Flash Club February Flash Fiction Competition

[Emily]

Happy 1st of February, St. Brigid's Day, Imbolc, first-day-of-spring

For our February challenge, I thought we might try our hand at "Minisagas".

Rules:
There are exactly 50 words in the story; the title can be up to 15 words. It is a complete story. There is a start, middle and a meaningful end.


VOTING:
The entry with the most votes on the 28th of February 2022, will be the winner of an extraordinary hand-crafted (!!) virtual trophy. And, more importantly: some of our very prized, and internationally-renowned, virtual Litopi-cake.


The competition is open to all members. Feel free to enter more than once.

-The main rule here: we ask you not to critique.

{Editing to add this, my omission, apologies : -Please make your entry anonymous by clicking the anonymous button, but if you forget, don't worry, that's okay too. (Note: Guardians can see who posts.) }

Best of luck!

 

[Anonymous]

Sergio

Four years ago, I adopted a fluffball. Black feet, ruby eyes.
Roamed my flat with his pal, then we moved to a Cumbrian castle.
World went mad.
Bolthole at Mum’s. Then Derbyshire; an old caravan.
He devoured dandelions. Stared out a mink.
Lost weight. Vet said, “Kidney problems.”
Miss him.

 

[Anonymous]

Brian, the Witch and the Walrus - A Typical Evening in 50 words


Bash, bash. Splash.

I banged the door. ‘Wally? What the heck?!’

His muffled reply: ‘Bathtime inspiration, dahling. Gotta type.’

Miranda was in the kitchen, grating peyote.

‘Not legal,’ I muttered.

Went for a pint. Returned to find them uploading to KDP.

‘Wonderful novel,’ Miranda gushed. ‘Edwardian walrus erotica.’

Bloody lodgers.

 

[Anonymous]

Monotony

Negative.

Every day the same. Hands washed. Packages opened. Nostrils probed. Fifteen minutes. What is fifteen minutes every day for a month? Four hundred and fifty. The vague pinkish strip is the only thing in sight. Almost free. Wait… a second red line.

Shit.

Positive.

Today won’t be the same.

 

[Anonymous]

Brothers

Eve entered our lives. My brother and I came to fists over her.

She chose him, crushing me. They went their way; I went mine.

They didn’t invite me to the wedding.

Two years later, she left him.

He reached out to me via mum.

Mending fences is a journey.

 

[Anonymous]

Planted the Snake Beans at the start of spring. Soaked the round, brown seeds until they were plumped up. Three inches deep, mounded soil, protective cover. It sprouted, grew, entwined, climbed, blossomed. The long and thin, weird looking green beans were picked and eaten… delicious!

Plant died, sowing more tomorrow.

 

[Anonymous]

At Standing Rock the world watched as Lakota riders defied bulldozers

We took the Wasichu’s horses.
Made them ours.
Called them Elk Dogs.
Grazing, they rocked our babies in cradles.
When we raced the Spider People soldiers their American horses fell behind
So Longhair slaughtered 180 ponies at Washita
Each had a name
Their ghosts stood with us , March 2017

 

[Anonymous]

'Well?' said the old farmer, stroking the softly whining collie.

The vet hesitated, 'I’m afraid the best we can do is let him out easy'.

'Then do it.' The old man said with sudden energy, 'and while you're at it, you can do us both. Let me out easy too.'

 

[Anonymous]

He took the bus to the prison. They took their time letting him in.

What do you want from me? he asked.

What I always want from you – she replied.

He nodded, took the bus back. The streets were sharply wet.

That night he took her spade and started digging.

 

[Anonymous]

Sweeping drama takes time, an epic needs space.

There’s vast countryside, vistas. A woman on a horse, a man fires a gun. He has a brother, of course, who probably dies.

There are meaningful glances, breathless kisses, passion that knows everything.

And in the end, love prevails, or everyone dies.

