Posts Tagged ‘short stories’

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The Fourteenth Way (WWP Week 3)

In Fiction on October 24, 2012 at 11:54 am

It’s Wednesday, and for the last few weeks at least, for me that has meant the Wednesday Wiki-prompt. Week 3’s prompt was this article on the Mercury Dime.

I ended up getting pretty abstract with it (a more thorough explanation of why exactly will follow). But for now just give it a read and let me know what you think!

Blackbirds

The Fourteenth Way

In midwinter, an old man shuffles down a snow-deep street. His stomach hurts from the cancer, and blackbirds watch from the trees. He knows they are waiting for night to fall. Read the rest of this entry »

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Scarecrow

In Fiction on October 23, 2012 at 12:37 pm

Autumn leafs

Scarecrow

The boys shuffled through ankle-deep leaves on their way up the hill. The night was drawing on and their breath made ghosts in the frosty air.

“It’s not as good this year,” Lucas said wistfully. “What happened to all the king-sized stuff?”

“The economy, I guess,” Will replied, and Lucas grumbled his agreement. The grownups were always saying it, anyway.

“At least Mr. and Mrs. Crane always get the good stuff,” he said, and as he spoke the house at the top of the hill materialized through giant elms and magnolia trees, an enormous three-story Victorian with deep eaves and shadowed windows. The place was dark save for the sinister glow of jack-o-lanterns, their grins glimmering along the weedy walk. Read the rest of this entry »

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The Captain

In Fiction on October 19, 2012 at 12:19 pm

The Captain

The captain cleared the tangled cords from his eyes and swung them over his shoulder like lengths of filthy rope. He turned into the wind and felt the vessel pitch to starboard.

“Damn ballast,” he muttered. The crew had been careless with the cargo again.

He had a mind to take these landlubbers out to sea – orders be damned! – and leave ‘em stranded on some salty rock, but that just wouldn’t do; they had a schedule to keep.

One came up now, greener than seaweed, and nearly swooned.

“Hey mister,” he said. “Can you stop the bus? I think I’m gonna hurl.”


Read the rest of this entry »

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WWP Week 2: Famadihana

In Fiction on October 17, 2012 at 11:31 am

Last week, the Wednesday WikiPrompt was an article on Madagascar, and before I get to my story I’d like to thank Sean Fallon for being the first to join in with my fledgling prompt! You can read his (strange, funny, great) story here.

For my own part, I tried to dive into a specific piece of the article, a reburial ritual it mentioned. I’d love your comments and criticism on this (there are a few specific problems I have with the story, but I’ll wait to see if you can pick out the spots I feel are weakest).

Enjoy and thanks for reading!

Famadihana reburial ceremony, Madagascar

Famadihana

The wrappings were undone and the body lay bare, the flesh blackened and sloughing from the bones. A hellish stink hung stagnant in the heavy air.

“My God, Philip, what are they doing?” Sir Daniel asked. He had clapped a minted kerchief over his nose and mouth, but the stench was overpowering.

“The natives call it famadihana, sir,” Philip replied. “They think it honors the dead.” Read the rest of this entry »

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The Black Fool

In Fiction on October 15, 2012 at 10:26 pm

Stańczyk during a Ball at the Court of Queen B...

The Black Fool

“I’m the Black Fool now.”

Pietro Barbino was drunk again, and making japes at his master – but this time his master had nothing to say.

“Black Fool, for I’ve stained my motley garb… with this…”

He stared in wonder as he took his hands away. The blood, clotting, pulled into long, sticky tendrils. It seemed black in the half-light. Pietro leaned closer.

“I can’t hear you, Cosimo,” he growled. “Your mouth is open, but I can’t tell: are you laughing? Are you pleased with your fool?” Read the rest of this entry »

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The Blue Door

In Fiction on October 12, 2012 at 12:02 am

It’s Friday (though only by a minute here on the East Coast) and I’m jumping into the Friday Fictioneers game right on time this week.

I hope you like what I’ve done with the prompt, but either way, after you give it read you should head on over to Madison Woods‘ site for even more great weekend word-smithing!

The Blue Door

“Yeşil Hat. Mavi kapı.”

Giannis Markou read the note for the hundredth time, and for the hundredth time he felt his pulse quicken. “Green Line. Blue door.” Read the rest of this entry »

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WWP Week 1: The Salesman

In Fiction on October 10, 2012 at 9:31 pm

Last week I proposed a new, weekly writing prompt based on Wikipedia’s featured article of the day. I dubbed it the Wednesday Wiki-prompt, and today I’m making good on my promise by sharing the fruits of my labor.

Last week the featured article was on Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney’s duet ‘Say Say Say’ (it was a hit, somehow, despite being…horrible. Watch the video at the end of this post for the proof). Anyway, as bad as the song is, the music video inspired this short story (I’m breaking my own rules, week one, by going over the 500 word cap, but what are rules for if not to be broken? Shh, don’t answer that).

Anyway, enjoy.

A selection of jars containing herbs and other potion ingredients

The Salesman

The salesman was lithe and frail and had a showman’s grace. He held the bottles up for all to see – glinting orange and pink in the sun, then blue and green – before setting them rattling in the back of his cart. Read the rest of this entry »

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It’s Only A Story

In Fiction on October 8, 2012 at 8:55 pm

It’s Only A Story

The train hurtled through the darkness – and the countryside, all black, rushed imperceptibly past.

“Tell us a story, grampa,” Dean said, “a scary one.”

An eyebrow raised, Charles set down his teacup. Read the rest of this entry »

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Orang Bunian

In Fiction on October 5, 2012 at 12:36 pm

It’s Friday, and Friday means flash fiction with the Friday Fictioneers (hosted, as always, by Madison Woods). This week’s photo prompt was taken by Raina Ng. Here’s my story for this week!

Orang Bunian

“Look!” Osman whispered. “By the window – a bunian!”

“I don’t see anything,” Malik complained. Read the rest of this entry »

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The Possibilities Are Endless

In Fiction on October 4, 2012 at 11:18 pm

The Possibilities Are Endless

Thousands of papers, tiny strips the size of fortune cookie fortunes, whirled about him in a shrieking vortex — nipping, biting, and opening his skin, driving him to a hopeless delirium.

“You must choose, Mr. Burgess, or eventually you will bleed to death,” the voice from the loudspeaker said. Read the rest of this entry »