Meredith checked her watch. The end-of-year program was proceeding at a brisk pace. At her son’s old elementary school, they had given out awards for every subject, awards for reading a certain number of books, certificates for science fair and spelling bee and geography night, ribbons for good citizenship and…
Archive for Flash Fiction – Page 10
The bookstore is empty. I drink my Pepsi and pretend to work at the computer, the shelves full of unread books. What I really do is browse Pinterest. I might see one customer the rest of the day, maybe two. You know what makes me mad? People don’t read anymore….
“Look, daddy, look!” My going-on-three-year-old son points out the window of the van as I drive home. “Wow, the moon is big tonight, isn’t it?” “Daddy, I want to get it.” “Well, how are you going to get it?” He thinks seriously for a moment, drawing out his “Um…” before…
“…And with the Lord Grigory’s army defeated, the land of Netherfield was freed from the curse of fog and forgetfulness. Prince Henry arose, discarding his broken sword, and seeing the maid Kerra there, took her by the hand and lifted her up. The sun was dawning, and Henry and Kerra…
“…the meteor shower will hit atmosphere in three minutes. If you’re just tuning in, NASA, in conjunction with the military, succeeded in breaking up the oncoming asteroid mere seconds before the window of opportunity expired. Authorities still expect a few of the larger fragments to survive atmospheric entry….” “SHUT THAT…
Thank you for calling the Despair Help Line. Please listen carefully because our menu options have changed. Press or say 1 if you are uncertain whether what you are feeling is truly despair or only the results of a series of unfortunate events. Otherwise, press or say 2. Thank you….
“This is an exciting day, Miss Fitzgerald. Your vision will open hundreds of opportunities for us to help others like your father.” Marisa Fitzgerald smiled tightly, her lined face stretched taut. At sixty, she was the oldest of billionaire Henry Fitzgerald’s three children. A tiny, slim woman, she had never…
As the rest of the audience stood, stretching and gossiping during the final intermission, Clara remained seated, her mind fixated on the upcoming results. She had watched the Pageant on TV as long as she could remember. Being here in person, among the elegant, almost gaudy, spectators was exhilarating, like…
The horse topped the steep rise, but the mountains that hemmed in Wind River Valley rose even higher. A faint breeze lightened the intense heat. The rider halted the horse, wiped the sweat from his face with a stiff handkerchief, and scanned the surroundings. He found the shack above him,…
Even Richard Doutman’s modified XSV-9 struggled beneath the weight of the emergency transport trailer. His cycle hadn’t been designed to transport two dozen 12- and 13-year-olds against the movement of the Trans-Continental Conveyor. He didn’t mind. He expected his life to be interesting. “How’re they holding up?” Local patrolman George…
“Will those assisting with communion please come forward.” Steven approached and received one of the silver cups from the pastor, taking his place at the left station. He saw the same faces every time he helped with communion. Leland Dean, in the front row, hobbled forward in line. He was…
“Now if you would close your eyes, Mr. Eldritch. For some reason, it won’t project properly unless we shut our eyes for about half a minute beforehand.” Theodore Eldritch obliged the scientist. “No need to be dramatic, Chris.” “I—don’t misunderstand, sir. I’m not trying to be dramatic. You really won’t…
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