flash fiction writers
#77 – Remember
“Hmmm?”
Ada looked across at the young woman beside her bed, surprised that someone had spoken. Her gaze focused slowly and she smiled.
“My favourite flowers are Chrysanthemums. Do you like Chrysanthemums, dear?”
“Yes, I love them.”
Ada couldn’t understand why the woman was crying. It was such a lovely day and her daughter would be visiting soon. She raised her finger to wipe the tear free from the pretty face and patted her cheek.
“Yes, Chrysanthemums. My Daughter always brings me a bunch.”
“She,…. sounds nice,…..” The woman was trembling as she kissed Ada’s hand.
“Happy birthday, Mom,…”
(c) Tim Austin 2016. Image by Callum Skelton via Unsplash.
Okay, I’m sorry. Some days the image that forms isn’t pleasant. I find degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s terrifying and so very deeply sad. I have occasion to visit a nursing home frequently and I see similar scenes every visit. The families who deal with it daily are so strong and I admire them immensely.
If you have a word that means something to you and you’d like to see what I make of it, pop it in the comments and I’ll write you a 100 word short story.
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#76 -Isolation
The light bulb buzzed and spat. Water was dripping down the chord and swirling in a fine spray from the tiny barred window.
Keith sat huddled on a freezing metal bed, eyes locked into the gloom. His throat hummed as he breathed, rocking gently on his lice-ridden mattress.
He wasn’t alone. Keith walked hand in hand with Andrew over the burning pale sands of the beach. Their feet brushed through the dunes and grasses, their laughter rolled into the sky. Hearts raced as lips blessed each other.
Keith was smiling in the darkness.
In his dreams he was never alone.
(c) Tim Austin 2016. Image by Ludovic Gauthier via Unsplash.
Another title suggested by Aliki Chapple – mother, activist, actor and proud Grecian. You can follow her and her work over on Twitter @amaenad
I’m looking for new one word story titles all the time! Tell me yours in the comments section or tweet them to me @timaustin2k using the hashtag #onewordonestory.
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See you tomorrow for “Abundance”.
#70 – Blood
Ella raised the police tape and stepped into the the dead woman’s apartment.
As an open crime scene, no clean up crew had visited and the detective was soon swamped with a sweet, putrid smell of decay. She lifted a menthol-laced handkerchief to her mouth.
As fruit-fattened bluebottles zipped around her, Ella thought about her next move. She’d been careful to come alone: the killer wanted her to himself. He wanted her and he would be watching.
She sat at the head of the blood-drenched dining table and waited.
“Come and get me, you bastard,….”
(c) Tim Austin 2016. Promo image by Mathilda Khoo via Unsplash.
Another in the cat-and-mouse chain story between Sid and Ella. Read both previous posts by clicking here.
Suggest your own story titles and I’ll write a 100 word story just for you. Just write your word in the comments or tweet it to me @timaustin2k using the hashtag #onewordonestory.
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See tomorrow for “Officer”.
#68 – Principle
A stubby finger pushed a pawn across the board, cigar ash falling around the piece in a halo of smoking debris. Churchill growled and smiled.
“There is no instance of a nation benefiting from prolonged warfare,” the Britain stated, leaning back into his leather armchair.
A rook slid across the board to threaten the pawn. Churchill frowned.
A finger tapped against the board, sweeping away the cigar ash with disdain.
“That is why this war will be short,” came a replay from across the table.
“No, Adolf.”
Churchill slipped a knight to checkmate his opponent’s king.
“But it will be won.”
(c) Tim Austin 2016. Photo by Nguyen Pham on Unsplash
I’ve no idea why but the first image I had for this word was Churchill sat drinking with Hitler pleasantly. It adapted in the writing but,… what an extraordinary idea,…. I mean, what would they talk about?! There’s a hell of a book in that,….
Hit that follow button and like the OWOS Facebook page for more! Suggest your own one-word titles by popping your word in the comments below.
See you tomorrow for “Manifesto”.
#67 – Attic
“Hey, there’s still stuff up here!”
Peter’s head was poking through the loft hatch, his hand tugging at the light chord.
“What was that, honey?”
“There’s stuff! Boxes.”
Liza watched as her husband lifted himself into the attic.
She sipped her coffee. “Any antiques?”
Peter laughed.
“For your Pop to sell for beer money?”
“I was thinking of renovations.”
Something fell down and clattered at Liza’s feet – a child’s doll, its face smudged with soot. Dead glass eyes stared up and she choked at the sudden smell of smoke.
“Honey,…” Liza’s voice was a hoarse whisper.
