JENNIFER L FREED: Scattered

Artistic, Poetry, Submissions, Top Stories, , , ,

She tries
to sit in sunlight, but it never stays
where she left it.

Her room feels too dim.

She leans to open the blinds,
knocks over the bowl of blue marbles.

Again and again, she reaches to gather them up.
Again and again, her hand knocks them farther away.

Jennifer L. Freed mostly writes poems. Her new book, based on the aftermath of her mother surviving a stroke, is available from Kelsay Books or at her website (jfreed.weebly.com) and includes some short poems previously published at 50-Word Stories.

JOHN H. DROMEY: Fading Away

Amusing, Submissions, , ,

“You look sad, Jennifer. Is something troubling you?”

“I had a nostalgic flashback to my distant past. At long last, I’m finally dealing with the loss of an imaginary friend from my childhood.”

“What happened?”

“Reportedly, she drowned in the middle of a desert.”

“In an oasis?”

“No. A mirage.”

John H. Dromey’s short stories have appeared in Mystery Magazine and numerous other publications.

N WEST MOSS: Pecking Order

Artistic, Submissions, Touching, , , , ,

Pete had a heart attack recently, and recovery is lengthy.

His hen (I’ll call her Penny) is being pecked nearly to death by the others. Since he has time, Pete stands in the coop swatting at the mean hens with the feed scoop.

Penny follows him around, borrowing Pete’s bravery.

N. West Moss is the author of the memoir, Flesh & Blood from Algonquin (2021) as well as the short story collection, The Subway Stops at Bryant Park from Leapfrog (2017). Her middle grade novel, Birdy, is forthcoming from Little, Brown.

NICK YOUNG: Strange Fruit

Artistic, Submissions, , , , ,

In the torchlight’s dance his swollen eyes, blinded by salt sweat, squinted at the ring of hulking shadows, crowding him with profane oaths in the July swelter. He raised no appeal to the starless heavens, only sank to his knees as the length of hemp looped the cypress branch overhead.

Nick Young is a retired award-winning CBS News Correspondent. In addition to 50-Word Stories, his writing has appeared in the Nonconformist Magazine, the San Antonio Review, Samjoko Magazine, Short Story Town, Danse Macabre Magazine, Pigeon Review, CafeLit Magazine, the Green Silk Journal, Typeslash Review, The Potato Soup Journal, Sein und Werden, Of Rust and Glass, Little Death Lit, Flyover Magazine, Sandpiper, Fiery Scribe Review, The Chamber Magazine and Vols. I and II of the Writer Shed Stories anthologies.

SARAH RUSSELL: Overheard at Goodwill

Amusing, Artistic, Submissions, , ,

A couple with full sleeve tats, neon hair, chains, and studs passed me in the housewares aisle.

“Look at the cute butterflies on this plate,” she said.

“I wrote an essay on butterflies in prison,” he said. “Did you know they migrate to Mexico?”

“Butterflies are free,” she said.

Sarah Russell writes short stuff — mostly poetry and flash. There’s more like “Overheard…” at SarahRussellPoetry.net.

REBECCA J CUTHBERT: Emissaries

Submissions, Top Stories, Touching, , , , ,

They first came during Covid, the only bright spot of lockdown, one brown head, one red, building their nest in a faded holiday wreath. Every morning I said hello and made small talk, maybe to remind myself I still knew how, and the house finches cocked their heads and listened.

Rebecca J. Cuthbert wrote this story.

ELLIE NIK: A fraction of life, 18 Feb 2022

Artistic, Submissions, Touching, , , , , ,

I just looked up at the sky,
It was an incandescent blue.
The sun rays dancing in my hair.
I picked a dandelion and blew it away.
“This could be the last time”, I thought
I was coming from my last chemo session
The doctor did not have much hope.

Ellie Nik is a teacher/researcher who lives in Sydney, Australia. She writes as a way of self-discovery.

LINDA FREEDLAND: Duct-taped in Florida (or When it’s Time to Head Home)

Amusing, Submissions, , , , ,

Roof leaks fried our chandelier, killing our fan.

Rains flooded our lanai.

Ghost ants, millipedes, and palmetto bugs began invading our Florida space.

The spouse duct-taped and I sprayed and prayed.

Surrendering, we packed up our car on March 31
as two frogs hopped across our living room, waving goodbye.

Linda Freedland is an artist and published writer of poetry and short shorts. You can find more of her stories on the Adirondack Center for Writers website. She calls Albany, New York home.

BOB THURBER: The Secret Revealed

Amusing, Artistic, Submissions, , , ,

For the longest time she didn’t know what it was, but it was very simply the writing.

The style, the cadence, the rhythms, the pace.

The psychological connection with the reader.

One day she met the reader and that reader was herself.

The hypercritical, intolerant, easily distracted, easily bored version.

Bob Thurber is the author of six books. Regarded as a master of Flash and Micro Fiction, his work has appeared in Esquire and other magazines, been anthologized 60 times, received a long list of awards, and been utilized in schools and colleges throughout the world. He resides in Massachusetts. Visit his website at BobThurber.net.