Tag: Friday Fictioners

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.”  

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PHOTO PROMPT © Ronda Del Boccio

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

Flash Fiction, tutto e niente

after now

Tina Stewart Brakebill

The view looked like some kind of soulless painting. Beautiful but no signs of life. She used to know the names for artistic stuff like that. Photorealistic, maybe? Hell. It was all apocalyptic now. Unexpectedly, tears blurred her vision. She thought her grief had run its course but seeing those empty chairs. So expectant. So normal. Just waiting for someone with a cup of coffee or a glass of wine.

Closing her eyes, she shut down those thoughts. She was rooftop for recon. Not useless nostalgia. Before was done. It’s after now.

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PHOTO PROMPT © Roger Bultot

Thanks for the inspiration. Visit Rochelle’s Friday Fictioner for details about joining in the fun. Plus while you’re there, you can read lots of wonderful stories.

Flash Fiction, tutto e niente

Day Three

Tina Stewart Brakebill

“That’s effing awesome!”  

“Language.”

“But ma. The diner car is up in the air.”

Resisting the temptation to go easy, she suppressed a smile. “Don’t ‘but ma’ me young man. I’m tired and you know your dad doesn’t have any patience for your stories. Get your book. It’s math time.”

“But ma!”

“No buts! Get your math book.” My Lord, it was only day three. How were they ever going to do this for months! And where was Don.? He went out for T.P. hours ago.

“I’m home! And you’re never gonna believe what someone did to the diner car!”

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PHOTO PROMPT © J Hardy Carroll

This 100 word story was inspired by the fun photo provided by Rochelle’s Friday Fictioners challenge. Visit her site for details!

Flash Fiction, tutto e niente

Stranger Dreams

Tina Stewart Brakebill

Bonnie woke the entire house, again. Screaming.

“NO!!! Help me MOMMY!!”

For the third night in a row, Lana tried to make sense of Bonnie’s sobbing words.

“The monster melts people!”

“It was only a bad dream sweetheart. Close your eyes. Mommy will stay till you go back to sleep.”

In the morning, Bonnie again claimed cluelessness. “Don’t remember mommy.”

It wasn’t until they got downtown and she started screaming “the flayer!!” that Ben confessed. “Uh mom, Bonnie accidentally kinda watched Stranger Things with us. That might kinda remind her of the Mind Flayer. Sorry”

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Mental note: never let Ben babysit again.

Like many of you, I binge watched Stranger Things this week, so maybe that why this story came to mind when I saw Dale’s great photo (provided by Rochelle and her Friday Fictioners Challenge.)

Or maybe it’s because I am TERRIFIED of these dancing air sock things. ARRRGHHH!

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Flash Fiction, tutto e niente

Bad Decisions

Tina Stewart Brakebill

God she was exhausted. The constant questions. The scrutiny. Knowing she was being judged. Constantly.  About every single thing.

Her friends had tried to warn her but she didn’t listen. “It’s not like I’m new at this this.” Her naïve arrogance dripping off her words. But California isn’t like New York they insisted.

Now she believed. Too late.

What it would feel like to escape it all? Just run. Dive in.  Sink. Just rest.

Free? Quiet?

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“Ms. Emma? … Ms. EMMA!”

The kids weren’t even the worst. It was the parents. Private school teacher in Malibu. Worst decision ever.

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Inspired by the beautiful photo prompt courtesy of Sandra Cook via Rochelle’s Friday Fictioners Challenge and by Carrot Ranch’s Flash Fiction Challenge. As a former teacher, the first thing I thought when I saw the word prompt “exhaustion” was teaching! Don’t get me wrong, I loved it BUT exhausted I often (always) was!