Flash in the Pan – Car

Every second Friday T.C. banked his paycheck, withdrawing the barest minimum for smokes, pool and beer. Afterwards, he hoofed home for supper before meeting the guys at the pool hall.

The door slammed hard with a thump. “That you, T.C?” His father’s voice cracked.

“Yes, sir? Everything okay?”

His father jumped up and paced. “Sit.” Humph. “Old Murph’s ready to let go of the ‘71 Mustang.”

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T.C. stared, jaw flapping like plastic in the wind.

“Want to pay a visit after supper?”

The teenager nodded, luminous eyes enormous. “I’ve loved that car—geez—no kidding?”

“None.”

“What shape’s it in?”

~ * ~

The Winter Quarter of Flash in the Pan is here. The theme: Boys and Their Toys. For the rules and how to join, click: http://mommasmoneymatters.com/flash-fiction/

The word limit for Car is 100 words. I used them all.

Flash in the Pan – Marble

Ralphie rocked from foot to foot and sucked air in between his teeth.

“Listen twerp, you playing or wetting your pants?” Stevie’s eyes gleamed; his fat cheeks and elfin ears burned red. “You gonna cry?”

Hands twitchy, Ralphie toed dirt and blinked. “I gots one marble left.”

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“Bye. See you.”

“It’s a green Cat’s Eye, a big one.”

“Yeah? Let me see. Give you five commons for it.”

“No. Gimme ten?”

“Let’s see.”

The blond boy straightened, eyebrows raised high. He yanked tatty pockets out of his grimy chinos, face pinched death white.

Stevie snickered and boogied a rain dance.

~ * ~

The Winter Quarter of Flash in the Pan is here. The theme: Boys and Their Toys. For the rules and how to join, click: http://mommasmoneymatters.com/flash-fiction/

The word limit for Marble is 100 words. I used all 100.

Hot Flash – Remote

“You’ve going where?” Missy’s mouth dropped, eyes alert. Red hair frizzled and mushroomed around her blotchy face.

“It’s a guys’ weekend. Fishing, eating, drinking a few brew skis.”

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“You don’t do fishing—and a remote island?”

“I’ll have my cell, Hun.”

“I’m guessing no service…”

George cracked a Cheshire smile.

* * *

The Winter Quarter of Flash in the Pan has begun. The new theme: Boys and Their Toys. To join and for the rules, click: http://mommasmoneymatters.com/flash-fiction/

The word limit for Remote is 50 words. I used them all.

Flash in the Pan – Tools

“Stanley, did you find it?”

A crash of plummeting objects clattered inside the storage shed. “@#$%@&.”

“Are you okay?” Iris hung out the upstairs bedroom window. The screen had disappeared two summers earlier. A black car pulled into the side drive and someone emerged.

“Hi Tommy. Can you check on your brother in there?”

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“What can’t he find this time?”

“A wrench. The kitchen sink is clogged.”

“You’re it for the job?”

Iris made a face and shrugged.

“My brother and his tools. Why does he buy so many?”

She compressed her lips. “Whatever I need vanishes…shows up later—rusted.”

***

The Winter Quarter of Flash in the Pan has begun. The new theme: Boys and Their Toys. To join and for the rules, click: http://mommasmoneymatters.com/flash-fiction/

The word limit for Tools is 100 words. I used all 100.

HOT Flash – Compulsive

“Georgie, you’re home late.”

“Wa’ ‘pened m’ b’k?”

“What d’say?” Jake rolled out of bed by-passing slippers, and strode to the study across the hall. “What’s the racket?”

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“Ha!” White teeth flashed.

“Okay, my compulsive fusspot. Come to bed.”

“Ohh…”

“You gonna faint? Gotcha.”

A ticket flapped. “—won…lottery.”

~ * ~

This is the Fall Quarter of Flash in the Pan. The theme is Disturbed.

The Hot Flash limit for the word Compulsive is 50 words. I used them all.

Check how to join:  http://mommasmoneymatters.com/flash-fiction/

Flash in the Pan – Demented

Katherine dropped the scotch tape and peeked around the corner at the spectacular tree. Warmth and cheer radiated from the fireplace; joyful carols played a touch above a whisper. She hugged herself. Two gifts left to wrap…the best ones.

Brandon tramped into the overpriced kitchen. Feet wide apart, he tossed off his jacket and loosened his tie. “What’s all this mess?” Wrapped boxes and gift bags littered the table.

Unapologetic, Katherine’s voice wavered. “These are a few gifts for a new friend I’ve invited for Christmas.”

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“Christmas isn’t for strangers, it’s for family—except mine, that is.”

“But this is a time for giving, good will…”

“Is that a doll? For you? Are you demented?” He persisted forward until mere inches separated them.

