Tag: Flash Fiction

Flash Fiction, Random Rants, tutto e niente

Great Cheeks!

Tina Stewart Brakebill

Today, I offer a “tongue in cheek” look behind the scenes of my budding career as a sculptor.*

“Is that your first sculpture?” He asked.

That’s a bit of a cheeky question, I thought before replying: “Yes. Hard to believe, isn’t it? It’s so life-like. And look at those cheek bones!”

“Erm … yes. They are definitely … erm… cheeks.”

“I know! Next up: nudes!”

“Great. More cheeks. I can’t wait.”

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Real life collided with the weekend challenges to produce these 71 cheeky words, so thanks for the great prompts to  Sammi Scribbles (sculpture)  and Linda’s SoCS (cheek).

*I am actually taking my first-ever a sculpting class and this is my first sculpture (of my husband’s head) but that is where the resemblance to real life ends. If you knew what he actually looks like then you’d understand why I have zero illusions regarding my future as an “artist.” It is fun though!

Flash Fiction, tutto e niente

The Big House

Tina Stewart Brakebill

Apparently this was it: the prison’s law library. One row of ancient books on a rickety cart. Was that smell despair or just mildew? Probably mildew. The stink of despair was coming from—as they say—inside the house.

Did they still call it the Big House? Or was that passé? She much preferred that to slammer or joint. Big House sounded almost genteel. She pictured herself dismounting a sleek black stallion. Handing the reigns to the stable boy. Shaking her hair out and coyly declaring, “I’m headed up to the Big House for a drink. Join me. Won’t you.”

Her daydream was abruptly shut down by the guard’s rough shove. “If ya want somethin’ take it. I aint got all day.”

“Give me one moment please.” She knew her tone irritated the hillbilly guard, but she had spent years smoothing out the rough edges of her accent. If, no—not if—WHEN she got out, she had to fit in with the “right” people. One failed attempt wasn’t going to stop her. She had big plans.

She shook the image of his body from her mind. No time for that. She smiled as she selected a book. Comeback time. 

law-books_48

Photo Credit Morguefile

Thanks to Sunday Photo Fiction for the photo inspiration for this 200 word piece of flash fiction. Visit the site for some great writing and the rules of the game.

Flash Fiction, Random Rants, tutto e niente

Choices

Tina Stewart Brakebill

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Sweet or salty?

I choose both.

sweet-or-salty

Sometimes the simplest choices have profound meaning.

Inspiration thanks to Linda’s SoCs word prompt “choices” and to Soul Searcher’s challenge to tell a story in six words using the prompt “sugar.”

Visit their sites for other great contributions and to get the skinny on the rules.

Flash Fiction, tutto e niente

talking to the monkey in the mirror

Tina Stewart Brakebill

Quit staring at me! You’re starting to give me a complex!

Don’t blame me if people are looking at you. What do you expect!?

I expect people to mind their own damn business!

But seriously Sue, what’s with the monkey face?

closeup photo of primate
Photo by Andre Mouton on Pexels.com

These 41 words of sheer fictional genius (ha ha) were inspired by Sammi’s Scribbles challenge to use the word “complex” and by my own occasional inner dialogue.

Flash Fiction, Random Rants, tutto e niente

The Lights

Tina Stewart Brakebill

Flashback post for Fandango’s Flashback Friday

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I’d noticed the lights when I left the motel. They never got closer. But they also never dropped back. It was like we were attached by an invisible static line. I told myself I was being paranoid but a line from that movie he loves kept running through my mind.

“Who are those guys”?

Except I knew who it was. It had been two days since I escaped. I thought I was ok. Even stopped to sleep for a few hours before getting back on the road before dawn. But then those damn lights appeared. Nearly 24 hours later and they were still there.

I must be wrong. There’s no way he could have found me. But what if he did. He said he’d kill me if I ever left. I can’t go back. I won’t go back. Those lights felt like his eyes. Glowering. Raging. Unblinking.

I will not go back.

As the bridge loomed ahead, another line ran through my mind.

“The fall’ll probably kill ya.”

And then the lights went out.

autumn bridge color conifer
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

(174 words)

Written and inspired by FFfAW ‘s photo prompt (provided by Jodi McKinney) with a little help from Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid.  

And remember, domestic violence is NOT just a story or a piece of flash fiction. If you are in danger, please use a safe computer to access info at https://nnedv.org/ or call 911, a local hotline, or the U.S. National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 and TTY 1-800-787-3224.