Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers- The Accident

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Here’s my contribution to this week’s Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers prompt. Thanks Priceless Joy for another awesome prompt!

The scene of the crime pierced an otherwise quiet neighbourhood like a gaudy Christmas tree, lit up with the flashing lights of emergency vehicles, news crews, and the flashes from a hundred selfies as the gawkers updated their Instagram feeds.

A crumpled car. A ruined house.

“A horrible accident” report the newsfeeds, filling your hunger for the latest tragedy.

An unfortunate set of circumstances leading to disaster.

But nothing happens by chance, does it?

I was there. I know.

The young family safe and warm in their home, enjoying story time before bed. The drunk driver risking the short trip home. A corner taken too fast. A cat which chose that instant to run across his path.

In the matter of life and death, a few seconds can make all the difference – or make no difference at all.

That poor family you say. What a terrible accident.

But in the matter of life and death, there are no accidents. I know. I was there.

Words: 165

Mondays Finish the Story- The Unenthusiastic Helper

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Here’s my contribution to this week’s Mondays Finish the Story challenge provided by Barbara Beecham. It’s a frivolous tale, but I’m working on a dark, depressing story behind the scenes at the moment, and needed some comic relief.. 🙂

Once upon a time in a land far, far away, the god of the underworld was flossing his teeth when there was a knock on the door. “Evening sir, I’m Allen from Bunged Up Plumbing Services.. you rang about a water leak?”

The god of the underworld led Allen around to the back of his house and showed him the view.

“Right. Looks like you’ve got a bit of a problem here sir.”

The god of the underworld turned to Allen. “As you can see, hell is flooded. Winter, as we know, is coming and I can’t afford to let the place freeze over, as that has serious implications for my reputation. So you need to fix it.” He gave Allen the look of death. “Now.”

“Well this looks like a pretty big job, don’t think I could do it right now.. I’ll need to find the leak, give you a quote… could take a few days..”

The next day, Allen was dead.

Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers – Welcome to the Party

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Here’s my contribution to this week’s Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers  prompt from Priceless Joy. Thanks once again Joy..

Fred cleared his throat nervously in the silence. His allergies had been playing up all day, and the tickle at the back of his throat was becoming unbearable. His eyes began to water as he fought to keep from breaking into a coughing fit. But the prize was so close now, he had to hold himself together.

The others stood around him in a circle – hoods drawn down over their faces. Only their shoes gave away their vocation.

“It is time.” A hooded figure broke away from the circle and walked over to Fred. “Bring me the Nose.” Another hooded figure approached, holding a black velvet cushion. Fred stared transfixed at the shiny red nose which sat atop the cushion.

The hooded figure picked up the nose and held it high. Behold Brothers, the mark of the Clown. He stooped down and affixed the nose on Fred. From this day forth, you will be known as Frozo. Welcome Brother.

Frozo sneezed, his shiny new nose flying off into the smoke filled room.

Monday’s Finish the Story- Hungry Work

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Here’s my contribution to this week’s Monday’s Finish the Story prompt from Barbara Beacham. Bit over the word limit today, as pizza proved to be quite a difficult prompt to write about. Would love to hear your thoughts 🙂

March 15, 44 BC, Rome, Italy

“Pizza anyone?”

“I can’t believe you feel like eating after what we’ve just done.” Decimus stared at the carnage around them. “I feel sick.”

“What’s wrong with that?” Marc shrugged. “Stabbing is hungry work, and I missed breakfast.. Sure you don’t want anything? Garlic Bread?”

“No, I’m fine thanks.” Decimus looked queasy as he flopped down onto the marble steps. “I’m just going to stick my head in a bucket and throw up.”

“Suit yourself. Anyone else? Albinus? Longinus?”

“I am a bit peckish actually” Longinus looked up from cleaning his hands. “I’ll have a margarita extra cheese.”

“Do they do gluten free?” Albinus was sipping wine to calm his nerves.

“Albinus, pizza is made with dough. Of course they don’t do gluten free.”

