Welcome back to the Flash Fiction Faction! We’ve had a photo, and we’ve heard music. Now let’s see how we do with individual words…
You have my 10 year old nephew’s vocabulary list from last year to thank for this week’s prompt. In the past, I’d used one of his lists to make a drabble. It turned out to be a very well received one at that.
When we are given word limitations, it forces us to use different storytelling routes than we would normally take. See what you can do with these boundaries.
For any newcomers, click here for instructions on how to participate.
Good Luck and I’ll see you all back here on Thursday!
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I’m hoping something comes to me.
I’m sure something will!
So this is my first time doing flash fiction. I cranked this out in about an hour, with minimal editing. Hope you like it!
“It’s okay,” you tell her. “It’s gonna be okay.”
“The more you say that the less I believe you,” she says. She’s massaging her temples like when she has a migraine. Her eyes are closed.
You noticed a change in her behavior this week. She’s been staying in her room all day, but when you say, “sis?” and open the door, you can tell she’s just been lying on her bed. It’s pretty clear that she knew before you told her.
She’s sitting on the edge of her bed, going at her temples a little too hard now. A strand of golden hair has come loose and fallen into her face. You reach forward from the desk chair you’re sitting in and brush it back over her ear.
“It’s only for a few months.”
She manages a little laugh and finally looks you in the eyes.
“Yeah. Only.”
“The area I’m going to is really safe. There hasn’t been any fighting there in months.”
“I think that’s a pretty relative statement.”
She hasn’t looked away yet. There’s a tear hanging off her chin that threatens to drop into her lap.
“Well, yeah. It always is, if you think about it.”
She wipes each side of her face on her sleeves and sniffs, exhaling audibly through her mouth. You can tell it’s taking a lot to force that smile.
“Mister technicality.”
You smile back.
“Aren’t you at least psyched to get the whole upstairs to yourself?”
“Overjoyed.”
She squeezes her eyes shut and sobs quietly, fresh tears rolling down her cheeks. You lean in and wrap your arms around her. She calms down after a minute and rubs her eyes.
“Just make sure you get back here before the harvest,” she says.
You sit back and cock your head.
“The harvest?”
“Fall. That’s what grandpa used to call it.”
“Ah. Birthday season.”
“Damn right.”
She smiles, a little easier this time. You try to preserve that image in your head.
“Well, if my orders hold, that’s exactly when I’ll be back.”
“And if you’re not?”
“Then you can punch me in the stomach as hard as you want. No retaliation.”
“Wow. Deal.”
You both laugh.
“Hey, you want to come outside and throw the frisbee or something? It’s really nice out.”
She flops back onto her bed, arms outstretched.
“Nah. I think I might take a nap. Gotta conserve my energy for all the punching and whatnot.” She rolls towards you and smiles. “Don’t have too much fun without me.”
Okay. I’m all set and have something written and ready. I see from the instruction page that we are to post to our own blogs and then post the links to our stories as comments when your own story appears.
Since the actual challenge/judging day isn’t until Thursday, must we refrain from posting our stories on our blogs before then, or is it okay to post earlier but just to wait until your story appears before posting the links?
Thanks!
You can post on your own site if you’d like, but if you could refrain from drooping the link onto mine until Thursday when the post does live, that would be great
Thanks for asking!
Oops! Sorry about that. I missed the bit about Thursday until after I posted… I won’t mind if you remove it, I can post again on Thursday.
Don’t worry about it! Just repost on Thursday.
No problem. Hate those drooping links.
lol.oops!
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