Contemporary
MORE Faboo News!
There are many, MANY more One Word Stories coming – this is becoming my daily wind-down. I wanted to share the latest omnibus edition of Al and Kai’s Faboo News, my online kids news and entertainment show that has just finished its first series.
Enjoy!
Faboo News!!
Many of you may have been wondering where I’ve been hiding myself recently and the answer is: I’ve been busy making a TV show!
Writing, producing and performing – it’s been quite the undertaking!
Faboo News is “The Muppets Meets CNN” – a news and entertainment show for 4-8 year olds (and their parents!) focusing entirely on positive and uplifting news stories.
If that sounds great to you, it would be wonderful if you could head over to https://www.youtube.com/@FabooNews and subscribe to the show! New episodes every Saturday!
Tim x
#107 – Shiver
Dew was already running down the glass as the waiter plucked it from his tray and settled it to the table. Emmie smiled up at him. So did her boyfriend.
Tom plucked five dollars from his wallet and handed it to the young man with a nod.
“Thanks man,” Tom chirped.
“What’s the mercury say?” Ellie asked.
“78,” the waiter replied.
Emmie touched the glass, a flicker trembling through her as Tom’s gaze met hers.
“Enjoy!”
The waiter hovered a moment more before moving on.
Tom was no longer smiling.
Emmie’s heart thundered.
Her cheek still stung beneath the makeup.
(c) Tim Austin 2024. Photo by Rohan Gupta on Unsplash
Suggest YOUR Word,… and I’ll write the first image it brings. Pop your word in the comments below!
#106 – Temple
.
Della thrust her palms into the stone around her waist, torch-light gleaming from the floor, two feet beneath her face. Her khaki trousers tore the ancient plaster away and she crashed down onto tiles that hadn’t felt tread or breath in a thousand years.
In a moment she was standing, the torch held forward, gazing out into the gloom: oblivious to the blood flowing across her cheek.
“Monotehp’s folly,” she breathed, watching as the light struck out into the gloom. “I did it.”
She smiled at the discovery. Hers alone.
Torchlight shone. Treasures gleamed.
Eyes watched her from the dark.
(c) Tim Austin 2024 Photo by julien OLLIVIER on Unsplash
Suggest You Own Word in the Comments Below! 🙂
#105 – Cardiovert
“Are you okay?”
Bill didn’t dare say. There was too much work hanging on this.
The bare, black door stood between him and his future. 40 minutes from now, a hundred people could have work enough to last a decade. He could already see their smiles and their joy. He could already feel their relief.
Bill clutched his shoulder and winced, shaking out his arm as his head swam and his chest tightened. He raised his hand to knock. He was so close. So close.
“I’m fine,” he spat, striking his knuckle to the door.
Just 40 minutes,…
(c) Tim Austin 2021. Photo by Damir Kopezhanov on Unsplash
It’s about time,…..
Yup, I’ve started writing OWOS stories again! After a period of Burnout, I feel able to get back into the swing of these again – maybe not every day but I’ll try at least every week.
It’s good to be back 🙂
Suggest a word in the comments below!
Amid the Black Sea
Hattie held the leaf high, watching as the blackened surface melted and crumbled, the wind snapping the stem and sending the remains twisting to oblivion. Her eyes focused beyond it: to the greenhouse stretching high above, its precious cargo of rare species now writhing beneath a sea of tiny black beetles. Hattie remembered the first watering of each plant trapped inside: her tears gave final succour to the earth below.
(c) Tim Austin 2016. Image by Sandis Helvigs via Unsplash.
A bit of a departure, here – I came across this https://only100words.xyz/2016/11/24/three-line-tales-week-forty-three/ on my travels and it sparked my imagination. Do visit Sonya’s blog – there’s plenty to enjoy!
#99 – Election
Isaac looked down at his sleeping daughter, his fingers stroking gently at the edge of her crib. A shard of moonlight bathed the child and, in the quiet serenity of the nursery, Isaac couldn’t imagine any sight more beautiful.
