The story of the week for June 12 to 16 is…
Perennial by Jann Everard
and
We Call It Home by Heather Haigh
SUE HEISNER: As Bess Hypothesized
The neurobiology student’s graduate thesis on pheromones secured her advanced degree. Studies complete, she applied her research findings to her relationship with Roy, her ag student boyfriend. His noncommitment dissolved as his ardor for Bess coalesced, reacting as expected to the catalyst: bacon grease sparingly applied to her pulse points.
Sue Heisner, aka the wyowordslinger, reads and writes seeking connection.
STEVE DOHERTY: Encouraging Father He Was
“So what? Strike out, ground out, and fly out. You’ll get four chances on Tuesday against Westport.” A hit, struck out once and walked. The average went up. Thank you.
“Big deal! One more class in the summer and you’re a college graduate.” Thanks, August diploma.
Memories.
Happy Father’s Day.
Steve Doherty wrote this story.
CHRISTOPHER GANNON: Follow These Instructions: A Play
A man tied up with duct tape over his mouth dials a phone with his nose.
PHONE: Jeffrey?
JEFFREY: (Muffled)
PHONE: I can’t understand when you mumble.
JEFFREY: (Muffled?)
PHONE: There you go again. Ten years of this…
JEFFREY: (Muffled!)
PHONE: I can’t do this anymore!
The phone is disconnected.
Christopher is an Electroencephalographer from Buffalo, NY, with two published short plays: On Eating Bananas and Conversation Over Harold.
DEBORAH TAPPER: Snapshot
You find the undeveloped films while clearing her things. They’re decades old; you’re amazed they can still be processed. So you send them off. Cross your fingers, hoping she’s in every picture. And she is. Radiant, laughing, arms around another man.
A total stranger. But he has your son’s eyes.
Deborah writes at an old desk surrounded by five hundred pet bugs.
STORY OF THE MONTH: May 2023
The Story of the Month is chosen from the Story of the Week winners announced from the past month.
The finalists for May were:
Pink Horizons by Andrew Nosti
Postpartum by Larissa Thomson
Woman-ness by Kelli Short Borges
Wisdom by Carol Reeves
The winner of the May 2023 Story of the Month, and the $10 prize, is…
Woman-ness
JOHN H DROMEY: Furry Farewell
“Is it true your dog can talk?”
“Otto’s a canine of few words. I may need to interpret his speech for you.”
“Okay.”
Twenty mostly-quiet minutes later.
“I’m leaving.”
Otto spoke.
“There! Told you he could talk.”
“You call arf talking?”
“Yeah. He’s a German Shepherd. That’s short for arf-wiedersehen.”
John H. Dromey’s short stories have appeared in Mystery Magazine and numerous other publications.
ROBERTA BEACH JACOBSON: Love At First Flight
Jamie knew her match was out there, probably traveling first class. Eagerly, she flew Milwaukee to Chicago, but her seatmate was old and boring. She sat alone in first class Chicago to Orlando. At long last, Jamie met her Mr. Right, working at the ticket counter of her local airport.
Roberta Beach Jacobson is the author of Demitasse Fiction: One-Minute Reads for Busy People (Alien Buddha Press, 2023). She lives in Indianola, Iowa with her husband and three cats.
KELSEY MATHIAS: Lift Off
Slouched in his comfy chair sat Dad growing old, sick, and impatient, eager to explore other worlds. “Let’s launch this rocket already!” he chided.
The doctors finally pronounced him fit for travel.
The chair is now gone.
All that remain are the smoldering indentations of the legs.
God speed, Dad.
Kelsey Mathias is a writer who delights at the endless combinations that are possible with just 26 letters and a spark of inspiration.
JANN EVERARD: Perennial
Spent blooms splay like mould on dry soil. Half price now, the plant takes up more shelf space than it’s worth. And yet, vibrant among dark leaves, a bud springs as hope from sorrow. Edith places the pot in her basket. She’ll tend it back to life. Use crone magic.
Jann Everard’s fiction has been published widely in Canada, as well as in the U.S., New Zealand, and Australia. Her debut collection of short fiction is due for release in March 2024. She lives on Vancouver Island.