Category: Flash Fiction

Flash Fiction, Random Rants, tutto e niente

Who’s Counting

Tina Stewart Brakebill

Three days. It had been three days since they delivered the box. Technically, three days, four hours, and 37 minutes. But who’s counting.

She knew he was there. The gate squeaked. It had been over two weeks since he’d left. Technically 15 days, three hours, and 22 minutes. But who’s counting.

Or 14 days, 21 hours, and 13 minutes since he’d returned. Drunk, sunburned, screaming multiple profanities at her window. But who’s counting.

Maybe he’s dead. Like Benjamin. And Lila. One more makes 213,323. But who’s counting.

Alone. Still. 197 days, three hours, and 23 minutes. But who’s counting.

(99 words. But who’s counting.)

the-gate

PHOTO PROMPT © Jean L. Hays

Thanks to Rochelle and her Friday Fictioners Challenge.

Channeling my negative energy into words. At least I’m writing. UGH!

Flash Fiction, tutto e niente

Karen v. Karen

Tina Stewart Brakebill

“If only there were more.”

“More what Aunt Karen?”

Glaring out the window, she pressed record before declaring “More people like me. Patriotic citizens. People who care about what’s happening to this country.”

“He’s just cleaning the windows. Why are you recording him?” I hadn’t seen her in years but I steeled myself for the nonsense that I imagined was about to come out of her mouth.

“I’m not. I’m recording that women hassling him. Now be a good boy and open the window so I can tell her to go to hell before I post this.”

the-view

Thanks to Putting My Feet in the Dirt for a great opening line (if only there were more) and to Rochelle’s Friday Fictioners for the photo inspiration.

“We but mirror the world. All the tendencies present in the outer world are to be found in the world of our body. If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him. This is the divine mystery supreme. A wonderful thing it is and the source of our happiness. We need not wait to see what others do.” – Mahatma Gandhi

BE A GOOD KAREN NOT A BAD KAREN!

Flash Fiction, tutto e niente

Up Up & Away

Tina Stewart Brakebill

“Five hundred bucks! You can’t spend that much money on a balloon! It’s crazy.”  

“It’s our anniversary babe. No expense spared. Plus I had some money put back. Don’t worry. We’re golden.” It had only been a month but she’d see. It would be perfect! Then she’d say yes. We’d be together forever. I was sure of it. Ignoring the look in her eyes, I stroked the velvet box in my pocket and imagined our future. Her words barely penetrated my reverie.

“We need to talk. I’m sorry … I can’t …. Maybe you can still get your money back.”  

ronda-pov

PHOTO PROMPT © Ronda Del Boccio

Thanks to Rochelle for her fabulous Friday Fictioners challenge and to Kristian for the WOTD-golden.

Flash Fiction, Haiku & Other Poetry, tutto e niente

his first barber

Tina Stewart Brakebill
boy sitting trimmed by man holding scissor
Photo by Thgusstavo Santana on Pexels.com

no more comic books

or picturing his first shave

no more sneaking drinks

or pretending not to hear

two ten main street is no more

c1f0f46c-990f-42e0-9c1d-be749fdda7da

Thanks to Fandango for the thought-provoking photo. It reminded me of the sad Covid-19 reality that some things may never come back. Not sure why my mind went to barbershops, but … it did. So here’s my story that’s also a poem or poem that’s also a story? You get the idea!

Stay safe! Where a mask. Be a kind human person. We’re all going thought something.