Short Stories
#51 – Home
“Honey!”
The keys clattered against the sideboard, the door kicked shut with a laugh.
“You wouldn’t believe what Jack has been saying at work,…”
Jason threw his coat onto a chair and strode through the hallway, his hand pushing the living room door wide.
“Maria? Jack said,…”
His hand froze against the light switch as the smell of gas filled his nose. His heart plummeted.
“What have you done,….?”
Maria looked so peaceful. There was a smile on her lips that Jason hadn’t seen in many years. He would have given anything to see that smile again.
But not this,…
(c) Tim Austin 2016. Promo image by Christopher Harris via Unsplash.
This story is a continuation of story 25 – “Onesie”. You can read it by clicking here. This isn’t the end of this story: follow the blog and like the OWOS Facebook page for more chapters in this story.
I can’t do this without your word suggestions so keep them coming in! If you’d like me to write you a story based on a word of your choice, pop your word in the comments section below or tweet it to me @timaustin2k using the hastag #onewordonestory.
If you’re enjoying the stories, please let me know, share them with your friends. Come back tomorrow for my next One Word Story: “Rewarded”.
#50 – Join
The lizard scratched and twitched, trapped in the cardboard box as the boys watched on.
“Look at it’s tongue! Eww!”
“Does it bite?”
“I heard that they break their tails off if they’re attacked.”
“That’s frogs.”
Matthew wasn’t listening. His eyes were fixed on the lizard, its gaze flicking from person to person, its tiny chest puffing with short, sharp breaths.
The treehouse fell silent. The boys were staring at him. The rock was in his hand.
“What are you waiting for, Matthew? You want to be in the club, don’t you?”
Matthew was crying.
“…… of course I do,……”
(c) Tim Austin 2016. Promo image by Erwen Hesry via Unsplash.
Story 50! Wow! Just another 315 to go,……
I can’t do this without your word suggestions so keep them coming in! If you’d like me to write you a story based on a word of your choice, pop your word in the comments section below or tweet it to me @timaustin2k using the hastag #onewordonestory.
If you’re enjoying the stories, please let me know, share them with your friends and follow the blog here and at the OWOS Facebook Page.
#49 – Indifferent
It was a shrug that ground the teeth of every person in the boardroom.
6 Months of work had gone into this one, single project. 6 Months of design, testing, focus groups, contracts and branding so that there was something to impress the new Chairman.
The shrug came again. The Chairman’s gaze was still fixed on his phone: his trainers scuffed the top of the boardroom table.
“It’s okay, I suppose.”
Ten jaws dropped. The teenager looked confused as he glanced up from the game.
“Isn’t it?”
Silence.
The face of the boy’s late Father grinned from the painting above him.
One last joke.
(c) Tim Austin 2016. Promo Image by Samuel Zeller via Unsplash.
Nearly 50 short stories into my 365 day storytelling marathon! I can’t do this without your word suggestions so keep them coming in! If you’d like me to write you a story based on a word of your choice, pop your word in the comments section below or tweet it to me @timaustin2k using the hastag #onewordonestory.
If you’re enjoying the stories, please let me know, share them with your friends and follow the blog here and at the OWOS Facebook Page.
Next story: “Join”
#48 – Jobseeker
A pencil skimmed against paper, cutting a jagged grove as the point marked a square around the advertisement.
“Pool Cleaner”
Days spent slowly skimming debris from the two-dozen pools of the water park? All those toned girls in their sodden bikinis, swarming around the water in the sun? As jobs went, it was a good one. There was only one problem.
“It’s off season in February.”
He went to cross a line through the ad but a crash from the living room stopped his cigarette-burnt hand. Trembling, he reached for the phone.
“Dad needs the money.”
(c) Tim Austin 2016. Photo by Jon Sailer on Unsplash
If you too would like to donate a word, pop it in the comments section below or Tweet it to me@timaustin2k using the hashtag #onewordonestory.
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#45 – Apology
“I see, Mr. Jones, that is,…”
“And what are you going to do about it!? Nothing, that’s what!! All you ever do is pass the buck!”
Alice’s eyes narrowed, her computer screen swimming in and out of focus. The rattling air conditioning ground her threadbare nerves. The man on the phone just wouldn’t stop.
“Mr. Jones, do you know what Cymothoa Exigua is?”
“,… What?”
“Cymothoa Exigua, Mr. Jones. A parasite that eats away at the tongue of it’s victim and attaches to the dead stump.”
“,… Why,….?”
“I’m wondering if you poor wife would like me to buy you one as a pet.”
(c) Tim Austin 2016. Photo by Hack Capital on Unsplash
An odd one today. The ending went a few places – one of them tremendously dark. I decided against it. If in doubt, aim for comedy.
Today’s word was suggested by Steve Thomas of One Fine Day Artworks – purveyors of absolutely beautiful framed art. Take a look at their range at www.onefineday.co.uk
If you’d like to suggest a one word title, please do: pop your suggestion in the comments section below or tweet it to me @timaustin2k.
Don’t forget to follow the OWOS project here and on Facebook so you can get a fresh 100 word short story every day!
Tomorrow’s story? Conundrum!
#44 – Diaspora
The village was sick. The sweet, hacking smell of death greased the leather hides of each tent. The few elders who remained clapped their hands to their arms, beating away the chill west wind.
