Storytelling Blog
#102 – Dusk
Four propellers cut through the air – interminable and unending as the aircraft chased the setting sun.
Birds flew close to the white beast as it whistled above the cliff. It had done so countless times. Lights blinked and cameras focused, mapping and fixing its target: the endless dusk, high above the world.
No human eyes watched. No hands guided the craft. Silently the lone sentinel flew on, solar panels reflecting the endless sun.
Below, a city drifted by – skeletal: blackened long ago. Carrion for the winds.
The drone requested information.
No reply came.
No reply ever came.
(c) Tim Austin 2016. Image by Josh Rose via Unsplash.
Thanks to author Carin Marais for today’s word! You can read her work at https://maraiscarin.wordpress.com/ – pop by and say hello 🙂
Have a look around at a few other stories and share them far and wide. If you’ve a one word title, tweet it to me @timaustin2k or write it the comments of this post. Who’s next?
Learn more about Tim and his work at https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tim-Austin/e/B00JI0LM7I/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1
#86 – Burning
The flames lapped at the wood and circled in the thinning air. A large crowd was watching as the fire danced and swelled, entranced by the hypnotic sweep of the blaze.
Music was playing loud and children were dancing. Cold boxes filled with beer gleamed in the firelight. The field was full of people talking and laughing together as the last rays of the day sank below the horizon.
The sheriff stepped forward, his hand lifting a microphone to continue his speech.
“Black Lives Matter, they say,…..” The crowd was laughing.
The children played and watched the white crosses burn.
(c) Tim Austin 2016. Image by Thomas Shellberg via Unsplash.
The first image that came to mind with this word was the KKK. It is a stain on humanity that this group still exists and that any group like this still exists. But it does and it’s worth remembering that, in these dark times. Humanity still has a long way to go,….
I’m still on the search for new words! If you’re reading this and you want to suggest one, please do! Just pop it in the comments or Tweet it to @timaustin2k using the hashtag #onewordonestory.
Check out more stories by clicking the links to the left and above and be sure to like the OWOS Facebook page. Share your favourites and let more people know about One Word, One Story!
See you tomorrow for “Fragile”.
#85 – Loyal
Time to play! Time to play!!
Jesse barked loudly at her owner and ran off through the house in a frantic search.
Where did she leave it?! Ooo! Ooo! I know,……
The Jack Russel dipped her nose to the floor, letting the scent tease and guide her as she snuffled her way to the sofa and reached beneath. Her jaws snapped closed against plastic.
Found it!! Mistress will be happy!!
The dog bounded back to her owner, dropping the phone by her hand and licking the woman’s face. A voice crackled from the handset.
“911, which service please?”
(c) Tim Austin 2016. Image by Robert Larsson via Unsplash.
I’m on the search for new words! If you’re reading this and you want to suggest one, please do! Just pop it in the comments or Tweet it to @timaustin2k using the hashtag #onewordonestory.
First visit? Not been here for a while? Check out more stories by clicking the links to the left and above!
See you tomorrow for “Burning”.
#84 – Disfigurement
“Oi! Freddy Krueger!”
The teenage boy sneered as the rock left his hand and span against the armrest of the man’s wheelchair.
“I said oi!”
The man didn’t move.
The gang could see his reflection in the store window. His face was white and smooth: burned flesh twisted, his eyes milky. The boy threw another stone, laughing as it whistled past the man’s ear.
The store owner ran out and the gang scattered, their sneering cries echoing down the street.
“Hey man, why didn’t you say something?”
“Because” the burned man replied, “he wasn’t like that before the fire,…”
(c) Tim Austin 2016. Image by Dawn Armfield via Unsplash.
For a new story every day, click on the follow button below or “Like” the OWOS Facebook page. For more stories, click on the links to the left – see what you enjoy 🙂
See you tomorrow for “Loyal”.
#83 – Suave
The gentleman brushed his finger over the rim of his glass, a low growl shucked carelessly from his throat.
“Thank you.”
