Category Archives: Flash Fiction

The Office Holiday Party

I was put in charge of decorations for the office holiday party so I went to check the storage room for the decorations we used last year. There were none to be found for Hanukkah or Christmas. I asked my boss to explain and she said it was a new company policy handed down from the home office that mandated no holiday decorations that could be associated with any religion. All I found was a mechanical parrot that whistled the tune for the Macarena while moving its wings up and down. Maybe he could hold some mistletoe in his beak?

Friday Fictioneers is hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. Bird image by Luther Siler.

You Will Live in My Heart

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“To live in the hearts we leave behind is to live forever.”
― Carl Sagan

After a hectic day of souvenir shopping, I was looking for a quiet place to have dinner when I spotted the sign for the China Boat. Jim and I loved going out for Chinese food. We went to the same little place in China Town for years. My trip to London was an attempt to escape the pain of my husband’s death. We always said we would go to Europe one day. His death made me realize that I shouldn’t put things off for tomorrow because tomorrow may never come. I had not had much of an appetite for past few months but I found myself enjoying the food. It turned out the chef was from San Francisco and I told him the food tasted like home. There was the usual fortune cookie for desert. I absentmindedly opened it and read the message. If you die in an elevator be sure to push the up button. Jim would have loved that one.

Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers is hosted by Priceless Joy. Image provided by Louise of The Storyteller’s Abode. Funny quote in the fortune cookie by Sam Levenson

The Job Interview

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I parked next to the entrance and tried to ignore all the overgrown weeds. This was the first job interview in a long time and I was running late. Entering through the rusty doors I saw an elevator. I pressed the button and the elevator doors slowly creaked open. I hit the button for Main Lobby and the elevator started to drop down, down, down at a terrifying rate. I clutched the rail on the wall bracing for the inevitable crash. It screeched to a stop and the doors opened to total darkness except for all those glowing red eyes. Hello, I’m here for an interview?

Friday Fictioneers is hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields with image provided by Roger Bultot

The Galaxy Trees

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Zenarra was homesick for the home world. She loved her new home in the beautiful Valley of the Moon but she missed the Galaxy trees that bloomed at night on the full moon rising of Lunaris. There was nothing like it here. It was strange that she, a princess, was a fugitive from her world. She fled to escape an arranged marriage to Tomar. It had been arranged at birth between their parents, the leaders of the two most powerful clans. Her flight has caused a great outcry and accusations of fraud by the Clan Dorcha. Minat sent Zenarra a message from her mother, the queen, begging her to return. The queen feared a war could erupt at any time and asked her to fulfill her duty. The prospective groom was a degenerate whose cruelty was legend. Zenarra would return not to become a bride, but to lead an army.

moon-625450_640 Moon Warrior via Pixabay

Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers is hosted by Priceless Joy. Images provided by Pixabay.com

The Beacon

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The little lighthouse was now the refuge for tired sea birds on their long journeys across the ocean. It’s light is dimmed as it’s candle has fallen into disrepair. Once it’s beacon had shown brightly and was a welcome sight to lonely ships navigating the rocky coast. It had prevented many disasters and saved many lives. Let our lives be a refuge and friendly beacon to others traveling on the stormy sea.

This post is in memory of Barbara Beacham in collaboration with Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers.

Sad News

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Mondays Finish the Story

I am sorry to hear about Barbara Beacham who hosted Mondays Finish the Story and the blog My Life in the Foothills. I have participated in Barbara’s Flash Fiction challenges in the past few weeks and followed her recent posts about her battle with cancer. Her husband posted the news this morning that she has passed. She was very supportive and kind in her comments, and in her posts about her illness she showed a great spirit and courageousness. I wanted to post this as an expression of appreciation for her.

The Germ Gang Takes a Vacation

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The Germ Gang decided they needed a break from the Anti-bacterial War. They were not feeling the love. They realized that some of their kind were pretty dangerous but they were just the easy going ones. They were getting a bad rep. So they decided to visit their cousins who lived in the forest and snack on some dead plants and insects and maybe a few mushrooms. They hitched a ride on a raccoon who was raiding a garbage can. The Germs really enjoyed the change of scene and visiting with their distant cousins. They took a quick photo before heading back to the city on the backpacks of some hikers.

Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers hosted by Priceless Joy. The image is provided by Etol Bagam.

If You Leave Me

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He told Sammie, If you leave me, you’ll end up in the gutter. A big part of her believed him. Everyone they knew thought Jeff was the model husband. People were so quick to believe the lame excuse for the bruises. How could she get the courage to leave? It was that quote she read in the newspaper, “If you’re feeling helpless, help someone,” by that tiny woman, Aung San Suu Kyi. Sammie decided to volunteer at the Community Clinic. Jill, the social worker, had recognized the signs and asked the questions. She helped Sammie pack her things.

Friday Fictioneers hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. Image by C.E. Ayr.

FIC

The Greatest Gift

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Anbu had struggled to make his farm prosperous for his wife Aasha, yet he was barely scratching out a living. He had been unlucky in another way. He and Aasha were unable to have children. In a desperate attempt to succeed he had given his last few coins to buy a few game birds hoping they would breed and their offspring would bring a good price at the market. He had gone out to feed his small flock when he was transfixed by a magical sight. A beautiful white peacock stood in the middle of his flock and fanned its tail. He couldn’t wait to tell Aasha. This bird would bring a great price at the market. That was when he heard the peacock speak. If you spare me from the market I will bring you a greater prize. Anbu told himself he must be crazy but he kept the white bird. That spring his wife gave birth to a daughter. They named her Aashirya.

Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers hosted by Priceless Joy

The Forgotten Cemetery

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The cemetery next to the old church was a bit rundown and neglected. Ann let the girls play quietly outside while she talked to the Minister about an upcoming wedding. She was the event planner for the church and loved weddings. As she left the chapel she was struck by the contrast between the great joys of life and the sorrows that the cemetery represented. It was even sadder because the site looked almost abandoned. They were about to leave when they noticed the little flag on one of the headstones. They were drawn to read the inscription. He gave his life in the defense of his country. Rest in Peace.

In honor of Veterans Day 11/11/15

Friday Fictioneers is hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. Cemetery image by J. Hardy Carroll