“Did you know fireflies only live three days?” I asked.
He dragged the last of his cigarette and dropped the butt, grinding it with his shoe. “No.”
“Two years as larva, three days with wings. What would you do with only three days?”
“Well, I wouldn’t be talking to you.”
Katelyn Simpson lives with her family in Cincinnati, Ohio. She has worked in many fields, from theater technical directing to expediter advertising. She enjoys reading, writing, crafting, traveling, and fine dining.
Everyone has power. In their right hand. Flowers bloom, water splashes. Little magic. Sweet magic. Snap your fingers and it is.
Until he is born. He has no magic.
Snap. Nothing.
He grows older.
Snap. Nothing.
He looks at his left hand. It shakes.
It’s Sinister, he knows.
Snap. BOOM.
Breanna is an amateur writer and lover of tall tales and anything that has a hint of fantasy.
“Daphne, dear daughter,” said the river god, “I made a magic amulet to protect you.”
“What’s it do?”
“It’s voice activated. When you are in danger, say the word ‘Tree’, and you will instantly transform into a strong and impervious laurel tree.”
“And what do I say to change back?”
C.M.F. Wright writes sentences that occasionally turn into stories. Her short stories have appeared in Daily Science Fiction, 50-Word Stories, and Syntax & Salt Magazine.
The night manager of a round-the-clock diner promises free coffee to all graduate students. In return, they let him borrow some of their resilience. Someday, he always says, he’ll take some business classes, then open a place of his own. He keeps the coffee coming and never misses a shift.
Will Tschirhart is a grad student from Michigan who has worked with some very motivated people. He wrote this story for them.
Mama flicked on the light and tightened her robe. Five-year-old Benji sobbed, trembling.
“It’s okay, Benji.” Mama kissed his forehead.
“Monster’s hungry,” he whispered.
“Monsters don’t eat children.”
“I know,” whimpered Benji. “They eat grownups.”
Mama’s leg jerked. She gasped, eyes wide as she was pulled down under the bed.
Rita Riebel Mitchell writes tiny bits of fiction every day. Her longer stories take… longer. Read more at RRMitchell.com.
The story of the week for August 8 to 12 was…
Life Outside Boxes by Toshihisa Nikaido
Sinuous smoke curled from the hot brass muzzle. The assassin lifted her costume eye-patch to make sure her quarry was dead. Satisfied, she tossed her grappling hook, then scampered to the rooftop, dreaming of her reward: a handful of untraceable gold nuggets. Real shame her long-time lover was the target.
Hillary founded and for 20 years acted as senior editor for the independent poetry publisher, Subsynchronous Press. Her short stories, drabbles, and poems have appeared in numerous print and online publications. Hillary also creates illustrations for horror/sci-fi, and pulp fiction sites. See more at hillarylyon.wordpress.com.
Breakfast out. No kids, no Margie. Juice, toast, eggs, bacon popping on the griddle.
Phone rings. My buddy, Jack: “Doc says bad ticker, Charlie. Six months, maybe less.”
“That’s horrible. We need to talk. I’ll call you back in one hour.”
“Margie, let me take the kids to school today.”
Tony Covatta wrote this story.
Her mother’s squawking police scanner on the kitchen counter, 24/7. Her sister Connie’s stereo blasting The Doors. The shouting.
The clack-clack-clacking printing presses for 32 years, the baby cries, the shouting, the haranguing phone calls, the subway trains all night along the El.
Now the monitor’s constant beep beep beep…
Paul Lamar has a poem forthcoming in San Pedro River Review and an essay in riddlebird magazine.
Seeded in the gloaming darkness beneath a Nepalese mountain lies an age-old woman. She is a colossus who cannot move. The weight of rock bears down on every piece of her. Sometimes she calls for help, but the little people in Nepal hear only a rumbling mountain and grow frightened.
Santosh Kalwar is author of several books. For more info, please visit http://kalwar.com.np.