“I,…” He swallowed the words down. He knew she couldn’t hear him but the pain was too raw. “One day you’ll understand”
“You must wake her.”
“No.”
His wife was rushing, their suitcases clutched tight in her hands.
“Isaac! We don’t have time!”
Angry shouts and breaking glass split the air. Isaac’s daughter smiled, dreaming.
“Give me this one moment,… please.”
(c) Tim Austin 2016. Image by Jilbert Ebrahimi via Unsplash.
Never forget.
Though it seems we already have.
Thanks to Chris Phillips for today’s word. Chris is a fellow Flash Fiction aficionado and editor of Flash Fiction Online. You can follow him on twitter @chriscoflips.
Tomorrow brings my 100th story! What will it be? Visit tomorrow morning to find out!
#98 – Jazz
“Hey, Gramps! This ain’t your skate park, bro!”
The old man brushed his jacket sleeves and sat. He smiled as the gang slowly circled around him.
“This ain’t no tea shop, old timer” the largest boy snarled. “Can you hear me?!”
The boy reached out to flick the stereo off but the old man raised his palm. His head was nodding to the beat.
Fingers padded at the keys of a trumpet. The gang shifted on their heels as the old man lifted the instrument to his lips.
A knife gleamed.
A knife fell.
The party lasted all night.
(c) Tim Austin 2016. Image by Matteo Paganelli.
Today’s story title was suggested by the wonderful Ian Sutherland, author of the bestselling thriller Invasion of Privacy. You can follow him on Twitter @iansuth Thanks Ian!
As ever, if you’ve a title idea, pop it in the comments to this story or tweet it to me @timaustin2k.
See you tomorrow for “Election”!
#97 -Display
“All the chicks are, like, “Whoa! Is that really,….?!””
“And I bet you’re all “Yeah, baby – It’s me!””
Their chirping laughs rang loud around the curved walls.
“I’m telling you; if you have the right bling they’ll let you do anything.”
Legs bent and muscles stretched. The cool morning air shook with squawking jeers.
“Just gotta show them what you got. And remember the breath mints.”
….
A young girl pressed her face to the bars. “Hey Mommy, look at the pwetty birdies!”
“They’re Peacocks, dear,” her Mother replied, watching on.
She whispered beneath her breath.
“Emphasis on Cock. Small C.”
(c) Tim Austin 2016. Image by Anthony Delanoix via Unsplash.
Well, would you look at that: it’s election day in the US of A! I’m a Brit so I couldn’t possibly comment. It’s important to get out and vote, though: you can never complain about the result if you didn’t take your stand and be counted.
Got a word you’d like to suggest as the next story title for One Word One Story? Pop it in the comments or tweet it to me @timaustin2k.
If you want to contribute to OWOS, check out the “Support OWOS” page above or click here. For more works by Tim, click here.
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Learn more about Tim and his work at https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tim-Austin/e/B00JI0LM7I/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1
#95- Please
She was looking at me.
I couldn’t place the look. It was sadness and,… desperation. Her green eyes seemed lost.
I stepped closer without realising, my instinct taking over. I didn’t breathe again until I felt her hand on my chest. She was trembling.
“Please.”
She drew back and opened the phone booth door, stepping inside and turning, her hands pressing white against the glass. I didn’t understand. Not until I saw the photograph crushed in her palm.
The picture showed a booth identical to this, steamed from within – a wet hand print on the glass.
She lifted her skirt.
(c) Tim Austin 2016. Image by Joe deSousa via Unsplash.
Another decidedly NSFW story today. No, I don’t know where the image came from. But if you want to throw me another title that piques an erotic image in your head, go ahead: pop the word in the comments section or tweet it to me @timaustin2k using the hashtag #OWOS.
Like this story? Share the love! Tweet it and share it on Facebook!
I’m nearly at 100 stories – let’s boost this into 200. Explore your favourite genre using the tabs to the left and share your favourite stories far and wide! I can’t do it without you!
Say hello, pop comments and like the OWOS Facebook page. I’ll see you tomorrow for “Inform”!
One Word, One Story 