JEN MIERISCH: Hit the Road, Jack

Amusing, Submissions, , ,

The giant’s theme song blared.

Vaulting over the ropes into the ring, he waved to the cheering fans and bellowed his catchphrase: “Fee! Fie! Foe! Fum!”

He grinned. Screw that thieving punk who’d chopped down the beanstalk and tried to kill him. Becoming a WWE Superstar was the best revenge.

Jen Mierisch draws inspiration from science fiction, ghost stories, and the wacky idiosyncrasies of human nature. Her work has appeared in Sammiches & Psych Meds, Potato Soup Journal, and Lighten Up Online. She lives, works, and writes just outside Chicago, Illinois.

KAY RAE CHOMIC: Shake-Up

Amusing, Submissions, Touching, , , , , ,

He took a can of beer from the fridge and shook it. In the living room, concealing a smirk, he handed it to Nora. She pulled the tab. The beer exploded. He licked it off her face, neck, shoulders while she giggled, and that was the end of their argument.

Kay Rae Chomic is a published novelist (A Tight Grip). She has flash writings published in Crack the Spine, Five:2:One’s The Side Show, Writer Advice, Two Sisters Writing, Hysteria 6 (UK), and The First Line. She had a story shortlisted for the flash fiction contest sponsored by Hastings LitFest-2019 (UK). Kay lives in Seattle, loves to travel, has a passion for ping pong, and is a Motown fan forever.

CAROL ANNE HARVEY: Unfinished

Submissions, Top Stories, Touching, , , , ,

He stood her up on their third date.

Fifteen years and three lovers later, he finds her in Savenor’s Market. After exchanging greetings, he leaves. She studies the sirloin.

Suddenly he’s back, takes her face in his hands, passionately kisses her, and hurries away.

Stunned, she moves on to produce.

Carol Anne Harvey has been writing poetry and short stories since she was 5. Her focus now is on writing micro memoirs. “Unfinished” is her first submission to 50-Word Stories.

MIR-YASHAR SEYEDBAGHERI: Myths

Artistic, Submissions, , , , , ,

Santa’s drinking Dad’s wine.
Head held back, he guzzles, laughing like a honking goose. Reminds me of Dad.
Mother claims Santa loves me.
I lose hints of faith.

Four years later, Santa’s hurling wine bottles. Mother and I dart among fusillades.
She doesn’t say Santa loves me.
Love’s a myth.

Mir-Yashar is a graduate of Colorado State University’s MFA program in fiction. A recipient of two Honorable Mentions from Glimmer Train, his story, “Strangers,” was nominated for The Best Small Fictions. Mir-Yashar’s work is forthcoming or has been published in journals such as Maudlin House, The Drabble, Door Is A Jar, and Ariel Chart.

JOHN H. DROMEY: Widgets Are Us

Amusing, Submissions, , , , ,

“Our little factory is struggling to keep its head above water. Originally, we manufactured buggy whips. Later, we switched to rumble-seat covers for Model A Fords. Now, we need to scrap our outdated business model and look to the future.”

“Producing what product?”

“Waterproof stilts for pedestrians in low-lying cities.”

John H. Dromey’s short fiction has been published in Mystery Weekly Magazine and over 150 other venues.

TOM WILLEMAIN: Dialog With a Blank Screen

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I stare at the blank screen, hoping to find a story already written in white letters on the white field.

I begin. “She thrilled as one of his hands went lower and the other went higher—” but suddenly the screen erases my words.

“There will be none of that.”

Tom Willemain wrote this story. See more at TomWillemain.com.

BECKY KJELSTROM: Caw

Artistic, Submissions, , , , ,

Raucous caws, black silhouettes against gray clouds circling without formation, guided by sky-touching spires of firs.

She remembers last year’s ravaged corn. She remembers “The Birds.” They are powerful, smart, and numerous. They inspire primal fear, admiration, and covetous love.

They arise from more vigorous and ancient stock than she.

Becky Kjelstrom adores all winged thingies, real and imaginary. See more at thenighmail.com.

ROBERT HOEKMAN JR.: My Father in the Rain (My Father in the Rain, pt. 5)

Artistic, Submissions, Touching, , , , ,

At the cemetery, I look at my father in his dark suit and dark shoes and I see a drop of water on his cheek and I think it might be a tear. But then I think no, it’s only the rain. And then it rains and rains and rains.

Robert Hoekman Jr thinks you die when you stop wanting. He writes and writes and writes. He lives on a farm in Virginia and refuses to be put into a box. See more at rhjr.net.

ROBIN D ANDERSON: Watching

Amusing, Submissions, , , , ,

“Pa! They’re here.”

“Who?”

“The crows.”

“Jeez, Ma, give it a rest.”

“They’re watching.”

“What?”

“The garden, just waiting for the plants to grow, ripen.”

“Ma!”

“Then they’ll do their dirty work.”

“Yer crazy, cut it out!”

“Pa! One landed!”

“Wait, Ma, no! Come back. Heck! Crow for dinner again.”

Robin writes in the odd corners of the day and night and often about birds. See more at thenightmail.com.