Tag: Flash Fiction

Flash Fiction, tutto e niente

The Year I Was Five

Tina Stewart Brakebill

The year I was five my grandfather left the house every day before dawn. My mom would pack his green cooler with food. He’d put on his boots, grab his yellow bag of tools, and then head out the door with his guide dog Bud and a cheery “Going to guard the castle.”

Every day I’d beg to come along. And every day he’d tell me “maybe when you’re older.”

Then one day, Bud came home but my grandfather didn’t. So I followed Bud back to the castle.

It was just as I always imagined. Except for the flashing lights.

ambulance-generic

COVER PHOTO PROMPT © J.S. Brand

And thanks to Friday Fictioners

and to Sammi Scribbles (Castle in exactly 100 words) and FOWC (Guide)

wk-80-castle1

 

 

 

Flash Fiction, tutto e niente

Floating

Tina Stewart Brakebill

Lucy stared at the board. Letting her mind drift back to childhood. Chin resting on the table. Watching her grandfather play. Try too hard and it went fuzzy. Like a picture with the autofocus off. But if she just let her brain float sometimes she could recapture that moment of joy. When it all made sense. When it was fun. Before. Before she was a novelty. Before she was girl genius. Intellectual heir to Hawking. Right down to the chair. But today it remained fuzzy. The timer ticked. Counting. Days. Weeks. Months. Years. She stared at the board. Floating.

black and white game match chess
Photo by Breakingpic on Pexels.com

Cover Photo Credit: Jeff Arnold

Written for Friday Fictioners

Word Count: 99

Flash Fiction, Haiku & Other Poetry, tutto e niente

Behind the Blue Pane (in Two Parts)

Tina Stewart Brakebill

I haven’t felt much like writing the last few days. Too much … too much sadness and badness and hopelessness. No doubt that’s why when I WAS inspired to write today, it’s a bit dark. Doubly dark. So it’s a two for one today: flash fiction AND a haiku.

PART ONE: FLASH FICTION 

It had always bugged me. That door. It wasn’t in the center! And that blue pane. It wasn’t in the center of the door! Day after day I passed by. Trying not to let it eat at my brain. Until I couldn’t take it anymore. Mother had told me (over and over and over again) that I was being obsessive. Then she’d nag me about my pills. I didn’t think she needed to know. I was on strike. No more pills for me. They made me docile. But without them, I could march up to that door. And demand to know! But now I stare at that blue pane from the other side. Hunger gnawing at my brain. And I wonder. Was it ever really off center? Or was it me?

PART TWO: HAIKU

words strike the blue pane

hunger gnawing at my brain

opening the void  

131 words FLASH FICTION written for FFfAW 

Photo Credit to Jade M. Wong

Further inspiration from  FOWC

And with RonovanWrites

 

 

Flash Fiction

A Rumpus

Tina Stewart Brakebill

Did you hear the rumpus last night?

Rumpus?

Commotion. Noise.

I know what it means. But … rumpus?

It just felt right.

Really?

Yeh. A guy in a clown suit was singing from the tower. Making … you know …

A rumpus.

Yep.

Thanks to Sammi Scribbles for the 43 words Rumpus Challenge!

and Friday Fictioners for the Tower inspiration 

and for the PHOTO PROMPT © Jilly Funell

jill-f

 

 

Flash Fiction, tutto e niente

Unlock Her Heart

Tina Stewart Brakebill

“To find what you seek, unlock the castle doors. Precious beyond words. But only words will open the way.”

“Open sesame!”

“Abracadabra”

“Shazam”

No luck. Jane’s heart was trapped behind those doors and they’d made it a game. But she was good at games. Think! Hours passed. Then she remembered. Gandalf! Say friend and enter!

“Words!”

And her heart bound out the door.

 

black belgian shepherd puppy
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

 

Thanks to SoCS

And SammiScribbles

And Friday Fictioners

And FOWC

Featured Image (castle walls) courtesy of Rochelle Wysoff-Fields