After being married for thirty years he thought he’d pretty much figured her out, but when she came home with a baby crocodile for Christmas he realized she was as beautifully, wonderfully mysterious to him now as she always had been, which wasn’t much consolation when it ate the dog.
Category Archives: Stories
CHRISTIAN BLUNSCHI: A Pity
In all of the world there had never been another one like it.
It was magnificent.
It would cure world hunger.
It would bring peace.
It would make humankind safe forever.
A pity that it was in the jacket pocket with the hole as he passed by the open sewer.
Christian doesn’t normally write, but he has some artwork at http://chrigeloz.deviantart.com.
Falcon Midnight and the Treachery
Captain Falcon Midnight activated the intercom. “Ignore the klaxon,” she told the passengers. “It’s faulty wiring.”
“You’re not telling them about the space pirates?” asked first mate Michael Firefist.
“Don’t want them to panic,” said Midnight.
“Fine,” said Firefist, jabbing her with his space taser.
Then he dropped the shields.
Today’s story was based on character names provided by @MisterFiendZero and @danzama.
Monkey Bar Highway
The virus targeted only medical professionals and civil engineers.
No one was left who knew how to figure out why the plague had targeted such a specific population. But that wasn’t the biggest problem: city planning failed, crooked minds prevailed, and before long, the streets were made of monkey bars.
Context and Description: The Core Ingredients of Engaging Narrative
LaRoche leaned over the edge and gazed down on the street below.
There wasn’t even a single car.
That wasn’t unusual, because it was 1723. Louis XV had just attained his majority, and it wouldn’t be long before the Treaty of St. Petersburg was signed.
Then he jumped.
Then he landed.
Today’s fifty-word story was partially inspired by reading Les Miserables, which is a very description-heavy, context-heavy book. Lord of the Rings is another. I love them both.
TIM SEVENHUYSEN: The Door at the End of the Hall
There was a door at the end of the hall.
No one knew where it led. Some said a bathroom. Some said a secret cellar. Some said France.
Only one man claimed to know the secret.
He died in a car accident. No one asked very many questions after that.
This story was based on a title suggested by @C_h_a_s_e_y.
BRUCE RYTEL: The Battlegrid
I never understood checkers.
When you leap over another piece, it’s captured? What, do they all have gigantic nets or something?
And why flat discs? Why not something more representative, like in chess?
When the UFOs began to descend, I realized the truth: they had been preparing us for war.
Soon to be a student of culinary arts and therefore thrilled that he can call himself an “art student” and act pretentious on a technicality, Bruce Rytel’s hobbies include writing, gaming, and going by a pseudonym.
Rolling Hills
“Freezabunga, dude! Let’s go snow surfing!”
“You mean snowboarding?”
“Yeah, man, surfing on giant waves of snow!”
“I don’t think that’s actually… You know what? Never mind. It sounds awesome! Let’s do it!”
The newly installed wave machine on the ski hill made it super wicked gnarly tubular rad.
TIM SEVENHUYSEN: The Magical Cup and a Terrifying Beast
There once was a terrifying beast with shaggy hair and pointed teeth.
A pure-hearted village child possessed a magical cup. It always flowed with water, no matter how much you drank from it.
The child gave the cup to the beast, which devoured it.
Now the beast can’t stop peeing.
This story was based on a title provided by @DewMan001.
Getting Stuff Done
“Do your chores, young man!” said Mom.
“Do your chores, young lady!” said Mom.
“Do your chores, middle-aged man!” said Mom.
“Do your chores, little baby!” said Mom.
“What about your chores, Mom?” asked Everyone.
“My chore is delegating,” said Mom.
The family called for elections. Mom stuffed the ballot.