Four flies met at a crossroads, each one travelling north, south, east, or west.
“East is amazing,” said one, “but I hear west is better.”
“South is supposed to be fantastic.”
“North, I’m told, is far superior.”
Each fly returned the way it had come, content with its homeland’s reputation.
This story is based on a title suggested by Mark McCarthy.
Bryson was just a dumb baboon. He knew nothing about radioactivity or mutations: all he knew was that the glowing green thing he’d eaten had tasted funny.
He hadn’t yet noticed the line of pebbles he was inadvertently levitating with his new telekinetic powers. He was just a dumb baboon.
This story is based on a title suggested by Kathleen DeVere of LoadingReadyRun.
Detective Cork eyed the plate of steak-and-mushroom pie, his stomach gurgling in anticipation. “Blarney, you havin’ sum?”
His partner shook his head, too preoccupied with the case.
Gold coins, a short man in green… What was the connection?
Outside, the sun broke through, painting the sky with a brilliant rainbow.
Jordan Sevenhuysen recently spent two months travelling through Europe. This story was inspired by his time in Ireland.
Shawn worked long hours, and at home there were diapers to change, bottles to warm, and feet to rub. He had only four sacred, personal minutes each day to kick off his pants and relax.
One day, he was interrupted: “Daddy, I hafta gooooo!”
Curse you, potty training, he thought.
This story is based on a title suggested by Zach Denoncour.
“When they open up that door, you’re gonna whop ’em on the knees with your shovel, okay, son?”
Little Harley nodded his freckled nose and gripped his shovel as tight as he could.
Jim leveled his shotgun. Wasn’t every year you got to do the surprising on your own birthday.
This story was based on the prompt “when they come” at TypeTrigger.
Bradley loved Veronica, and he hated it. He hated his attraction to her arrogance. Mostly, though, he hated that she hated him.
Veronica hated lots of boys: she valued her spitefulness; but she especially hated Bradley.
They circled each other in ever-decreasing orbits, their gravitational forces growing, like doomed planets.
This story is based on a title suggested by Jonas Funk.
We were reading in bed after another busy day. My wife was disappointed: “We’re growing apart. I thought this course would help us!”
I looked up from my book on oration. “Refusing to deny the opposite would make me a liar.”
She switched off the light and started to cry.
Evert Asberg lives and works in Europe.
Micah the mole had always wanted to fly.
One day, he climbed a tree and jumped. For a full second, he was dropping through the air like a dead bird. It was exhilarating, then very painful.
He told his friends he’d do it again, but they knew he was lying.
Jim the Space Rabbit had always wondered what Mars was like.
One day, he flew his space rocket to Mars. He got out and looked around for a bit. It was cold and dry.
He told his friends he’d found diamonds and met aliens, but they knew he was lying.
This story was based on a title suggested by Al Gore.
Butterscotch the cat had always wondered what butterscotch tasted like.
One day, he snuck outside and ran to the candy store. When the storekeeper wasn’t looking, he swiped a butterscotch candy. It was sticky and gross.
He told his friends he had loved it, but they knew he was lying.
This story was based on a title suggested by Medea Ginger Hertz.