Tag Archives: freedom

MEGAN ABRAHAMS: The Haircut

Adventure, Amusing, Submissions, , ,

The chauffeur dropped Lila off by the barbershop with the twirling pole, next to Daddy’s law office. Her lunch money was still in her pocket.

She hated her long chestnut hair, the tangles, the velvet hairbands from Grandmother.

Mama would scream.

Lila went inside. She gave the barber her money.

Megan Abrahams is a Los Angeles-based writer / art critic and artist. ​A contributing ​writer for Art Ltd. Magazine, ArtPulse Magazine, Fabrik Magazine, LOST WKND and WhiteHot Magazine of Contemporary Art​, she is currently writing her first novel. Sporadic updates appear on her blog.

MELISSA ROHEN: Old Habits

Artistic, Submissions, , ,

They drank coffee together every day of their marriage. It had always been a part of their routine. Like the evening shows. Like the dinner parties. Like the slaps to the face when she got out of line.

She looked across the table to his chair, empty now, and smiled.

Melissa is a writer, teacher, and dog lover in the Middle of Nowhere, Michigan.

FRANCISO TUTELLA: The Ladybird

Artistic, Submissions, , , , ,

He watched the ladybird crawl up the blade of grass. He pitied the beetle, its perspective confined to the soil; its miserable existence regulated by the basic needs to eat, defecate, and reproduce; its life dependent on the man’s whim.

He did not envy the ladybird… until it flew away.

Francisco Tutella’s fiction and poetry reflect his experiences growing up in northeastern Pennsylvania and his time spent studying and traveling in Italy. He has written for Wilkes magazine, and his poetry was included in the Luzerne County Transportation Authority’s 2014 Poetry In Transit program. He holds a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Wilkes University and teaches composition and literature in northeastern Pennsylvania.

ANDREW KESSLER: A New Generation

Artistic, Submissions, , ,

A Father says: “You kids appreciate nothing. I worked three jobs for your meat and potatoes. Turn my baseball game back on.”

The son replies: “I want to be empowered. I’m not content with the scraps of elitists. Slavery has many guises, including your cookie cutter house in the burbs.”

Andrew Kessler is 37 years old and currently resides on the outskirts of New York City. He loves to write, especially on progressive issues, and expresses himself through his writing. Andrew has had numerous poems published. This is a first attempt at a 50 word story.

RAMIT DAS: Snowflake

Artistic, Submissions, Top Stories, , , ,

He stares pointlessly into the cold nothingness, the dark eyes betraying no expression. A soft light from the room’s only window paints the picturesque heaven outside.

The tear rolls quickly, suddenly, down the contours of his disheveled face. Then, before it falls onto his straightjacket, it emancipates into a snowflake.

Ramit Das is partly a Computer Science student, partly a mathematician, but full-time a Philosopher. He gets lost thinking about how he thinks.

PENELOPE YAGAKE: Dissolution

Artistic, Submissions, , ,

Cheryl stood on the train station’s platform, breathing the thin, icy air.

In her hand was a train ticket. On her finger was the indentation of a wedding ring. On her legs the colors red, purple, and blue married.

She thought, This is what it feels like to be free.

Penelope Yagake lives with her cat and makes digital art when she is not writing poetry and short stories.

NORA FE NIX: Shackled

Artistic, Submissions, , ,

Sitting upon my luggage by the front door, noises of their lovemaking and giggling wash over me through the walls.

Smiling, I stand, heft my belongings, and leave, closing the door gently behind me.

My paraplegic brother will be happy now with a woman to love.

I am finally free.

Nora is a writer from Iraq. She enjoys writing novels, flash fiction, and poetry. In her spare time, she likes to take short walks or spend time looking through articles and documentaries.

OLGA KLEZOVITCH: The Choices We Make

Adventure, Submissions, , , ,

Back at the prison, they are devouring their tasty dinner and cuddling on soft bedding, but I prefer eating from trash and sleeping in sewers.

Hairless skin and an ID ear tag make me look like a lab rat. But I’m not. Not anymore.

Now I am a free rat.

Olga Klezovitch is a scientist who lives in Seattle. Her previous work has appeared in 50-Word Stories, Necon E-Books, and A Story In 100 Words.

TIM SEVENHUYSEN: Tell Us Your Stories

Touching, , , ,

Only my son knew my history, he types, hunt and peck. Now he’s gone.

A sigh. Who will bother to read the products of his aged fingers?

Rap, rap. A girl and her mother at the door. School project, she says. “Tell me about the war?”

He will be remembered.

Lest we forget.

Priscilla the Independent Porcupine

Amusing, Odd, Touching, , , , , ,

Priscilla the porcupine kept a tidy house. She dusted regularly and opened the windows so she could smell the lavender in the garden.

Hers was an idyllic home.

On Tuesdays she flew a flag and shot at the tax man. The one thing Priscilla loved more than tidiness was freedom.

Normally I try to take prompts from different people, but when @MisterFiendZero gave me this prompt, along with the previous one, I knew I had to go with both.