BOB THURBER: A Day at the Beach

Artistic, Submissions, Top Stories, , ,

The afternoon we hit a dog she was driving. Minutes earlier I’d mentioned the speed limit and all the newly constructed houses. The thud and yelp were simultaneous. She swerved but never stopped. We were married to inquisitive people and had no explanation for being so far from home together.

Bob Thurber is the author of six books. Regarded as a master of Flash and Micro Fiction, his work has appeared in Esquire and other magazines, been anthologized 60 times, received a long list of awards, and been utilized in schools and colleges throughout the world. He resides in Massachusetts. Visit his website at BobThurber.net.

LIZ MAYERS: Party Girls

Artistic, Submissions, Top Stories, , , , , , ,

Sure, that night Tammy drove tipsy and too fast. But it wasn’t her fault the truck t-boned us.

I’ve been waiting for her since the wreck, watching her suffer from guilt. She doesn’t understand my signs telling her I’m okay, it’s peaceful here. She’ll find out today. When she arrives.

Liz is inspired by the tiny fiction of other writers. Find her at LizMayers.com.

MATHEW GOSTELOW: Rewilding

Artistic, Odd, Submissions, , ,

At the morning meeting, colleagues stared aghast as shoots and tiny leaves burst through her skin.

By afternoon, the rewilding took hold – two huge fronds erupting from her back, unfurling winglike.

That night, she burst into a thousand floating seeds and allowed herself to drift away upon the moonlit breeze.

Mathew Gostelow (he/him) is a writer in Birmingham, UK. His strange tales have been published by Lucent Dreaming, Janus Literary, Ghastling, Ellipsis, Stanchion, Roi Fainéant, and others. He was nominated for the Pushcart Prize in 2022 and has won prizes from Bag of Bones Press and Beagle North. Follow him on Twitter at @MatGost.

GAYLE BEVERIDGE-MARIEN: In the Moment

Artistic, Submissions, , , , ,

He raises his camera to the eagle soaring above. He smiles, the climb up the mountain worth every aching step. Today he will tick another item off his bucket list. In awe he watches the bird, and so fixated is he by its majesty, he forgets to click the shutter.

Gayle is a past winner of the Boroondara Literary Awards. Her work has appeared in Award Winning Australian Writing, Vegemite Whiskers and Mosaic. Gayle is passionate about family, writing, photography, and with Australia’s beautiful Bass Coast which she now calls home.

THOMAS O’CONNELL: In the Haunted Café

Artistic, Odd, Submissions, , , ,

The girl behind the counter didn’t know how to make a London Fog. Her co-worker told her it’s just Earl Grey tea and steamed milk. Well, I said to nobody in particular, it is but then again it isn’t. They’ve re-arranged the tables again, I said to nobody in particular.

Thomas O’Connell is a librarian living on the banks of the Connecticut River in Springfield, MA.

ILONA RAPIN: Behind the Door

Artistic, Submissions, , , ,

Through altruistic compassion of neighbours, Ruth Epstein scrounges for food, and coal for her burner. She hurries through desolate alleys to her flat at Thirty-five Rue Rossini for fear of being singled out. Once inside, she adjusts heavy dark curtains across window casings. August 1944: France is liberated. Ruth weeps.

Ilona Rapin is addicted to the curiosity and excitement of wandering the world which inspires her to write short stories about her impressions.

MICHAEL WELCH: The Runner

Adventure, Submissions, , , , ,

The runner balances, cleats in the dirt like a beach bum’s bare feet on a board, arms reaching fore and aft, straining against invisible ropes, frozen in time and place, all potential, matter before energy, before the Big Bang. The pitcher, stock solid still, blinks, twitches, and the runner runs.

Mike Welch is a writing teacher from Albany, NY.

SHOSHAUNA SHY: Ex-Husband as House-Sitter

Submissions, Touching, , , ,

As he lined up each
of The New York Times
upon her dining table
that had arrived each day
while she was bicycling Yars Trail

a swell of happiness rose up
for he found he truly loved her
far better than he managed to
all those years spent yoked together

Shoshauna Shy divides her time between flash fiction and poetry, and often merges the two. See more at PoetryJumpsOfftheShelf.com.

STEPHEN TILDEN: Widowmaker Revisited

Adventure, Amusing, Submissions, , , ,

Leaning in the shade of the doorway to the back yard, her back to the grimy floor and a sinkful of dishes, she casually glances at the small saw kerf on top of that rotten limb as she takes one last drag and flicks the butt toward her deadly nightshade.

Stephen Tilden now finds his back yard too shady for gardening.

Editor’s Note: Stephen wrote this story as a response to Tim Boiteau’s April contribution, Widowmaker.