Welcome back to the Weird, the Wild, & the Wicked. It's Thursday again, so what should you be doing? Writing #FlashFiction, that's what! Welcome to Week 50 of #ThursThreads, the challenge that ties tales together. Need the rules? Read on!
Here's how it works:
- The prompt is a line from the previous week's winning tale.
- The prompt can appear ANYWHERE in your story and is included in your word count.
Rules to the Game:
- This is a Flash Fiction challenge, which means your story must be a minimum of 100 words, maximum of 250.
- Incorporate the prompt as written anywhere into your story (included in your word count).
- Post your story in the comments section of this post
- Include your word count (or be excluded from judging)
- Include your Twitter handle or email (so we know how to find you)
- The challenge is open 7 AM to 7 PM Pacific Time
- The winner will be announced on Friday, depending on how early the judge gets up. ;)
How it benefits you:
- You get a nifty cool badge to display on your blog or site (because we're all about promotion - you know you are!)
- You get instant recognition of your writing prowess on this blog!
- Your writing colleagues shall announce and proclaim your greatness on Facebook, Twitter, and Google Plus
Our Judge for Week 50:
The erotic romance author, Sci-fi adventurist, and Typo Sniper, Cara Michaels.
Today, Cara's newest release comes out from Evernight Publishing and it's a hot (hawt) one. Their First Noelle is available at Evernight, Amazon, ARe, and Bookstrand. Just read the blurb. It's hot stuff (and a damn fun story as only Cara can deliver!).
Ahem, so now your #ThursThreads Challenge, tying tales together.
The Prompt:
“You don’t hear us whining!”
All stories written herein are the property (both intellectual and physical) of the authors. Now, away with you, Flash Fiction Fanatics, and show us your #ThursThreads. Good luck! :)
The nights are darker and longer now. The smoke and ashes block the moon and I can’t remember the last time I saw the twinkling light of a star.This journal continues to keep me sane and alive but my new friend helps as well.
ReplyDeleteI found her laying virtually lifeless under the wreckage of a school bus downtown, starving and eaten alive by fleas and ticks. She looked up at me, without moving, and whimpered. The mangiest mutt I had ever seen but the only living being around for miles as far as I knew.
We stayed under the bus for a week as I fed her canned meat from my own small rations until she could lift her head and eventually stand on her own shaky legs. I bathed her as best I could with the soot filled water from a puddle nearby. Trying in vain to give both of us some respectability but we both smell terrible. It’s ok though.
“You don’t hear us whining!” I yell out while rubbing her wet sides as she feebly tries to wag her singed tail.
She never leaves my side and I speak to her as if she can understand exactly what I am saying. I’m pretty convinced she can, at least on some level. I’ve been hesitating to give her name though.
For some reason it feels like it would be harder to lose her if she had a name.
Maybe tomorrow I’ll give her one. A good one.
Word Count: 250
SE_ADAMS_
"Family Tunes”
ReplyDeleteI slink to the table, head down, and take my usual spot. If I survive the meal, I’ll do things a lot differently.
“Trevor, you have something you want to tell us?” my mom says in that tone mothers always get when they’re gathering power, like a hurricane just before landfall.
“Uh, sorry?” I offer. The words will seem inconsequential to them, but what else can I say?
My father perks up, no doubt sniffing blood in the water and wanting his fair share. “What’s going on?”
“Oh…your son thought it would be great sport to post a private family video on YouTube.”
His eyes blast open and he and my mother exchange a look. She gives a tiny shake of her head.
“I was bored,” I offer feebly.
“Bored? Bored!” A fist slams against the table with enough force to trampoline all the silverware into new helter-skelter patterns. “When I was your age, I had a job that kept me so busy I fell asleep brushing my teeth!”
My mother adds a verse to the familiar tune. “I had to mend clothing for six brothers and sisters. We didn’t get designer duds every other month like some spoiled children I know.”
My father whips out his favorite. “We didn’t have computers or the internet or YouTube. We had something called the real world. You don’t hear us whining about—“
“It’s gone viral.” I show my father my iPad’s display.
A real world smile blooms. “That’s my boy!”
***
@lila_shaw
249 words excluding title
Share and Share alike
ReplyDelete“That feels good,” Keri purred as Glen massaged her lower back.
“You worked your cute little ass off tonight, you deserve a reward.”
I agree,” a new voice added as a hand caressed her bare leg. Keri yelped in shock and scrambled to sit up.
“Jesse?” She stared up at chiseled features of Glen’s best friend, who was standing beside the bed with a grin on his handsome face.
“Hi, babe.”
“What are you—”
“What, don’t I rate a hello?” Another voice asked and Keri’s cheeks flared hot as she turned and met Jason’s hot-eyed stare. He was leaning up against the doorframe wearing only a pair of low slung jeans.
“What the hell are you two doing here?” Keri demanded as she tried to ignore the liquid heat of desire she felt whenever the four of them were together.
“I told you guys to be patient.”
“Not going to happen, Glen.” The bed sagged as Jesse settled himself beside Keri and gently brushed her hair back from her face. “We’ve waited long enough.”
“Not yet,” Glen growled. “I’m not ready to share.”
“We want her too, and you don’t hear us whining about sharing.”
