The story of the week for September 30 to October 4 is…
Whispers by Angela Carlton
HALEY DiRENZO: September Flashback
As the leaves turn on campus, the college freshmen gather at Target with the same bright eyes and school t-shirts you had fifteen years ago. They leave with gaudy pumpkin decor—no one has yet convinced them their tastes are stupid. You purchase only the necessities, longing for new beginnings.
Haley DiRenzo is a writer, poet, and practicing attorney specializing in eviction defense. She lives in Colorado with her husband and dog.
JOHN H. DROMEY: Say It With Glowers
He made sure to hand her a flower with an odd number of petals.
Alternately reciting “loves me” and “loves me not,” she pulled off the petals, one by one.
Leaving the last petal in place, she hesitated slightly, then handed the stem back to him.
He got the message.
John H. Dromey has micro-fiction, flash fiction, and short stories published in over 220 venues.
CAROL REEVES: Life Lessons
A trip to grandma’s once involved baking cookies, licking spoons and cherishing stories about the past.
Today, the trip involves eye-rolling patience while teaching her to use her smartphone.
Wise old granny is suddenly clueless.
Be not fooled. She is teaching her last, best lesson—aging with grace.
Watch carefully.
A prolific writer, Carol Reeves is loving the freedom and challenge of Flash Fiction. Her stories frequently reflect the vicissitudes and blessings of aging and can be found in Flash Fiction Magazine and 50 Word Stories. Carol’s memoir, “All the Little Miracles,” was published in 2022.
RAN WALKER: How It Begins
His blade punctures the pumpkin’s flesh with more force than is necessary, and once he has scalped it, he digs out its innards and tosses them onto a newspaper.
He didn’t realize it would be this easy to carve up something.
He didn’t realize how much he would enjoy it.
Ran Walker is the author of over 30 books, including the microfiction/poetry collection Apollo’s Toy Box. He teaches creative writing at Hampton University and lives in Virginia with his wife and daughter.
STORY OF THE MONTH: September 2024
The Story of the Month is chosen from the Story of the Week winners announced from the past month.
The finalists for September were:
In Second Place by Matt Strutz
Raked History by Yash Seyedbagheri
The Pilgrim by Ed Walker
Hope Lurches by Marla Krauss
Marooned Notebook Entry by Bob Thurber
Clouds by Sandra James
The winner of the September 2024 Story of the Month, and the $10 prize, is…
Marooned Notebook Entry
NICK YOUNG: We Pass This Way But Once
The sunlight’s slant has grown more acute, its dazzling mid-summer radiance muted. The late-afternoon breeze freshens, crisper now, swirling leaves grown sere, stirring the long garden chimes to a deep, dolorous melody. Unlike Nature, I resist this passage for I know without illusion what lies at the end of seasons.
Nick Young is a retired award-winning CBS News Correspondent. In addition to 50-Word Stories, his writing has appeared in dozens of reviews, journals and anthologies. His first novel, “Deadline,” was published in the Fall of 2023. He lives outside Chicago.
TIM BOITEAU: Night of the Televisual Dead
Revenants streamed out of the TV.
Tom attempted to vault over the couch, but they fell upon him, tearing him to shreds.
As putrefying hands reached for her, Kelly stumbled over the coffee table, accidentally stepping on the remote.
The horde flickered into sitcom characters.
Everyone started laughing.
Except Tom.
Tim Boiteau is a Writers of the Future winner and Editor at Every Day Fiction. His third novel, The Nilwere, is slated to be published by Grendel Press in 2024-25. See more at timboiteau.wordpress.com.
PATRICIA PEASE: Between His Toes
My ghostly, white cat with his albino face summons the twilight by purring mantras.
As his sandpaper tongue spreads dirty paws wide, he erases the day and its adventures from his spongy, grass-stained pads,
ready to soak up tomorrow between the yawning hours, the minutes, and his tiny pink toes.
Patricia Pease worked as an actress for 35 years. Retired, she now writes full time.
JANNIE DZIADZIO: Friend Dating
Exploring a new, wonderful platonic friendship with Alden is reminiscent of dating. I’m on my best behavior. Poised, shiny bright on the outside, insecure inside. I feel self-conscious, excited, vulnerable, engaged. I’m considering friend matrimony, yet am not wedded to the idea. I hope she’ll please give me a ring.
Jannie Dziadzio loves publishing 50 word stories, for better or worse.