“We need to go.”
(c) Tim Austin 2016. Photo by Artem Maltsev on Unsplash.
Today’s word was suggested by Bristolian and avid supporter of the OWOS project “Orignal Tracey”. You can follow her on Twitter @sunsetbeachbabe.
Tracey suggested her word by sending me a tweet – you can too! Tweet me @timaustin2k with the hashtag #onewordonestory and I’ll write a 100 word story just for you!
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See you tomorrow for “Principle”.
#65 – Threatened
Spit was raining over the bald man’s chin, his mouth a snarling mask of fury as he waved his banner high.
Katie watched as the man passed, the police cordon holding she and her brother from creeping closer. Her wide eyes marvelled at the sight, flinching as the mob screamed their hate.
The bald man caught sight of her brother’s uniform and stopped.
“Iraq?”
Katie’s brother nodded.
Though no more than a twisted joke, Katie watched as the two men raised their fists.
When the condolence letter arrived two weeks later, Katie rose her fist too.
(c) Tim Austin 2016. Promo Image by Benjamin Faust via Unsplash.
Continuing the story of Katie, first seen in the tale “Tea” – dedicated to the wonderful Devika Fernando. Click here for each part of the story so far.
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Suggest your own One Word Story by popping it in the comments or tweeting it to me @timaustin2k using the hashtag #onewordonestory.
#64 – Poet
Joel closed his eyes and took a breath, his hands rising and reaching out into the sun-dappled air. His chin rose as he felt the words spring from his chest and force themselves from his lips.
Worlds swirled in his imagination. Wild realities and lost loves poured from his soul, forming into crude reality with each flick of his tongue. His heart ached at each new phrase, tears fell as he knitted verse to verse.
A roll of distant thunder greeted the finale. It was perfect.
The Eight year old boy watching him coughed.
“Mister,…. why didn’t it Rhyme?”
(c) Tim Austin 2016. Promo image by Curtis Mac Newton via Unsplash.
Suggest your own one word story title – it’s easy! Pop your word in the comments or tweet it to @timaustin2k using the hashtag #onewordonestory and I’ll write a story just for you!
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#62 – Worth
The woman flicked the notes carefully through her fingers, tapping the stack of cash against her desk and peering up over her horn-rimmed glasses.
“Not police?”
The man shook his head. There was a note of threat to the question and he turned away, fixing his gaze through the doorway, his heart racing.
Silken bronze skin swept beneath long curls of onyx hair. Asian eyes were lidded and docile. The woman he desired tugged her skirt over a blackened bruise.
“You like?” the Madame slipped the money into a draw, her finger stroking a pistol.
“Yes. Very much,…”
(c) Tim Austin 2016. Promo image by Tom Sodoge via Unsplash.
If you have a word that reminds you of something, pop it in the comments and I’ll write you a story. You can also tweet it to me @timaustin2k using the hashtag #onewordonestory.
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#61 – Prime
The Silverback watched from the the undergrowth, his slab-like fists balled into the black earth. The valley was his.
Around the Silverback, the forest chirped and chittered to the sound of a billion insects. High in the treetops, Chimps swung to perch, gazing down at the Gorilla with nervous curiosity. One swipe of his arm would crush them. One charge of his thundering bulk and they would be no more.
Yet it was not the Silverback they feared.
The upright ape was there. The clothed beast, sawing at the arms of the Gorilla’s mate.
The Silverback watched from the undergrowth.
(c) Tim Austin 2016. Promo image by Jorge Illich-Gejo via Unsplash.
Suggest your own one word story title – it’s easy! Pop your word in the comments or tweet it to @timaustin2k using the hashtag #onewordonestory and I’ll write a story just for you!
Be sure to follow the blog by hitting the button to the lower right or by liking the OWOS Facebook page.
#59 – Cheek
All around the room flames roared and span through the air: blue and red funnels shooting from the base of each hob, the blazing inferno bringing sweat to the skin of the paramedics kneeling at the floor.
The apprentice looked down at the prone form of Chef Tyler, his harsh, furious gaze now dull and powerless. Spittle still leaked from the corner of his mouth.
“What did you say to him?” one of the Sous Chefs nudged the apprentice, his mouth agape.
“Nothing,…”
The apprentice shrugged. Chef Tyler twitched.
“Just that his soup could do with a little salt,…”
(c) Tim Austin 2016. Promo image by Michael Browning via Unsplash.
Suggest your one word story title and I’ll write one just for you! Pop your word in the comments or tweet it to @timaustin2k using the hashtag #onewordonestory.
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