Keri’s heart was pounding as she let her gaze bounce from man to man. “You all want me?”
“You have no idea how much, babe.” Jason strolled over to the bed and brushed a kiss to her upturned mouth.
Keri took a deep breath and then smiled. “We’re going to need a bigger bed.”
250 words
@capricia13
“Girls! Dinner!”
ReplyDeleteI watched as my two girls settled at the table, Priscilla climbing into her booster seat.
“All we had was peas, so that’s what you get.” Peas are not terribly popular around here, but they will eat them if coerced. “You eat those and you can have some cake and ice cream for dessert.”
“I hate peas,” Eliza grumbled, moving her spoon slowly to her mouth. “Why do I have to eat peas?”
“Because that’s all we have,” I reminded her, as I fixed sandwiches for everyone. My husband came in from shoveling the walk and I smiled. “Come on, Jack, dinner’s on.”
“Can we play outside after this?” Priscilla asked, choking down a pea. She looked at me with pleading blue eyes.
“If you eat those peas,” I reminded her. I tucked into a bowl of them myself and smiled. “I love peas.”
“I hate peas,” Eliza whined again and I sighed. “Do I have to eat these?”
“You don’t hear us whining!” Jacoby scolded her. “Eat your peas and then you can play outside.”
Both heaved a heavy sigh and I resisted the urge to laugh. “They’re just peas, guys. If you eat those, we’ll go play outside after dinner. And then we’ll go shopping and you can have a more palatable vegetable for supper. Deal?”
The girls nodded, as they slowly ate their peas. I had to laugh: you’d think it was the end of the world.
242 Words
@Aightball
I looked at the axe I was carrying, observing the razor sharp blade at its top. Moses spoke. “You know what to do, don’t you?”
ReplyDeleteAbraham answered him. “Of course, he knows!”
“Shut up!” I hissed. “You’re making me nervous!” Even I could hear the tension and anger in my voice. “Shut up!” I leaned the axe against the wall of the garage.
Moses smiled that kind, understanding smile of his. “Do you want me to do this?”
I pulled my ski mask over my head, making sure it covered all of my face. “No. I’ll do it.”
Abraham whispered, “Now, remember, Kevin. Stay calm.”
I pulled my work gloves over my hands. “I am calm!” I hissed. “Now, shut up, and let me do this.” I picked up the axe. I quietly opened the door connecting the garage to the house, slowly made my way through the Kitchen and Living Room, then down the hall, past my bedroom, and the bathroom. I opened the door to their bedroom. I stopped. “Lilly is really pretty,” I whispered. “Do I have to do this?”
Moses sighed. “Yes. You have to.”
Abraham whispered again, “You don’t hear us whining about it, do you?”
“Maybe I could just do this to Stephen?”
Abraham shook his head, “No. It has to be both of them.”
Moses continued, “It’s for the best. They think we’re not real.”
I stepped into the bedroom and raised the axe. Moses and Abraham cheered with each strike I made.
250 Words
@LurchMunster
JAIL TALK
ReplyDeleteThe flaming lion with ruby eyes regained his feet and shook out the dust of his arrival. Noticing another figure in the darkness he growled salutation.
“What are you in for?”
“Ten thousand years,” The figure hissed, twisting and twining over itself amorphously.
“Stupid crusaders,” The lion’s mane flared brighter. “I must have devoured a legion of them before they finally overwhelmed me. What in their tiny mortal minds makes that an acceptable price for my imprisonment?”
“Twelve entire civilizations sacrificed themselves entirely to bind us. You don’t hear us whining!”
“I’m just saying it would have taken a decade for me to go through that many on my normal diet. It doesn’t make sense.”
115 words
@DavidALudwig
LOVE IN THE TIME OF ZOMBIES
ReplyDeleteKeegan’s voice echoed across the camp. “You don’t hear us whining about our chores, so stop sniveling about yours!”
“You’re wasting your breath, bud,” Rex said, grunting as they hefted another body into the fire.
“We keep them safe and fed every day and they’re gonna bellyache about washing our clothes?”
Rex shrugged. “I keep telling you we’d be better off on our own.”
“And just how would I broach the subject with Ada? ‘Hey, sis, how about you leave the few female friends and personal belongings you have and head come adventuring with me and Nicolson?’”
“You’re not doing her any favors treating her like a child.”
“Yeah? What do you know about it? You don’t have a sister. For all I know, you’ve never even had a girlfriend. Only time you smile is when you’re killing stuff.”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”
Keegan laughed. “Not bad at all, considering how the world went to hell in a hot hurry!”
“That was the last carcass,” Rex said, putting his gloves in his pocket. “Gonna wash up before chow. See you in ten.”
He stopped by Keegan’s tent on the way to the creek.
“Ada. You in there?”
She poked her head out. “Yeah, trying to keep warm.”
He handed her a glass bottle.
“Pink nail polish!”
“Color reminded me of you.”
“You talk my brother into leaving yet?”
He shook his head.
“Come in, handsome. You can paint my toenails while we strategize.”
- - - - -
@bullishink / 247 words
#ThursThreads is now CLOSED. Thank you to everyone who wrote this week and hope to see you next week. :)
ReplyDelete