JULIE EGER: Grandmother’s Apron

Artistic, Submissions, , ,

Those deep pockets. Filled with safety pins and busy hands. Was Grandmother’s world going to fall apart and it would be up to her to pin it back together?

A safety pin pinched between those closed lips. To keep her from saying that one thing she wasn’t supposed to say?

Julie Eger is a massage therapist who writes fiction and poetry in her spare time. Her work has appeared in various anthologies including Anchala Studio’s The Collection: Flash Fiction for Flash Memories and Inner Circle Writers’ Group FlashPoint Anthology 2018 as well as other online journals.

JO WITHERS: Transformation

Artistic, Submissions, , ,

It was the worst haircut of her life.

Tears welled in her tired eyes. It was patchy and asymmetrical with long, dark curls sprouting at her left temple.

The stylist shrugged apologetically.

Tears escaped. “I love it,” she grinned.

Her first style since brain surgery framed her face with hope.

Jo Withers is becoming addicted to writing 50 Word Stories. She also has a middle-grade, science-fiction novel out this month.

CONNELL WAYNE REGNER: The Dilemma

Adventure, Odd, Submissions, , ,

Some wild-eyed vagrant bursts into a studio and tells a young artist about the evil he’s done and his years on the run. He hands the artist a pistol.

The artist listens attentively before recognising the vagrant’s eyes as his.

Terror… Then resignation follows as he slowly squeezes the trigger.

One of Connell’s many dilemmas is whether to write a bit or not before going to bed. When he writes, he’s sleepy the next day, and when he doesn’t, the ideas slip away.

LISA MILLER: Roommate Rose

Amusing, Submissions, , ,

“Rats running rampant!” remarks Rachel’s red-headed roommate, Rose.

“Repulsive!” Rachel responds, remembering recent requests regarding rat removal.

“Realistically, rundown rentals’re routinely risky,” replies Rose. “Rodents return repeatedly.”

Rachel rebels, ruining ritzy relative’s rental. Regardless, relative responds requesting Rachel restore Roaring River Ranch Resort.

Realizing rambunctious raccoons reside, Rose runs, relocating.

Lisa Miller wrote this story.

UZAIR SHAHED ISLAM: Animal Control

Adventure, Odd, Submissions, Top Stories, , , ,

He wondered, first, why it hadn’t died.

Grey fur, scarce, in patches. Full of fleas, and two tender red eyes. Worms. Some bones broken, limbs bent.

Loaded the gun. Shot it. “Rest, now.”

But when it raised its head again, he realized:

Perhaps it was never alive to begin with.

Uzair Shahed Islam is an economics and mathematics student at the Lahore University of Management Sciences who writes fiction and non-fiction in his spare time.

TRACI MULLINS: But a Memory

Submissions, Touching, , , ,

“You are your Momma’s sweetest girl,” Janeen cooed as she changed her baby’s diaper and pulled a soft yellow onesie over the child’s shoulders.

“It’s time for your lunch, Momma,” Nancy said, helping Janeen to her feet and gently placing her gnarled hands on the walker.

“Don’t forget your babydoll.”

Traci Mullins has more than three decades of experience in coaching, editing, and collaborating on hundreds of non-fiction books. She is currently working on unearthing the girl who used to love stories.

SUSAN GALE WICKES: What Goes Around

Amusing, Submissions, , , , ,

I couldn’t take it any longer. The subtle shaking of the head, the constant belittling, the never-ending criticisms.

“You’ve got a lot of nerve,” he squawked.

“Give me a break.”

“You’re useless.”

Truth is, I was the one to blame.

I put the cover over his cage.

Peace at last…

Susan Gale Wickes is from Indiana. She enjoys writing poetry and short stories.

RACHEL REDGATE: Good Luck

Amusing, Submissions, , , ,

The photographer captured it all in high definition: the bride’s tumble down the aisle, the flower girl bawling through the service, the cake collapsing at first cut. No one had wanted a slice, anyway, after the groom’s wet sneeze.

If only I’d remembered to give the not-so-happy couple the horseshoe.

Rachael is an English teacher in Scotland.

JAMES P SPITZNOGLE: My Way

Artistic, Submissions, , ,

It’s cold here, and bleak.

They say not even love is real anymore. Some of them anyway.

There’s so much noise here it’s hard to hear anything.

As the TV blares the day’s grand dramas, I hear you sneeze.

Who knows what’s real?

Either way, I have what I want.

James P. Spitznogle is an aspiring writer from the bright and hopeful hills of West Virginia.