Exactly 50 words
He trumpeted his arrival, and the gathered group answered back in a discordant symphony. He exchanged small talk with members of his section as they took their positions. The conductor arrived and stepped onto the podium. The elephant shuddered. He…
Willie rose early every day because he heard a disturbing rumor about birds. But for the life of him, he couldn’t remember what it was. One day, as Willie wiggled around, Bonnie Blackbird flew towards him, her mouth open wide. …
Carl woke to see mysterious writing on the wall. He recalled the biblical story of a finger writing on a king’s wall. After the prophet Daniel interpreted it, things didn’t end well for the king. Carl wasn’t going to wait…
He waited years for the shoe to drop. He knew it would happen someday, but couldn’t know when. One day, while browsing his favorite auction website, he saw it. A large flashing box with red borders and print. 1985 Air…
I stand alone in the middle of the room full of people, talking, eating, and drinking. I wave at people. I laugh. I try to join in their conversations. But everyone ignores me like I’m invisible. I suppose that’s the…
The teacher asked, “What is the sound of one hand clapping?” The student pondered the question for many years. He studied the world’s greatest philosophers. He wandered the land, seeking truth. One day, the light of understanding dawned. The answer…
I know darn well I’m not supposed to boil while someone is watching. But the pressure is becoming unbearable. For me. For them. Bubbles rise in a churning cauldron of distress. I let off a little steam. Then a lot.…
Teddy kept having second thoughts, but he couldn’t remember the first. He made his selection and sat at the table next to his friends. “Ooh, that looks good,” Sally cooed. “Again.” “Come again?” asked Teddy. “Didn’t you have cheesecake already?”…
My phone rings again from my own number. “Hello?” A voice says, “When you hear a knock, don’t answer.” I hang up, shaking. Knock. Knock. Who’s there? I dare not answer. Because I know who is there. But I don’t…
He crawled toward it in the inky darkness of the tunnel. A flashing light. Getting closer. And closer. It was all he desired. All he could think about. And it was coming to him. With a swoosh of wings, the…
“A penny for your thoughts,” he said. “I’ll take that offer,” she said. He chuckled. “It’s a figure of speech.” “Sure, but I’ll take the penny.” He pulled a coin from his pocket and handed it to her. She began…
Today, he decided, was the day he would stop procrastinating. He scheduled it in his calendar for tomorrow. Tomorrow came. He scheduled it for the next day. Then the next. And the next. For seven years, tomorrow was always the…
Some stories are dribbles, drabbles, and hints. And what, exactly, are they? A dribble is a story of exactly 50 words. A drabble is a story of exactly 100. Hint fiction, as the name implies, tells a story in exactly…
Mom said most people couldn’t see the forest for the trees. Mari wanted to see for herself. One day, she wandered through the whispering pines, shimmering maples, and stately oaks. But when she reached the sunlit meadow, she finally understood.…
Black clouds gathered overhead. Thunder rumbled. Lightning flashed in the distance. Noah checked the shipping manifest: Crickets, seven pairs. Check. Ants, one pair. Check. Sheep, seven pairs. Check. Tyrannosaurus, one pair. Check. Food for the carnivores… Noah looked at the…
Richard is Martha’s husband. She calls him Dick. One day, Martha discovered Dick secretly watches adult videos. Martha says nothing. She cooks beef stroganoff for him every night. Dick doesn’t get it. Nor does he get why she doesn’t make…
He watched the orange ball sink below the rim One day further from the day of his birth One day closer to the day of his death How many days were left he could only guess He hoped his days…