The kids are at school, the dishes done, and the laundry started. She has no more excuses. She must sit down on the floor, now, in front of the TV, now, turn on the XBox, now, and learn to play. She hates video games. She's hated them all her life. From the moment her parents gifted her … Continue reading Learn to Play
Tag: flash fiction
One Bite
Oh how they stare. They know I don't belong here, but they know why I've come. A once in a lifetime trip. I've spent all of my savings and borrowed a fortune to get here. All for this one experience. This one event. This one meal. The maître d' leads me to a table and … Continue reading One Bite
Collect Call
He calls from a payphone. "I'm going to the woods," he says. I try, "Oh? Um. Yeah?" Then, because I can't stop myself, "Why?" "Goddammit!" He explodes at me, "Because it's all I can f-ing do right now! Ok?" Quickly, "Yes! Yes, OK." I take a deep breath. "But just think, you could come here?" He needs to … Continue reading Collect Call
Fine Pancakes
The Old Man insisted on calling her Marcy. Marissa wasn't in a position to argue with him. “I’m just reminding you, again sir, that in order to arrive at the signing on time, we need to leave in,” She glanced at the cell phone in her hand, “three minutes.” He just kept on smiling and forked another … Continue reading Fine Pancakes
Something More
The question comes from behind me, an unexpected place. “What do you want?” she asks again. The question hits my right shoulder, and bounces off my head. I have been waiting for this question my entire life, but the pain of it shocks me into silence. I turn to see a woman there, asking a child to make … Continue reading Something More
This Time
"It's different this time," she says to me, out of nowhere. We've been talking about movies we've missed over the summer. "What's different," I ask, although I know what she's going to say. "I don't think I'll make it out this time." A dozen glib comments come to mind, but I don't say them, because I think … Continue reading This Time
A Joyful Sound
Patrick gave his mother's unresponsive hand another squeeze before letting go. He stood up and walked over to the window. The view of the park was something even he could admire and he thought again what a shame it was that his mother couldn't see it. She'd worked hard for a long time to save … Continue reading A Joyful Sound
Unfinished Memory
A little boy mourns his grandfather. 614 Words
Just a Trim
Jen marches into the seemingly empty kitchen and eyes the house plant. It hangs neglected, yellowed, wilted, from a hook in the ceiling. Jen crosses the room, snatches the shears from the knife block then turns to attack the plant. "A house full of people, and no one takes care of the plants." She says … Continue reading Just a Trim
Watching the Clock
I see her. She sits at the kitchen table, the laptop is open and her hand is on the mouse, but she is looking out the window. She looks bored. Her eyes follow the movements of her four-year-old daughter. She looks back at the laptop. She clicks to refresh the screen. No new emails. She … Continue reading Watching the Clock
Mind of a Mouse 