leave it, or explain its place in a story. Go where the prompt leads.

https://carrotranch.com/2018/07/12/july-12-flash-fiction-challenge/

My contribution:

Matter of Time

Damn her.

His hand hurt like hell. She’d broken the skin.

Blood smeared onto the bed as he pulled himself up.

Damn her.

He stumbled out the open back door into the yard.

He lit a cigarette and growled…I know you’re out here. It’s just a matter of time.

Moonlight reflected off the chicken wire on the old split rail fence. The entire yard surrounded. And overgrown.

He smiled and spoke…You Know There’s No Way Out. 

Then he noticed it. Mangled wire. Rotted wood in pieces. An opening.

A broken fence had ruined everything.

She was gone.