Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Fiction.
Kramer Williams in the Bottle
Kramer Williams was a clever devil. He was tiny and fast, and he took advantage of that to do all kinds of small mischief around people’s houses. Has anyone in your family ever lost a book or a set of keys, and couldn’t find them anywhere, no matter how hard you looked? Have you ever noticed how our pens and pencils sometimes seem to vanish in thin air? Kramer Williams loves to hide our stuff in the most unlikely places. Have you ever opened a nice box of strawberries only to find them all moldy and icky? Have you ever taken a big gulp from a nice cup of cold milk only to find the milk is spoiled and tastes awfully sour? Kramer Williams loves to spit into fruit and milk just to make it go bad.
By Paul Moore5 years ago in Fiction
Reclaiming the Power
I didn’t sign up for this shit. Do you know what happens when you kill a virus that reanimates the dead and use it to make a vaccine? That’s right, it reanimates. We should have known better. Someone should have known better. But just off the heels of a third pandemic, the anti-vaxxers had learned their lesson and seemingly everyone rushed off for the untested vaccination again.
By Jay Villin5 years ago in Fiction
A Cow's Tale
A Cow’s Tale Tailing is when you grasp the cow’s tail about one hand length up from the cow’s butt. You lift the tail straight up and wrap or twist the tail to keep the cow from kicking. You can even tug on it to make the cow move to you for milking. This information is why I am alive today and why I may die tomorrow.
By Jonathan Brelsford5 years ago in Fiction
Dragonfly
Soon, the clattering stopped. The women held their breath and closed their eyes, as had been their practice for the last six weeks. Jo assured them that the hall was soundproof, but it didn’t stop them from worrying they’d be overheard. In front of her were thirty weary women. Some black, some lesbians, some disabled, some poor. All women. They crept to the side of the hall, sticks in hand, and returned them to the store cupboard.
By Ysiad Senyah5 years ago in Fiction
Nascence
The glowbug clung to the cold steel of the wall, shining its faint light on Shayla, as she twisted and turned in her bunk. Nobody slept well in the Heart. It was freezing at night and boiling by day. Every noise reverberated from the hard steel of the floor and walls, with no rugs or hangings to soften the sound.
By Duncan Pile5 years ago in Fiction
Easter Eggs in Garbage Bags
“I’ve never forgotten, you know,” she says and tilts her head up towards a kitschy pink and blue sky to avoid meeting his gaze. He imagines she must be looking uncomfortable right now but he could never tell from the projection. “What it feels like.”
By Hannah Sill5 years ago in Fiction
The Angry Flamingos
Barry Token stepped onto the porch early Saturday morning. The neighborhood slept moments before the rise of the sun. Even with the summer heat, the darkness of night provided a crisp touch to the skin. Barry fantasized about his retirement. Next Saturday would be his first day unemployed in forty years. As he contemplated on a new hobby, he noticed an envelope under his slippers. Odd, he thought to himself. Why wouldn’t the writer of this letter drop it off in the mailbox?
By Sarah Nguyen5 years ago in Fiction
It Can Always Get Worse
“If you don’t believe things can get worse, you have weak imagination.” What kind of a messed up fortune is that, I thought, as I crumpled the flimsy rectangular piece of paper and tossed it back onto the table, alongside my half eaten Szechuan chicken and vegetables. How can things get worse than they are right now? I detest my job as a freelance reporter at our dying local newspaper. My most riveting story lately has been about the town’s little league team searching for a new sponsor. My romantic life is not faring much better. Lauren, my long-term girlfriend, has been campaigning for a stronger commitment lately. To be honest, I’m just not feeling it. She is great, don’t get me wrong. But I already know I don’t want kids, so what is the point, really? As these thoughts grumbled through my mind, I felt a distinct queasy eruption travel through my stomach into my gut, and I got up abruptly to head to the John.
By Katie Soleil Wayne5 years ago in Fiction
Ex Nihilo
The deafening hum of silence surrounds me. Days like this are especially excruciating as my soul has an un-obstructed view of my thoughts and memories. Thoughts that I would rather not think and memories that would be best locked deep in the corners of my mind. There’s something about silence that brings them out.
By Bryan Partridge5 years ago in Fiction
The Locket
“I got something for you.” We sat down on the edge of my bed, and I looked up. The sun beamed into my room and lit up everything as if I were in some fairy-tale. Kevin reached into his back pocket and handed me something gold and shiny. It was a small golden heart on a chain.
By Robert Ebersold5 years ago in Fiction
