Sugar Sand “It hurts.” “I’m sure, sweetie. You’re doing so good.” The ambulance corners hard. “Ow!” “Almost there. Where were you going? When the car hit you?” “Store. Getting candy.” “Candy, nice. Deep breath for me now.” “Hurts.” “I know, honey. Hey, you ever hear of sugar sand?” “No.” “There are beaches in Hawaii full…
Tag: Friday Fictioneers
Tell Me a Story
Tell Me a Story “Hmm. Okay, let’s see. The window. It just looks like a window, but every Halloween at midnight, it becomes a portal to the terrible world of Ba-Kyard. In the castle of Shed lives evil King Mower. Every week, King Mower comes out and runs around the kingdom, roaring and cutting off…
The 4:00pm Rebels
The 4:00pm Rebels Classes at the Yusupov Memorial Assassin School were done for the day, even Professor Princip’s after-school pistol tutoring. Leon crept towards the back hedge with all the paranoia of youth’s first rebellion. He clutched the contraband tightly. The others were already in the hidden grove. “You got it?” Charles asked. Leon held…
To Be Struck by Lightning
To Be Struck by Lightning Mikki had never been struck by lightning, which was a shame. She’d heard it gave you such a nice energy boost. She craved that now. She was 48,564 meters from home and her reserves stood at 6%. She chewed two 9-volt batteries with her tungsten teeth, sucking out every possible…
First Day in the Trenches
First Day in the Trenches The first day of school was over. A group of shell-shocked first-years sat huddled together in the back of the restaurant. “I knew high school was hard, but . . .” “The twelfth-graders were huge! I honestly feared for my life during first period.” “One of them called me Fartin,”…
Everything’s a Critic
Everything’s a Critic I pick up the guitar. Eight apprehensive eyes appear, watching like I’m a toddler with a chainsaw. I’ll try Bad Moon Rising. D, first. No, that’s wrong. The eyes widen. I start again. A moan of protest begins. “I see the bad moon a-rising,” I sing, trying desperately to match my voice…
Build For What You Want
Build For What You Want In my culture, hospitality is life. And hospitality fills the space it is given. Build a 2-man tent and you can only have one guest. I wanted a tent for a hundred friends. No one makes tents for a hundred people. Merchants scoffed. “You need a palace,” one said. “I…
A Real Vacation
A Real Vacation Allison woke to the sun shining through the tent door. She made breakfast and sat looking out over the valley. This is what I need. A real vacation. The breeze smelled like pine. Too much? No, just right. Relax. You are alone in the Scottish Highlands for four days. Enjoy it. The…
Nip and Tack
Nip and Tack 48 Peacock Lane was breathing comfortably. Structural anesthesiologists were monitoring it, and the surgery crew moved in. “Anything major?” Jim asked the lead surgeon as he assembled a reciprocating saw. “Nah, just light touchup work. Some rotten siding. Cosmetic stuff.” “It’s a new world.” Jim shook his head. “Sometimes I wish houses…
Creeping Things
Creeping Things Footsteps creep by outside, military-style boots. Breathe slowly. Militia, looking for conscripts. Or target practice. Stomach rumbles. It’s been hours. Low voices. So hungry. Moving away. Something creeps across your hand. You grab it instinctively. It squirms. You stuff it in your mouth. Crunchy. Suddenly you’re a kid again, hunting crickets in the…
The Green-Walled Treehouse 