Cheveyo looked over at the old men as they hunched, skeletal, before the cracking fire. They didn’t look back. The sight haunted him from that day to his last: shadows of men, as decayed and thin as the skins clutched tight around them, haunched in the shadows of the old world.
The city beckoned. The fight was lost.
The white man’s disease had done it’s work.
(c) Tim Austin 2016. Promo image by Nikita Velikanin via Unsplash.
Today’s title was suggested by Michele Seminara. Again, a word I had never heard of before – always a great pleasure! Michele is both the writer of poetry and the managing editor of the creative arts journal VerityLa. You can find her on Twitter @SeminaraMichele
I am still in search of one word titles for my stories – please feel free to suggest your own by writing it in the comments section below or tweeting me @timaustin2k using the hashtag #onewordonestory.
If you’ve enjoyed this or any other story, please do share them on whatever feeds you use. I’ll see you back here tomorrow for “Face”!
#43 – Beneath
I can see you looking across. I can see your gentle smile: the old friend reflected in your gaze.
Your wave is warm and genuine. It isn’t I who waves back.
No. That hand is the hand of a coward.
While he waves, his small-talk a dull monotone of pathetic apology, I sit here beneath.
I want you. I want those lips that smile their pleasant greeting. I want that waving hand buried in my hair. I want your flesh, your breath, your need,…. your love.
He talks: I scream.
See me,…. Please.
I need you to see me,…
(c) Tim Austin 2016. Photo by frank mckenna on Unsplash
Today’s story was suggested by the staff of Halo Literary Magazine – a wonderful magazine of short fiction by female writers. Issue 1 is due to go to press very soon – read more about it at http://halolitmag.co.uk/ and tweet them @HaloLitMag.
Suggest your one word title and I’ll write a story about it: it’s easy. Just pop the word in the comments or tweet it to me @timaustin2k with the word and the hashtag #onewordonestory.
If you’re enjoying the blog, please let others know about it. Like the OWOS Facebook page so you never miss a story!
#42 – Stunning
Carly hadn’t expected this,…
Flashbulbs were blazing from every side as she stepped from the limousine. The red carpet was shining bright. She waved, expecting the cry of excitement to drop away as the revellers and paparazzi realised their mistake.
She was a bit-part in the movie: a blink-and-you-miss-me nobody. She’d cried at her Mother on the day the première ticket landed on the doormat. And now,.. she was adored.
Carly flashed her brightest smile and twirled. The press strained to take each shot. They loved her!
The trail of toilet paper followed her unseen. She didn’t hear them laughing.
(c) Tim Austin 2016. Photo by Zeg Young on Unsplash
Today’s story was inspired by my ol’ uni mukka Rory McNamara – software tester, walking music almanac and producer of the finest Vince McMahon impersonation this side of the Hudson. You can follow him (if that’s your bag) on twitter @RorsDM
Suggest your one word title and I’ll write a story about it: it’s easy. Just pop the word in the comments or tweet it to me @timaustin2k with the word and the hashtag #onewordonestory.
If you’re enjoying the blog, please let others know about it. Like the OWOS Facebook page so you never miss a story!
#41 – Foreseen
The red of her nail shone in the glaring light beneath the crystal ball. With a flourish, the teller skimmed her fingertip across the glass, the faintest whine as the nail tripped the gleaming sphere.
Anabelle rolled her eyes, her arms folding in petulant disregard. Silently she counted the crass theatrical fluff of the performance: the costume-jeweled headscarf, the obvious LED light stand under the ball, the vague smell of a smoke machine. She tutted.
The fortune teller looked deep into the ball, her face flickering in shock.
“Lemmie guess: tall dark stranger?” Anabelle spat.
“No,” the teller whispered.
“Cancer.”
(c) Tim Austin 2016. Promo image by Gioia Fabbri via Unsplash.
Today’s story title was suggested by fellow short story blogger RockieRoad276. Thank you so much – I’m looking forward to more fab stories from you. You too can follow them by visiting rockieroad276.wordpress.com/2016/05/06/amber-short-story/
Suggest your one word title and I’ll write a story about it: it’s easy. Just pop the word in the comments or tweet it to me @timaustin2k with the word and the hashtag #onewordonestory.
If you’re enjoying the blog, please let others know about it. Like the OWOS Facebook pageso you never miss a story!
#40 – Stretched
“No! Not that door, Joey! Sally-Anne, stop pulling Tony’s hair! Does anyone want to play a game?! Please??”
How did it come to this? A simple party, she said. Light refreshments, a dip in the pool, cake and TV.
“It’ll be easy with us both there,” she said.
He surveyed the chaos as he wandered to the bathroom. He couldn’t be sure what was wall and what was crayon. Why was there was cake inside the CD player? Nothing made sense any more.
His phone rang.
“Honey? I’m still at the airport. How’s the party?”
He locked the door.
(c) Tim Austin 2016. Promo image by Stephanie McCabe via Unsplash.
Suggest your one word title and I’ll write a story about it: it’s easy. Just pop the word in the comments or tweet it to me @timaustin2k with the word and the hashtag #onewordonestory.
If you’re enjoying the blog, please let others know about it. Like the OWOS Facebook page so you never miss a story!
One Word, One Story 