 

[Anonymous]

Storm Child

Power lines down. Bins blocked roads. "It's cos of that hurricane in America."
I hurried home.
A shrill sound, from a shop doorway.
In a binbag, a baby. Cold. Screaming. Eyes tight shut.
Under my jumper. Called 999.
Sixteen years later, we met again, on telly.
'Thank you,' Katrina said.

 

[KG Christopher]

Sealed with a kiss.

You smiled … not daring to drop the cherry balanced on your lip… a glossy red… warm… and deadly all the same. I couldn’t resist - I leaned forward and matched my lips to yours… and bit my half of your gift… sweet and bitter, my death sealed with a kiss.

 

[Anonymous]

Star-crossed in St. Pancras

It was her. I knew those eyes. Different hair but of course they all wore wigs.

"Excuse me? Aren't you --" The doyenne of my soap.

A scathing look.

"Do you have any idea how often people ask me that?"

I gulped.

"Now clear off!"

Exit thirty years of fandom.

 

[Anonymous]

Just another crazy ex-boyfriend story

The door handle rattles. It’s been rattling for three hours. Nonstop.
Through the door: “Stacey, let me in.” I won’t.
Yesterday, I called the police. “Hasn’t he been here before? He’s your boyfriend.” Useless.
If he enters, I will kill him. The hammer waits under my pillow. But he doesn't.

 

[Anonymous]

weaker sex

My daughter rides the seat on the front of my bicycle. We approach another cyclist pulling a trailer slowing to cross the road. Another man passing us speaks. “Ain’t that how it is—the man pulls most of the weight.” The cyclist turns, apologizes with his eyes. I just shrug.

 

[izi 出久]

Hi, didn't mean to use this thread incorrectly. I hadn't realized these posts were anonymous, but it makes sense.

 

[RK Wallis]

Hi, didn't mean to use this thread incorrectly. I hadn't realized these posts were anonymous, but it makes sense.

Don't worry. All good

 

[Jonny]

Hi @StaceyDale

Welcome to Litopia and no need to apologise at all.

The site is quite sprawling and it can take a while to get the hang of things.

If you need any help or are unsure of anything at all, just drop me or @Ancora Imparo (site Guardians) a message and we’ll be happy to help.

 

[Anonymous]

Shocking Find

The mains’ exact position was unknown, but laws dictate electric cables require encasing and protection. The shock punishment nearly killed him.

After the bang and street blackout, a neighbour unearthed him disoriented in the flowerbed.

He scans the view through prison bars and wishes he’d buried her in the woods.

 

[Emily]

CONGRATULATIONS @Katie-Ellen

Your winning entry was well deserved

 

[Josephine]

CONGRATULATIONS @Katie-Ellen

Your winning entry was well deserved

Yes that was a banger!

 

[Pamela Jo]

CONGRATULATIONS @Katie-Ellen

Your winning entry was well deserved

Sorry which one is Katie Ellen's?

 

[Emily]

Sorry which one is Katie Ellen's?

If you click on the highlighted "Your winning entry", it should bring you to it

 

[Katie-Ellen]

Ooh, what a nice surprise! Thank you so much, Emily and everyone!

 

[Pamela Jo]

If you click on the highlighted "Your winning entry", it should bring you to it

I tried that. It takes me to the start of the thread. It could be any of 3?

 

[Emily]

Here you go Enjoy!

'Well?' said the old farmer, stroking the softly whining collie.

The vet hesitated, 'I’m afraid the best we can do is let him out easy'.

'Then do it.' The old man said with sudden energy, 'and while you're at it, you can do us both. Let me out easy too.'

 

[Pamela Jo]

Here you go Enjoy!

'Well?' said the old farmer, stroking the softly whining collie.

The vet hesitated, 'I’m afraid the best we can do is let him out easy'.

'Then do it.' The old man said with sudden energy, 'and while you're at it, you can do us both. Let me out easy too.'

Oh excellent! I thought it might be that one, but wanted to be sure. Understated, but gut wrenching.

 

[Katie-Ellen]

It wrenched my gut to write it. Thank you.

 

[Matthew Snoding]

I thought it was excellent. A deserved winner!