Katherine grabbed the baby doll. “It’s for the orphan girl who’s coming to dinner.”

Brandon staggered as if punched. He cleared his throat. “A little girl? Here?”

~ * ~

The Fall Quarter of Flash in the Pan is coming to the end. The theme is Disturbed.

The word limit for Demented is 150 words. I used them 150.

Check how to join:  http://mommasmoneymatters.com/flash-fiction/

Flash in the Pan – Obsessed

“I need my locks changed again.”

“Why?”

Louise exhaled and seized a handful of streaked hair. “Billy lost, then found the extra key.”

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“He’s returned it?”

“I don’t trust that woman we met at the party the night he gave me this ring.”

“So…”

“She grabbed my hand, ‘Look at this?’” she said and fluttered her fake lashes at Billy. Six months she pursued him until we broke up.”

“Devious.”

“He came begging for it last week—for her.”

Margie’s eyes bulged, her mouth as wide and round as a grapefruit. “I see you weren’t obliging.”

“He’s the one who proposed, and I accepted in good faith…and now…”

Insistent knuckles pommelled the door. “Excuse me.”

“You! Get out.” Louise slammed the door and latched it. “It’s her; she’s obsessed with this ring, and dares come here?  How had he afforded something this incredible?”

“Might be hot?”

“Then, I’ll hide it.”

~ * ~

This is for the Fall Quarter of Flash in the Pan. The theme is Disturbed.

The word limit for Obsessed is 150 words. I used them all.

Check how to join:  http://mommasmoneymatters.com/flash-fiction/

HOT Flash – Cracked

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“See that guy with the coke bottle glasses.”

“Ya?” Ralphie scratches his brush-cut.

“Come on.  He’s headed for the Chinaman’s restaurant.”

A chained German Shepherd yanks at his restraint and snarls.

Petey hurls. “Yuck, he’s cracked. Who eats garbage?”

“His mother’s the church cook, I heard. Doesn’t she feed him?”

~ * ~

We are nearing the end of the Fall Quarter of Flash in the Pan. The theme is Disturbed.

The word limit for Cracked is 50 words. I used all of them.

Check how to join:  http://mommasmoneymatters.com/flash-fiction/

Only Two Weeks Until Christmas

Are you still scrambling, as am I, checking off lists and / or scratching your head? Are you in a panic for that one stocking stuffer—something unexpected and special—the icing on the cake?

What the heck do you get Aunt Mary, or Betsy, or Uncle Phil? They have everything, right? I would like to make a suggestion.

First of all, sit down and take a deep breath. Feel better? I thought you might. I do not have a crystal ball and anyway, I wouldn’t know what to do with it. I’d likely drop and break it before I learned to read the messages within, but YOU can work some magic.

It is no mystery I am proud to suggest you click on over to http://redmundpro.com/book-store/ftp5/ and order copies of any one or all of the sizzling Flash Anthologies you’ll find at your fingertips.

Hurry. Time’s a-wasting and Christmas will not wait. Give the gift of laughter, bewilderment and surprise: small morsels wrapped inside as few as 50  and as many as only 150 words.

Go. Make your favorite people happy. If you wish to buy flash ebooks, use the code GIMME10 for 10% off through this month. Don’t forget #1 is always free.

OF SPECIAL NOTE:  Many of the authors of these anthologies donate their payments to MAGIC Foundation. http://magicfoundation.org which works around the world with children with growth and genetic disorders. True, yes?

Hurry while there is time. Check the right-hand bar on this page for a preview of all the lovely covers. There are now five to choose from.  Get them all. The latest is Finding the Path, but don’t stop there.

Flash in the Pan – Mental

“When’s the last time you saw her?”

“Hmm… ‘bout two months…I s’pose.”

“She’s your wife. Don’t you know…?”

“Kat pulled this trick plenty of times before.”

O’Brien gazed forward and nodded towards his partner behind the double-sided mirror. Shuffling the papers on the table, he nodded. “I see—you stopped worrying after too many disappointments.”

“Yeah. You know. I gave up. She’s mental, you know…”

That a medical term?” The detective peered up beneath his lashes.

“No doc told me nothing. She was messed up see…”

“Was?”

“Was…was—the last time I…”

“You kill her?”

“No way Jose. Do I look like a murderer?”

“What’s a murderer look like? Go on then, but don’t leave town.”

Cluckie checked the mirror, smoothed his black hair, and wiped his mechanic’s hands on his work-pants. In a flash, he was gone.

* * *

Newspaper headlines the next morning: Missing wife found, accused of shooting husband.

~ * ~

This is the new Fall Quarter of Flash in the Pan. The theme is Disturbed.

The word limit for Mental is 150 words. I used them all.

Check how to join:  http://mommasmoneymatters.com/flash-fiction/