His voice was smooth beneath the gravel of age. His smile was bright.
The stewardess smiled back, bowing her head a little as she poured another splash of red wine into his glass. With another quick glance, she stood straight and walked back up the isle.
“Old man in 26 D seems nice,” she chirped, stepping through the crew curtain.
“Oh, he’s a regular,” her friend replied. “Check your pocket.”
The old man’s smile widened when he heard her scream.
(c) Tim Austin 2016. Image by Ross Parmly via Unsplash.
Keep your title suggestions coming (drop yours in the comments) and please do share stories you enjoy. You’ll find a list of genres to the left! Enjoy 🙂
Come back tomorrow for another 100 word short story. Remember: it’s one a day for 365 days! Keep following the blog for more.
#82 – Intense
“It’s,……. lovely.”
“Really?! Do you think so?”
Jemima’s mother was clapping her hands wildly and bouncing on her toes.
On the driveway before them sat a car. The metal and glass shone proud in the early morning sun. The fresh-from-the-factory tires lay scuff free on the brick floor.
“A BMW, Mum,…. wow,…”
“It’s all yours!” Jemima’s mother ran forward and took the teenager’s hand, guiding her towards car. The goth girl blinked.
“Soooooooo?” God, why was her mother smiling?
“So,….” Jemima saw her black skirt reflected in the paint.
“I didn’t know they made BMWs in Bubble Gum Pink,…”
(c) Tim Austin 2016. Picture by Mason Jones via Unsplash.
Today’s One Word Title was suggested by Angelica Kidd, writer of the “Life of an Aspiring Writer” blog. On reading the word, a hot pink colour sped into my mind. That probably says a lot about me but I’ll leave that to my therapist 😉
I’m on the search for new words! If you’re reading this and you want to suggest one, please do! Just pop it in the comments or Tweet it to @timaustin2k using the hashtag #onewordonestory.
First visit? Not been here for a while? Check out more stories by clicking the links to the left and above!
See you tomorrow for “Suave”
#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.
Don’t forget to hit that Follow button and Like the One Word, One Story Facebook page here.
See you tomorrow for “Abundance”.
#75 – Plunge
Goosebumps were itching on Eddie’s skin as he looked down into the pool 33 feet below. His head snapped back and he squeezed his eyes tight, a sharp breath hissing between his lips as his toes curled over the edge of the board.
“Okay, that was dumb. Dumb, dumb, dumb!” Eddie whispered. The crowd below had fallen silent.
The world froze for a heartbeat,…
“Hey, Charlie Brown! Time to go splat!”
Anger forced Eddie’s eyes open. People were laughing. People were always laughing. All the time.
Everyone except Mrs. Gomez.
The trembling boy raised his arms.
She would be watching.
(c) Tim Austin 2016. Promo image by Markus Spiske via Unsplash.
Suggest your own word by tweeting it to me @timaustin2k and I’ll write a story dedicated to you. Don’t forget to hit the follow button and like the OWOS Facebook pagelike the OWOS Facebook page.
Take a gander at the other romance and coming of age short stories by clicking on the links to the left!
See you tomorrow for another 100 word short story!
#69 -Manifesto
The Commodore stood on the balcony, his arms spread wide to the crowd below.
“This, my friends, is the start of a new country! A new hope! A new dawn for you – free from the corruption of the old ways!”
Jubilant cheers echoed from building to building. Horns blared from every street as the Commodore cupped his hands together and shook them in triumph.
Behind him a man in a black suit was inspecting a model of an oil field, lifting a letter from beside it and lighting the corner with a match.
“Thank you, Commodore. That will do nicely.”
(c) Tim Austin 2016. Image by Linhao Zhang Courtesy of Unsplash
This story is dedicated to the memory and family of Jo Cox, MP for Batley and Spen in the UK, who was shot and killed earlier today. Jo was a fearless fighter for justice, peace and the good of her constituents. She was a wonderful example to us all. My thoughts are with her family.
#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”.
One Word, One Story 