Silly or Ridiculous

Manny-Claus

Posted on December 25, 2014January 9, 2015 by A. Ravenel Clay

This short story is based on the following image:

Creative Commons License Kevin Dooley via Compfight

“Red hat down!”

“Scruffy and bloated!”

“Sleepy, ugly bruises on cheeks, blooming.”

That is how they describe me, warning the little mousies. As if I am criminal and they are the saints.

All I did was fluff their beds, cuddle their baby, and drink leftover milk, gorging on the cookies they had colored with sugar all night long.

But now I see my face on every newspaper and screen. It seems the public has an odd fascination with my infamy.

I didn’t mean to start a thing–I just thought I would leave a present or two (or three). You know, to make them smile when they awoke and found me missing cold. The stockings were for laughs, the tooting train was just an excuse while I lay in wait for the headlights to come back up the drive.

Unfortunately for me, I had to be the best babysitter ever.

This story was inspired by Flash! Friday flash fiction prompt.

These Brave Birds: A Very Clever Story

Posted on October 17, 2014January 9, 2015 by E. S. Johnston

This short story was prompted by the following image:

Georgian writers Ilia Chavchavadze and Ivane Machabeli playing chess, 1873 St Petersburg. Public domain photo.

Winter came upon them like a rainbow; their minds had been dancing in preparation.
Finally they found themselves in the “Coughing Lair” as they called it, cigar fumes so rich and red.

Taking their seats they wondered, “Why do all these fellows always think they’re the best?” Their fingers alternated pushing pieces and twiddling their facial hair, making it rather crooked. The laughter molted-off them as in silence they smirked.

Perchance they weren’t pitted equally, but it was doubtless who’d win. One move, one stop closer, the previous partner moping onward to the bar. Then they plowed forward and through the next, exchanging glances over the mossy hair.

Finally, at the table they met. “Can’t they tell we’re sick of being nestled in homes, with no right to vote? It’s not as though everyone births babies by the click,” the women guffawed. One loosened her binding and the other slammed her drink back, silent shock reverberating through the men’s lounge.

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Written as part of Friday Flash Fiction

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Joe’s New Bed: A Short Story

Posted on October 10, 2014January 9, 2015 by A. Ravenel Clay

This short story was prompted by the following image:

Circus clowns visit sick boy. CC photo Boston Public Library.

Joe’s New Bed

His clean-cut world had been transformed, now shocking lit and stale with color. Even the newfound friendlings were over-the-top raucous, especially the stubby, multi-legged creature.

“Why Joe, your eyes are so watery you’re gonna drown the lot of us.”

Joe blinked his eyes.

“And look at that huge honker! You must be able to smell flowers across town with that thing,” laughed the friendling with the big red nose.

Joe slowly moved his unbandaged fingers, touching a nostril for the first time.

“What’s this?” asked a third, pointing somewhere low Joe wasn’t looking. But when Joe glanced down, the friendling ran his pointer up past Joe’s incision, smacking him in his face.

The friendlings laughed with glee . . . but was it maliciously? Joe began harboring the possibility that maybe these friendlings weren’t so friendly at all. Cautiously, he began searching for telltale signs of threat, like the needles the white-clads bore.

He’d have to be sly, outside the bubble, he would.

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Written as part of Friday Flash Fiction

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Where Writers are Shrouded in Semi-Covert Awesomeness