Was used to be a bouncer. Before it stood stupid in sentences, neither adding to nor taking away meaning, it slouched outside nightclubs, blending in with bricks. If Was kicked you out, though, you were blacklisted. Because Was never forgets mistakes. Instead, it lords the past over us. Even now.
Francisco Delgado lives with his wife in Queens, where he has taught at various colleges. In the fall, he will begin his doctorate studies at Stony Brook University. He appreciates you reading.
As I hugged her goodbye, I thought back on the great memories we’d shared together as siblings. It was just college, but I felt like she was going to be leaving my family forever. I ruefully let her go and watched the plane fly.
The news said it never landed.
Sam Dennis is a high school student who is involved with many writing courses, along with other extracurricular activities like sports, at his school. He enjoys listening to indie music like Bon Iver and Death Cab for Cutie, and playing guitar with his band. Let your personality prosper.
“Mayday, mayday! Engines have failed!”
Business trip turned into death bed. Panic consumed the cabin, a mix of tears and screams.
My heart dropped as I clutched my phone. The plane descended quickly as I dialed.
It went to voicemail and I said, “I love you,” one last time.
Maddie is an 11th Grade student in New Jersey who loves to write and play volleyball.
Crimson dyed the sky. A colossal, drowning black rushed to overtake it. Into the heavens two colors fought, masking bloody fires below. In time, I will forget the explosion, the names of the dead, even the blinding light, but the battle between red and black will own the skies forever.
Brandon Newman is a senior at Hunterdon Central Regional High School in Flemington, NJ.
She was standing along the highway the first time I saw her, hair blowing freely in the wind. I thought about stopping to pick her up, but it was just a thought.
I’ve seen her six times since, always somewhere different.
I can’t stop thinking about her.
But only thinking.
This story was based on the prompt “by the road” on TypeTrigger.
What a mess.
Wish I’d known it was staged from the start. These fools must’ve considered me a pawn, thought I’d turn and run when the bullets started flying. I was their plausible deniability…
But life doesn’t follow anyone’s script.
I’d better dump these fools’ corpses before someone happens by.
This story was based on the prompt “it was staged” at TypeTrigger.
The plane descended back to his homeland.
His desert boots touched the tarmac, and he looked up from his sandy brim.
The cold nights with explosions that lit up the sky left him, and the warm nights with the ones he loved were waiting.
Michael D’Aniello is a high school student in New Jersey. His Creative Writing class was assigned 50-word stories and he felt this was his best piece.
Look for more stories from members of Michael’s Creative Writing class in the future!
The farmer waved as the hikers disappeared up the trail towards the highway. “Eighth lost group this summer,” he said.
“Ever get tired of this?” his wife asked.
“Giving folks directions ain’t no trouble.”
“I mean the farm, and never goin’ nowhere.”
The farmer shrugged. “Ain’t nowhere I wanna go.”
This story was based on the prompt “up the trail” at TypeTrigger.
With guiltless greed hotter than any Nazi oven, she pillaged the platinum ring Grandma smuggled through Auschwitz. Snatched the bracelet Frank gave me on our silver anniversary, its width thicker than the vein she shot up with its loyal gold. Crushed and sniffed my diamonds’ dust. My daughter. An orphan.
Christine Heuner is a high-school English teacher in New Jersey. She loves her job!
I escape the house and run, crying, into the backyard. Examining hand-shaped bruises on my small body, I notice an anthill. Yesterday, I watched these ants a long time. Today is different. Raging, I stomp the anthill flat. Ants scurry in panic and writhe in pain.
It doesn’t help much.
Sam Gem is a writer of flash fiction, short stories, and maybe a novel someday. He resides in upstate New York.