“Well get me a salad then. No tomato. I don’t like tomato”

“Fine..Hello? can I order some delivery please. Address is 1 Consul Way. It’s Brutus. B-R-U-T-U-S. I’ll have a large BBQ Meatlovers, Large Supreme, Margarita extra cheese. And a salad, no tomato. Thanks.”

Weekly Photo Challenge – Ephemeral

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This week’s Daily Post photo challenge is to capture an ephemeral moment, which I think is quite apt given that photography by its nature is an art form which instantly captures a snippet of time. Here are examples which convey an ephemeral moment to me..

eph3  A new person enters the world.

eph 2 Falling snow.

eph 1 Fireworks.

epm 4  A baby condor stretches its wings.

Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers: The Invisible Friend

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Here’s my contribution to this week’s Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers. Thankyou Priceless Joy for another fun prompt this week!

Oliver Wilde stumbled up the hill, too depleted of energy to take anything beyond the smallest steps necessary to keep himself from toppling over. He stopped and steadied himself on a light pole, waiting for the wave of nausea to subside.

He was in the process of passing out from the smell of his own breath when a loud bang jolted him back to life.

“Hey buddy, over here – in the dumpster.”

Oliver stared at the big blue box sitting in front of him, unsure of his next move.

The dumpster’s lid was slightly open, so he leaned forward to peer inside. “Hello?”

“Can you give me a hand in here?” a voice echoed from inside.

He pushed open the lid of the dumpster to find there was nothing in it except for an empty beer bottle.

I must be drunk, he thought, scratching his head. “I need help”.

Word limit: 151

The Daily Post Photo Challenge – Walls

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Weekly Photo Challenge – Walls. Although late to the party, I wanted to share with you some walls I’ve come across on my travels.

Machu Picchu in Peru is an amazing place. Its purpose remains a mystery, although one theory is that it was  a place of learning.

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The remains of a building along the Inca Trail. After trudging up and down the mountainside for days in the pouring rain, these ruins  towards the end of the journey made it worth the while.

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A wall of ice in Patagonia.

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In stark contrast to the beautiful example above, this is a part of the Berlin Wall which stands as a reminder of the city’s history. Parts of the Wall are scattered throughout Berlin  – this portion was located next to an apartment block, in a residential area.

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Monday’s Finish the Story – White Water Rush

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Here’s my contribution to this week’s Monday’s Finish the Story. And yes, the names are inspired by the Penguins of Madagascar.. 🙂

Finish the story begins with “When the team heard the dam explode, they knew they had limited time to make it to safety.”

“Go go go!”

Skipper turned quickly to look behind him as they raced to get clear of the deluge. Too late. “Brace!”

Throwing down their useless oars they hunkered down, head between knees, as the wall of water hit them. The raft spun out of control.

They slammed into a partially submerged rock, throwing Kowolski into the water. His wet fingers scrambled to grip onto the raft, but the current pulled him under in seconds.

The sound of the waterfall became a deafening roar as they raced toward the edge of the river. The raft flew over the edge, dipping into the foaming rush of water as its helpless occupants were flung out to their fate.

Time slowed down for the three bodies as they fell, arms flailing, lungs burning, to the bottom of the rainbow, and into the arms of the awaiting rescue crew.

100 Word Flash Fiction- Jenkins Strikes Back

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I’m using Chuck Wendig’s 100 word flash fiction challenge to see how Jenkins the butler got on in the Orion Nebula:

A man walks slowly on blistered feet through a ruined world, charred and smoking from its recent demise. His body is covered in soot, blood and sweat. Beneath the grime he is riddled with scars – trophies from his time in the fighting pits. A familiar sound gets louder as he approaches the singularity.

Jenkins? Are you dead? Hurry up, its almost tea time and I’m starving!

He lifts a wortbort off his shoulder, and places it gently on a pile of rubble. Sorry Wobbzy, you can’t come with me this time. With a sigh, he steps back into the wormhole.