January Flash Club Contest

[Emily]

Happy New Year and may our Flash Fictions grow from strength to strength in 2022

I really enjoyed last month's Drabble, so shall we do it again?

*The Drabble for January*

• The THEME /prompt is Redemption

The Rules:

• Drabbles should be precisely 100 words.
• Word counts vary depending on the word processing program you use. Hand count if you’re unsure. The sticking points seem to be hyphens, dashes, and ellipses. In order to achieve and true word count, we’ll follow these guidelines:
• Hyphens (-): words that are typically hyphenated, such as mind-bender or t-shirt, will count as one word. when hyphens are used to connect a string of words, such as the-best-thing-in-the-world, each word will be counted separately.
• Dashes, such as an m dash (—): these need to be connected to one— and only one— of the words they sit between and there should be a space on the other side (see what I did there?). If the m dash is connected to both words, some programs will count only one word. If the m dash isn’t connected to either word, it will be counted as its own separate word.
• Ellipses (…): These work the same way that m dashes do. Connect them to one of the words that they separate, and your word count should be fine.

VOTING:
The entry with the most votes 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.

A "like" garners one vote; a "love" two.


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

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


Good luck, my Flashies!

 

[Anonymous]

Redemption Brewery Selection Box

‘6.4%! I’m not drinking that!’

Miranda scowled. ‘Thought you loved real ale.’

‘Well, I do, but, er… sensible strength ones.’

‘We could sip it and call it barley wine,’ Wally suggested. Assuming he’d get a cut of my booze, as usual.

Miranda had a face on.

‘I’ll drink it gradually, OK?’ I assured her. ‘Or things’ll get messy.’

New Year’s Day, I woke on a pallet in the garage, my face in Wally’s armpit, breathing pure farts My head thumped.

I sat up. ‘Woah.’

Miranda staggered in. ‘Happy New Year. Can you guys help get the tree off the roof?’

 

[Anonymous]

Taken by the Night

‘But, Father, why must we set a fire next to every hut?’
‘Oh, Child, but you are an inquisitive girl.’
‘But why, Father, why?’
‘Because all the huts must be warm.’
‘But why?’
‘Because all the village must be warm.’
‘But why?’
‘Because it’s nearly the trial of midwinter.’
‘And the new hut, will nobody live there?’
‘No, Child, that hut will burn.’
‘Because that’s where you trapped the Night?’
‘Because that’s where we trapped the Night.’
‘And if you don’t burn it?’
‘If we don’t burn it, Child, Night will win, and the Sun will forget to come back.’

 

[Anonymous]

The Out-Walker


He appeared on the rise beneath the alder, steeped in shadow, and twin ravens followed, the pets and scouts of the All-Father.

But what did Odin want? What could anyone give him Odin hadn't willingly surrendered long ago in exchange for the knowledge of All Things, hanging on the great Ash tree? Only their bloody deaths in battle could please him, they said, and shuddered as the word passed.

He is here again.

Odin could not stay away. Warriors dreamed of immortality. Of Valhalla.

But Odin dreamed of laughter, warmth, loneliness redeemed.

He dreamed of the village.

 

[Anonymous]

A Little Life

‘I’ve found a sickly kitten,’ my old neighbour said, ‘can you help? He opened the box.

I gasped. ‘That’s a fox cub.’

‘But… it’s grey?’

‘Two or three weeks old,’ I guessed. Where’s the mother?’

‘No idea. Spotted it on my lawn this afternoon. Started raining. Poor thing was shaking.’

I fetched a towel and heat mat. He drove to the vet for puppy formula.

For six weeks, we watched the cub grow, thrive, play with his Labrador. Then released her in the woods with happy tears.

My neighbour sighed. ‘Redemption, of sorts. I used to ride with the hunt.’

 

[Anonymous]

Jesus smiled gently. "You will accept the Keys to My Kingdom."

"Why, Lord? I am not worthy of this."

"Possessing the Keys is not a measure of worth. I will bestow them unto Peter as an honor. You will receive them as a responsibility. One who holds the Keys may admit the righteous to the Kingdom of Heaven. Even so, the bearer cannot enter as long as deserving souls remain outside the gates."

"I will serve you in death as I should have in life, Lord. When will the last soul arrive?"

"The road to redemption is long, dear Judas."

 

[Anonymous]

Redemption Redeemed

Holly flung open the door and all but screamed at Lauren.

'He's bought me a scratch card! It's a bloody winner, a city break for two.'' Holly brushed away her tears. 'I was going to end it, but he'll say this is a sign and we should give it another go.'

Lauren reached for Holly's hand. 'So buy another one, silly. Swap it for this one.'

'You think?'

'Of course. And then once you've left him, we can take the city break'

Holly's fingers closed over Lauren's, and the smile at the corners of her mouth spread to her eyes.

 

[Anonymous]

The priest said, do you want me to repeat that?

I nodded.

I’ve come to give you redemption, he said.

I see, although I wasn’t sure I did.

You have sinned child, he said, and I have come to save your soul.

Me? I said.

Yes you.

What have I done? I’m an upstanding member, proud card-carrier, salt of the earth. What on earth did I do?

Are you sure you have the right house? I asked.

This is number 52, right? He said.

56, I said.

Damn and blast, he said.

