good reads
#104 – Recompense
Palm flat. Hand turned up. He’s waiting for you.
Don’t reach out too fast. Don’t seem desperate: make him wait for it. Listen to the crowd and let the moment breathe. Let it happen.
Step away. Hear the hiss of air through ten thousand sets of teeth. Don’t smile at it – remember who you are.
There it is,… the boos have started, spreading through the arena like a virus. Glorious.
Now is the time. Step back through the ropes.
An hour of agony and blood. A smile between secret friends.
“Hellava match, man. Hellava match,….”
“Same time tomorrow?”
(c) Tim Austin 2016. Image by Martin Kníže via Unsplash.
So this is my take on the word “Recompense”, what’s yours? Write your own and pop me a link! And if you’d like to suggest a word for me to use as a title, please do!
Today’s word was suggested by Marple25Mary – a short story writer and connoisseur who can be found at https://marple25mary.wordpress.com/. Say hello.
#100 – Saint
The old man watched each face as his motorcade weaved through the cheering crowd. Some hadn’t eaten for days, their hollow eyes begging his blessing.
Through the car’s speakers, a voice was listing the itinerary of the day.
“At 8 you have the talk in the main square. We’ve already prepared it – the usual concern for the poor, a wish to heal old wounds and reach across divides.”
The old man smiled to the crowd.
“Later, we need to discuss the portfolio. $30bn is still tied up in Switzerland.”
“Leave it there,” the old man growled. “All of it.”
(c) Tim Austin, 2016. Image by Nacho Arteaga via Unsplash.
“Saint” was suggested by bestselling author Sue London, whose various (superb!) works can be found on Amazon, here, alongside other outlets. If following people on Twitter is your bag, you can find Sue @cmdrsue.
Hit that “Follow” button, below and to the right, and don’t forget to visit the OWOS Facebook Page for more content!
See you tomorrow for “Endangered”!
#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!
#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.
Like this story? Share the love! Tweet it and share it on Facebook!
Explore your favourite genre using the tabs to the left and share your favourite stories far and wide!
Learn more about Tim and his work at https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tim-Austin/e/B00JI0LM7I/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1
#96 – Inform
Paragraph
The rain consumed the air – dense and cold, and soaking to the skin. Jacob’s sweater was already heavy with water,… but it was not the reason he was shivering.
He couldn’t be sure. There was no way to be sure. But it didn’t matter if it was true or not: it was information and information was what they wanted.
A breath of steam floated over his shoulder as the man by the wall turned to speak.
“You have served your country well, comrade.”
Without another word he was alone with the new bag.
Inside was the doll his daughter always wanted.
(c) Tim Austin 2016. Image by Reza Shayestehpour via Unsplash.
Keep those one word titles coming in! I need more 🙂 Just pop your suggestion in the comments or tweet it to @timaustin2k with the hashtag #OWOS.
Visit and Like my Facebook page too: there’s a TONNE of content incoming so you don’t want to miss a post!
Please don’t forget: you can support OWOS on Patreon – just a little loose change a month can help me keep this project running. Click here to learn more and become a Patron. Thank You!
Hit that Like button and come back tomorrow for “Display” – see you then!
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”!
#92 – Enslavement
“Hey man, do I need to be wearing these?!”
Michael rose his arms to display thin plastic strips digging into his wrists.
“Pipe down, Jones. You got a time out and you take it – or do you want to go back to your cell?”
Michael Jones blew in frustration, dropping his hands to his lap and thudding the back of his head to the wall. Through the thick glass of the door he watched as orange-clad men fed metal strips into presses, their heads bent low.
The lines were long: the penance unending.
“No Sir,” Michael sighed. “I do not.”
(c) Tim Austin. Image by Miguel A Ramirez via Unsplash.
Not being political, not being political, not being political,………
My generous thanks to long-time follower and supporter of the OWOS project Sarah Doughty of Heartstring Eulogies. Check out her poetry here – I can’t recommend it highly enough.
If you enjoyed this or any other OWOS stories, be sure to like and share!
#91 – Intense
Marbled streams of fire shifted and wound through hissing clouds of acrid smoke. Fissures broke open like wounds, finding each other and melting into flickering rivers before swollen dams of black rock rolled across and cut them from the night sky.
A maelstrom swirled high above, peppering the shifting rock with ashen pumice as forks of lightning shruck at the ground.
The old man looked on, fingers tightening in his palms. Tears fell at the beauty of it. His heart broke as children screamed.
One last toll of the church bell broke the air.
Fire leapt. The screams stopped.
(c) Tim Austin 2016. Image by Yosh Ginsu via Unsplash.
Pompeii sprang to mind when I read “Intense”. There was a man who witnessed it and survived – Plinny the Younger. It’s hard to imagine how terrible it was for him to see.
Today’s story title was donated by fellow blogger and author Angelica Kidd, who is just beginning her submission for NanoWrimo as of yesterday! Follow her progress at https://angelicakidd.wordpress.com/.
Like this? Follow OWOS – it’s that button below and to the right – for a new story every day. You can also like the One Word One Story Facebook Page for more! Tweet me @timaustin2k too.
See you tomorrow for “Enslavement”.
#21 – Coincidence
“Jane! Fancy meeting you here,…”
Sincerity was never one of Jack’s strong points. Jane’s cheeks flushed pink in embarrassment, her teeth clenching tight.
“Jack.”
“Won’t you introduce me to your male friend?” He laboured the word male, balancing it like a dagger and twisting it just as hard. His eyes were a mix of amusement and malice as he turned his gaze to Jane’s date. There was a pause.
“…. Steven.”
Jane’s brow furrowed as she followed her ex husband’s eyes. Stephen was shifting in his seat, eyes locking to Jack’s. He choked a yearning whisper.
“I’ve missed you.”
(c) Tim Austin 2016. Promo picture courtesy of Henry Fournier via Uplash.
Like this or any other story? Hit that follow button below (if you’re on WordPress) or like the OWOS Facebook page. Oh, and share it on Facebook and Twitter 
Today’s word was suggested by the magnificently named Yvonne Battle-Fenton – writer and co-producer at The Story in Lancaster and Off The Page. You can find her on Twitter @YBattleFelton.
Yvonne suggested her word by tweeting me @timaustin2k and using the hashtag #onewordonestory. You can too! Please do.
See you tomorrow for “Tea”
One Word, One Story 