MARILYN McFARLANE: Unicorn Valley

Submissions, Touching, , , ,

Eight-year-old Bridget has been coming to the June Unicorn Festival since she was five and discovered the valley. She loves the polished, flower-wreathed horns. Bows on tails, painted hooves, races, hoop tosses, feasts, sometimes rides, all enchant her. She pushes away glimmers that this won’t last. Holds onto the magic.

Marilyn McFarlane is a travel writer and the author of Sacred Stories: Wisdom From World Religions. She writes poetry and fiction, likes the challenge of the 50-word form, and occasionally explores memoir. She lives in Oregon, where there is a lot of scope for the imagination.

AJ JOSEPH: Evolution

Artistic, Submissions, Top Stories, ,

She ran every day.

She ran far, ran fast.

She pushed her body to its physical limits.

One day, she felt compelled to run farther, faster, harder.

And she did.

She ran till her body tingled, until she was wind, and crimson wings erupted from her back.

Then she flew.

AJ Joseph tweets very short stories as @sonobeus.

ELLIE NIK: Keeping Hope Alive

Amusing, Submissions, Touching, , , ,

We have a new routine these days: checking the mailbox when we return from daycare.

It is day three and still no letters to collect. Those big brown eyes look at me in disappointment.

It is day four. I put a letter in the mailbox before going to collect her.

Ellie Nik is a teacher/researcher who lives in Sydney, Australia. She writes as a way of self-discovery.

SALLY SADASIVAM: Night Sky

Artistic, Submissions, , , ,

Back then our skies were mostly fogged with worries of what others would think. The thoughts flung us apart.

But don’t you remember those clear nights? Far from the skyglow of the city, exploring each other’s constellations.

Can’t we go back? Just hide from the world under blankets and secrets?

Sally is a doctor by day and an amateur flash fiction writer by night.

NIKOV SPRINDLOSI: Off the Wrong Lot

Amusing, Artistic, Poetry, Submissions, , , ,

Go on,
steal my words,
but leave my zen

Play with fire,
trick the birds
drive my car,
cruise away
Then,

When you’re ready
wrong and steady,
sell my work:
Change the plates,
fix the dates,
strip the color,
and my quirk.

Feel that pucker?
Oops!
Enjoy your lemon, sucker

Nikov Sprindlosi enjoys writing poetry, shiny hunting, and thinking up new worlds to explore. He currently lives in Michigan working as an Editorial Assistant by day and writing novels by night. Check out more of his work on his Instagram, @nikovsprindlosi, where he posts new poetry every Sunday and Tuesday.

BRIAN MAYCOCK: The Way of the Dinosaurs

Amusing, Artistic, Submissions, , ,

He spends all day at the museum. Since he lost his job, he can.

He sits on a bench. His back has gone. His hair is going.

He sighs and thinks how it is only a matter of time before a sign appears at his feet:

“Late era man. Extinct.”

Brian Maycock’s short stories have recently appeared in 101 Words, The Drabble, and Paragraph Planet.

DAVID MALONE: Sea Creatures

Adventure, Submissions, , ,

“Why is everyone afraid of these new sea creatures?” the boy asked his mother.

“I just need you to pack your bag right now, okay, sweetie?” his mother said, frantically stuffing a suitcase.

The boy slid a toy into his bag then paused, “Where is the Sea of Tranquility, anyway?”

David Malone is a writer and editor for a trade magazine in the Chicago suburbs. His fiction has appeared in Fiction Vortex and MiddleWestern Voice.

DEVIN OLDHAM: Feeding Time

Adventure, Submissions, , , ,

This was the last place he’d seen the creature. The lake three miles off from their cabin. He supposed it was his cabin now. Since his father passed away, it only belonged to him. He spread the ashes into the black water as if salting a bland meal. “Eat up.”

Devin Oldham is a Canadian dark fantasy writer focusing on rural and small town horror.