Another snowstorm loomed; phones silenced. Nothing from her mother for two weeks. Millie packed her car with homemade soup, stews, coffee, and blizzard essentials.
The house appeared neglected; no smoke curled from the chimney. Icicles, like daggers, hung like custodians.“Mother—mother?!The house creaked, as frigid as a tomb. Her mother lay buried under mountains of covers.
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“Mother?” Millie stroked, massaged, prayed.
Eyes staring, lips working, the woman stirred. “That’s right,” her daughter said. “Here’s coffee. I’ll help you.”
Millie kneaded her mother’s shoulders. “I’ll start a fire…be right back.”
*
Click http://mommasmoneymatters.com/flash-fiction/ for the rules of this challenge.
The word limit for Fire is 125 words. I used 93.
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Bill blew the horn. Marnie peeked out her car window. He grabbed her for a quick embrace.
“Quit it, Bill, they’ll be out in a minute.”
“What a wet blanket.” He grinned. “Alright, how about a word game? Orange.”
She pouted. “Pumpkin.”“Cards…”
“Thank you.”“Hm, interesting—”“Boring…”
“I meant interesting answer. ‘Bill’…”
“Ring”
“What? Say again…”
“You said bell and I said ring.”
He squinted, blue eyes calculating, and chewed on a hangnail. “I ain’t buying you no ring for Christmas.”
“Oh, get a life!” Marnie bolted; car door smashed shut.
Click http://mommasmoneymatters.com/flash-fiction/ for the rules of this challenge.
The word limit for Ring is 100 words. I used 92.
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The harried staff dashed and whirled, moped and polished, grumbled and smiled. Discordant voices buzzed in the air.
“Pickup—two turkeys,” Nick hollered at Angel. “Pickup, pick up.”
The fat cook, red-eyed and tired, turned to the new girl. “Hurry with those pastries. More clean plates please.” He turned back to the window.
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“Pickup—one tender.”Where the f**k’s that shell? “Hey, kid, did you see my turkey carcass?”
“Yep, I dumped it in the garbage.”
“What?” he growled, “Fish it out. I’m making turkey soup tomorrow.”
“There’s cigarette ashes—“
“So wash it!”
Click http://mommasmoneymatters.com/flash-fiction/ for the rules of this challenge.
The word limit for Fish is 100 words. I used 94.
Excellent, I like the first one best, so emotive! The second has a character that annoyed me so that has to be good and the last one – I can imagine that happening and that’s disgusting!!!
Thanks, Gilly. It’s a good thing if I can stir up feeling.
“Hung like custodians.” Brilliant.
Yes, custodians who drop and slice you if you step on a crack and it creaks. Ha Ha. Thanks, Robin.
hey… 3 flash in one post… I did something like this too recently
The first one is my fav…so warm and full of emotion.
I just dropped by to read yours. Slick. Nifty idea having once main character throughout the flashes.
Thanks
it’s sort of like a series
I, for one, think it’s a wonderful idea.
I especially liked the second one
But, as always, they were all very succinct and clearly to the point
Brilliant writing Tess!
You are generous, and I appreciate your comments, Ghia.
The fire of love: beautiful! Makes me think of my mother who also lives on her own, and quite far away.
Very touching.
Thank you, Delft. Nice of you to drop in.
Aww; Serves him right!; and Ewwwwwwwwwww!.
I love it. All three of them. I love the conversations your characters have. <3
Hi, Red. I agree with you: Aww; Serves him right!; and Ewwwwwwwwwww!
I’m pleased you enjoy my attempts to entertain. Hope all is well and Merry Christmas. I mention this now as I’ve been known to get scatter-brained when I’m busy and boy, Christmastime is busy…
This is a trio of excellence,
I like these a lot my friend
If I don’t see you before the
Christmas holiday then do
have a most exciting time
Andro
Nice words and music to my ears, Andro. Thank you and may you have the best of Christmas too.
Beautiful as always Tess.
Nice to see you Bailey and thanks. I haven’t been around much either. Hopefully the New Year will be better.
Tess, you really do capture the emotion and dynamics of a whole relationship in just a few words, with very realistic dialogue. Excellent storytelling!
Thanks, Naomi. I’m pink with pleasure. Can you see me blushing? Well, maybe it’s the wine. Red–you know.
I don’t know how anyone inserts happy faces here. If I knew how, you would have found TWO here for you. Thank you for coming by, Naomi. Happy New Year.
Hi Tess,
I just wanted to let you know that I have nominated you for the 2012 Blog of the Year. Happy New Year!
http://thethoughtpalette.co.uk/our-awards/blog-of-the-year-2012-award/
Naomi, you are such a dear heart and I am such a rule breaker. I thank you but I don’t usually partake in awards because it’s too hard picking specific bloggers to share with. I’d rather share with all and not have to do all the work involved. You are most kind.
they’re all good but the last one’s outstandingly yucky, in a good way! thank god I don’t eat turkey.
Hi Rose. Thank you. Lucky you don’t eat turkey, but how about c-h-i-c-k-e-n, hm? Same thing. I don’t know if restaurants make soup from scratch anymore. Ugh.
I like them all! The third one is SO believable. I wonder how many times that sort of thing has happened. Anyway, excellent writing!
Thanks, Susan. Glad you came by. I’ve been ‘lost in transit’ lots the past couple of months.