Shit and piss, he said.

Redeemed, I said.

 

[Anonymous]

They were called Redemption, a strange name for a Christian football team, and my goodness they were terrible. Every Saturday, week in week out, home and away, they were well and truly trounced by every team in the Roberts southern league – even those made up of children.

Then there was that Saturday when God’s holy light shone down for ninety blessed minutes. The world erupted with joy. Old ladies threw off their coats and danced in the fields.

The following Saturday, they lost to a team of chickens and pigs. Apparently God had turned and gone on his merry way.

 

[Anonymous]

Hey mum, I’ve made a rap. Want to hear it?

(Oh dear). Of course I do (not) honey. Please. Regale me.

OK. Ready?

Yes (no).

Redemption for your tension!

Your suspension, not to mention!

You mind apprehension!

Get ya Benson!

With ya pension!

Spend it all on!

Magic pens an’!

Write a sentence!

On a fence en . . .

Darling . . . darling . . . please . . .

Yes mum?

That’s great darling, but mummy has a headache.

Do you?

Mummy needs to lie down.

OK

And a glass of wine.

Later?

Oh yes, (much) later.

 

[Anonymous]

No!

…

What did I do?

…

I did do it. I did. I’m a monster!

…

How could I? I… I just did it. I wanted… and… and just did it.

Guilt? No, I don’t feel it.

But… I… I have to feel guilt. I have to!

I… I’m… I’m scared to be found out, and I deserve punishment. I know I do! Yet… I just want to continue with my life.

I’m bound to feel guilt, right? It will bubble from the deep recesses of my soul and tear me apart.

…

What if I don’t need redemption?

 

[Anonymous]

FYI - I'm counting the separate--on their own line--ellipses as 1 word each.

Hope that's okay, but if not... ah well; all good anyway.

 

[Anonymous]

Save Me From The Evil Of Need

Billy needed an apple. It doesn’t matter why. The important thing is that he needed an apple like a splinter needs removing. What if there aren’t any? What if none have come with this morning’s delivery? What if the grocer has gone out of business? I’m being stupid, he thought. Of course they’ll have apples. They always have apples. There’s nothing to worry about.

Except the need was like a moth trapped in the hand, a fluttering moth, with legs and mouth parts, angry and in need of release. He needed to let the moth fly. He needed an apple.

 

[Anonymous]

Pigeons watch impassively as he walks toward the heavy oak door. The satchel pulls on his shoulder.

Inside, the smell of authority, floor polish and old paper. His footsteps echo around the stairwell. His palm on the handrail is clammy. By the time he reaches the second floor he is sweating inside his suit. He pauses for breath before approaching the desk.

The woman looks up. He takes the items from his satchel, slides them across.

“What do I owe?” His voice shakes.

She frowns at him, then down at the books.

“Oh! We don’t charge late fines any more.”

 

[Anonymous]

Today I buried my mother and it’s a gorgeous day; a bird sings on a nearby tree, butterflies mate mid-flight, a couple of lovers passes by giggling with untainted love. And I feel relieved. My mother was a very difficult woman; a burden to me, a weight on my heart. Her slow mental decline sharpened the edges of her resentment, doing nothing to dull the memory of her failures. Resentment, bitterness, anger, pain; longing for a lost love that never was, a life she never lived. When she passed, I smiled as I cried. A horrible feeling, absent of redemption.

 

[Anonymous]

The thud was unmistakable. Pia didn’t need to see the cluster of feathers quivering against the window to picture the still-warm carcass on the deck. She could feel the impact in her own body, seeping through pores of the skin which delighted in soaking up direct morning sunlight, circling the green eyes alert to the comings and goings of the new, sketchy neighbors, to the toes digging into the warm yoga mat. Goddamn you and your windows, she said to her husband, who was not home but at the gym and would have countered that floor-to-ceiling windows were her idea.

 

[Anonymous]

A warm sliver of light caresses my face, waking me up gently. With minimal sound and movement, I get free from the bed covers. Four quick steps and the door. I move the handle in one single steady movement and I can finally move freely.

As the water boils, I clean the mess of dirty dishes from the night before. And once the tea is steeped, it’s two spoonfuls of sugar and back to the bedroom. Easy on the handle, light on my feet, no noise.

I wake up my wife with a kiss. Easy life, small fights, smooth redemptions.

 

[Anonymous]

My “sure things” hadn’t panned out. A useless rushing touchdown with under thirty seconds remaining and an easy field goal missed.
Not to mention all my near misses.

Now it’s the last game of the night. My last chance to get even. Or possibly ahead if I bet heavy.
It’s time to admit I need help. I make the phone call.

$200 for five picks from an “expert.”

Nobody is 100%. Even his website boasted an 80%-win rate. His Monday Night pick will get me flush. Or not.

Double my money till I win? How can I lose?

Call Dad.

 

[Emily]

Heartiest congratulations to our two January winners: @Katie-Ellen and @Josephine

You can find @Katie-Ellen 's entry HERE, and @Josephine 's HERE

Well done!!

 

[Josephine]

Heartiest congratulations to our two January winners: @Katie-Ellen and @Josephine

You can find @Katie-Ellen 's entry HERE, and @Josephine 's HERE

Well done!!

Woohooo thanks!

 

[Matthew Snoding]

Well done!