Like all the outliers I've covered, this planet was named for some dead Earthian. Back then you could have a star named after yourself for less than the cost of a decent dinner. This man had a hundred stars named after him. Trump XV looked no different than all the others. When the infrastructure goes, …
Tag: flash fiction
Be a Flasher
Not that kind of flasher, naughty bird. A flash fiction writer. Why should I be a flash fiction writer? You ask. I'm glad you did. Flash fiction forces several wondrous talents upon you: Economy of language. Full-bodied plot in a tiny, weeny package. A stretch into new genres, styles, content.* Opportunity for you to turn …
The Gift: Fiction for Microcosms
Cal feared the new garbage truck: its dinosaur bellow of steel on steel as the automated arm plucked the blue plastic containers like weeds, flipped them upside down, and dumped the contents with an explosive crash. The engineering marvel rescued lower backs and killed jobs, but Cal wouldn't know anything about that, being seven. All …
Flash Fiction: The Writing on the Wall
Shem's last straw as maintenance man was the locker room. "Not touching that." "Shem, you don't get to choose what you clean around here. Either get going on that or... get going." His boss thumbed toward the exit sign. Shem got. No way was he going to scrub a floor-to-ceiling mural of excrement. A cashier …
Duplicitous: Flash Fiction for Microcosms
As they approached, a big rabbit appeared over the edge of the ditch, looked at them quickly and vanished into the bank. Hazel let out a cry and floundered after as best she could in the cumbersome space suit. "Don't," Tom said. But Hazel didn't listen. Their ship carved the very ditch into which the rabbit, …
Funny! Fiction for Cracked Flash
Waiver Most epic adventures don't start out with an application and an insurance waiver, but Tom Kinzel, CEO of Chilly Thrills saw the writing on the wall: the positive correlation between epicness and peril. The 200 bodies strewn upon Mt. Everest gave their silent testimony: counterphobia (charging your worst nightmare) while epic, is risky. But …
Fiction for Microcosmsfic.com
Washed Away "At it again?" Ella asked, standing over the hunched form of her husband. Darrin's once-white robe was covered with a dusting of sand and browned on the butt. Ella handed him a steaming cup of coffee. A sand-encrusted hand trembled but received it gratefully. A ring of untanned skin was all that …
Indiscretion: Flash Fiction
"Oh, everyone just thought you were crazy," the intake nurse winked at me as she tightened the cinches on my straight jacket."I had to use the restroom," I said, "Real bad.""That's what got you into this mess," the nurse said, "no pun intended. One can't just indiscriminately... well, you know. People jump to conclusions."My shoelaces …
Metamorphosis. Fiction for Microcosmsfic
The little boy. I never considered him a target until the day of the falcon. That's what I called it anyway: the day of the falcon. See, I pass this kid every day on my way to school, but on this day a peregrine falcon had landed on his head. I expected the bird to flee, …
The Solution: Cracked Flash Fiction Entry
Dragons stalked the streets, puffing out smoke and clattering their mechanical wings. Gulligan sighed. Rush hour. A dragon who had the bad sense to scuttle in front of Gulligan found himself violently kicked. The iridescent creature rolled end over end and hit the curb, sending up a cloud. Brittle things, Gulligan thought, for all their noise …
KL Griffiths 