Friday, April 25, 2014

#ThursThreads - Week 117 - Winners


Week 117 of #ThursThreads had some terrific tales. I'm honored to see all of the returning writers and read your stories. Thank you for coming back again and again to write and for helping me celebrate these years of flash. It was also wonderful to have some new folks stop by. Welcome! Great thanks to Katie Salidas for judging this week. Be sure to check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on FB to keep up with news, etc.

Entries:
  • Olivia Starke | @OliviaStarke
  • Silver James | @SilverJames_
  • Cari Oleskewicz | @carilynn72
  • Leslynne L'amour | @UndeadNether
  • Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir
  • Anna Lund | @AnnaLund2011
  • Sandy Lane | @sandyquill
  • Kelly Heinen | @Aightball
  • M.T. Decker | @mishmhem
  • Josh Peters | @joshbgosh
  • Mark Ethridge | @LurchMunster
  • Louisa Bacio | @LouisaBacio
Katie says: Wow! Let me just start by saying, “Kudos to you all.” There were some really fun reads this week. Thank you so much for calling me in to judge. I had a great time reading tonight!

Winners Announcement:

Honorable Mentions

Olivia Starke | @OliviaStarke
Katie says: Beautiful imagery of the setting sun, raw emotions, and anticipation. You painted a lovely picture that lets the reader really connect with the character.

M.T. Decker | @mishmhem
Katie says: What a delightfully evil twist you threw in at the end. Those are always so much fun.

Louisa Bacio | @LouisaBacio
Katie says: You made me connect with the character and really feel her disappointment. Lovely little details like the office flirtation just add fuel to the ending blow!

Josh Peters | @joshbgosh
Katie says: Chilling finish to a thrilling short! Lots of raw emotion you can really feel when reading.

Week 117 Winner

Katie says: Your story struck such a chord with me that I was still imagining the horror of it hours later. You evoked such raw feeling, such anxiety, absolute fear that I (a mother of three) was in tears by the end. And, you did it all in less than 250 words!

“You could call 9-1-1,” Shawn reminded her sensibly. His tone reassured her that his centrally located booster seat—he was four and a half years old and still needed one—had kept him pretty safe during the accident.

She tried to chuckle, but the effort hurt. “I could, but I don’t know where my phone is.”

“Oh.”

Her mind tried to untangle itself, to prioritize.

“Mom?”

“Can you get out of your booster?”

Two clicks. “Hey! I can!” Then, “Ow! Mommy! That hurt!”

She tried desperately to turn to smile at him. “Good job! Okay, you need to be very careful and—“

“What’s that smell?”

Her heart stopped. Gas. Ruptured fuel line? “Honey?” Her voice was strained. “Do your best to get out through that window, there.”

“Broken glass, Mommy,” he complained, crying and perhaps realizing more than a little boy should ever have to know.

“I know. Try, baby. I know there’s a fire truck on the way and you can watch for it, okay?” The car creaked and scrunched a little. “Hurry!”

“But what about you, Mommy?”

“I’m coming, honey. You go.” The smell of gas was really strong, now, and she was trying to undo her seatbelt to get free. “Go on.”

He slid, crying about his hand on the glass. “Mommy!”

“Go on. Find the other driver!”

He ran, but she could still hear him. “Mommy!”

“Be right there.”

“Mommy!”

Metal sparked against metal.

“Mommy!”

Congratulations Sandi, Olivia, MT, Louisa, and Josh! Don't forget to claim your badges and display them with pride. You certainly earned it!

Pass on the great news on Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus, shiny mirrors, Morse Code, and signal flags. Check out all the stories here. Thanks for stopping by and happy reading! :)


3 comments:

  1. Wow, Sandi, that's an amazing piece. Made my chest seize and my stomach hurt.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you. The "Be right there" really caught my ear, this time.

      Delete
  2. That was a fine story and very vivid. Brought a tear to my eye for certain.

    ReplyDelete

Comments are on moderation, so they'll become visible once I've read them. Words, words, words. I love them. Have you a few to lend?

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