Flash Fiction – Page 19 – Tina Stewart Brakebill

The Breakwater

December 1, 2018January 29, 2020 Tina Stewart Brakebill

She sat on the breakwater and hoped the sound of the waves would soothe her. His words hadn’t. “In between the clover and the dampened earth.” That’s how the minister described it. Sounded poetic. Nicer than “here’s where we buried her body.” But that was reality. Ma was dead. And no pretty words were going to change that.

46640310_280819612573252_6969305910661349376_n

PHOTO CREDITS TO MY FAVORITE HUSBAND

I’ve been a bit morbid lately. Perhaps I’m feeling my own mortality. Or maybe it’s the side effect of living in Trump’s world. But thankfully my own mum is alive and well, so this really is fiction. Therefore much thanks for the inspiration to the following:

Sammi Scribbles Weekend Prompt which was to use the word “breakwater” in exactly 58 words (accomplished!)

And to Putting My Feet in the Dirt for the beautiful phrase “in between the clover and the dampened earth.”

And to Linda’s SoCS challenge using the word or partial word of “ma.”

Visit their sites if you haven’t. They are FAB!

Flash Fiction, History, tutto e niente

The Final Scavenger Hunt

November 28, 2018January 29, 2020 Tina Stewart Brakebill

This was it. The trail ended here. Back at grand-dad’s old place. Not sure how he managed it from his sick-bed but it was just like him. A final hunt. Pit us against each other. Bastard. He’s probably watching. From hell. Laughing.

Enough with the reminiscing. I needed to find that key. What was that last clue?

I won’t be foiled again. Mighty he may be but today the laughs on me.

I tried to calmly scan the basement. Foiled? Aluminum, maybe. No.

Then it hit me. A rare happy memory. Oil Can Harry!

“Coises!” I’m gonna be rich.

abundance bank banking banknotes

This fun flash fiction (100 words exactly) was inspired by the PHOTO PROMPT © Nick Allen provided by Rochelle’s Friday Fictioners.

With a little extra boost from FOWC (trail)

And a special assist from Mighty Mouse’s chief bad guy Oil Can Harry.

Paul-terry-toons-oil-can-harry-and-pearl-pureheart-1-

Flash Fiction, tutto e niente

Cassie & Nessie

November 26, 2018January 29, 2020 Tina Stewart Brakebill

Cassie’s brain was spinning as she gazed at the Loch. Liam! An asshole and a coward. Starts this and then takes a powder. That headline also pissed her off. “Woman”! We’re NOT interchangeable. But it was those damn marks around ‘proves’ that really did it. She was not some kind of random wacko going on and about Big Foot or some other nonsense! She was bona fide PhD and an expert on deep water life forms. Her thoughts circled back to Liam. He was such an idiot. The paper was still in its draft stages. Not ready for publication. What possessed him to sell the story to that rag! Twitter was having a field day. She’d never be taken seriously now. Years of work. The data. All for nothing. She’d be another footnote in the line of nutcases obsessed with “Nessie.” All anyone would remember was that stupid photo. She knew it wasn’t real but it had inspired her life’s work. Now it was all over. Fitting she was at the place it all started. The Loch. As she stared, its surface stirred. And her brain spun.

Liam stared at Cassie and wondered. Was being in a coma like dreaming?

underwater photography of woman — Photo by Engin Akyurt on Pexels.com

Visit the greats sites that inspired this piece of Flash Fiction:

Fandango’s FOWC (coma) and Scotts Daily Prompt (powder) and Sunday’s Photo Fictioner’s 200 word photo challenge

Cover Photo Credit: C.E. Ayr

Flash Fiction, tutto e niente

Their Home

November 23, 2018January 29, 2020 Tina Stewart Brakebill

She sat at the edge of the stream and stared at the house. Their home.

The tumbling water reminded her of a song. She could hear the melody in her head. But the words just wouldn’t come. It’s not fair. Songs are not her department. TV shows and historical facts. But not songs. That’s his lane.

He’s supposed to be here. He would know.

But he’s no longer here. Or there. In that house that was their home.

For just a moment she was overwhelmed by anger. Then frustration. But that stupid song would have to wait.

It was time.

46640310_280819612573252_6969305910661349376_n

Photo Credit to Brian Brakebill (who thankfully is still very much with me and continues to inspire me with his photos)

Inspired by and written for Friday Fictioners and the PHOTO PROMPT © Dale Rogerson with some further inspiration from Reena’s Exploration Challenge (home) and Fandango’s FOWC (melody) and Your Daily Word Prompt (overwhelm)

Flash Fiction, Random Rants, tutto e niente

Old Eyes New Fringe

November 17, 2018January 29, 2020 Tina Stewart Brakebill

She blinked at her reflection. Was she destined to always be cast in the role of “mother”? Hell she thought. Let’s rock-n-roll. Chopping as she stared at her old eyes under the new fringe.

(34 words exactly)

The Battle of the Bang. I know it well! I’ve spent a life time chopping and growing and chopping and growing. (Oh … and coloring)

One year ago: fullsizeoutput_409