Hello Friends,
My short story, The Building near St. Anthony’s, has been published by CafeLit. Thank you, Gill, for the publication. Please find below the link to my short story.
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Freedom
“Caesar doesn’t belong with us, Sal,” Clare said firmly.
“Don’t do this. He’d never survive the predators.”
“Don’t deer co-exist with lions?”
“Caesar is domesticated.”
“We are forcing him into domestication.”
“But we treat him as an equal…like a human”
“Humans are not chained. We should let him go.”
They had come to the dense part of the jungle. Clare let Caesar down. He licked her hands and wagged his tail.
“Nobody owns you now, Caesar,” Clare said, softly, “You are free.”
Caesar heard a howl from afar. He took a few tentative steps, then ran into the wild.
This was written for the Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction Challenge.
Lina’s Blossom
Lina looked at the aging blossom in her balcony, eagerly sucking up every drop of rain nature had to offer. The edges of its petals were dark and she could see small holes in the rose. But, it persistently held on. Lina did not know how long she could persist. She thought back to when she was healthy, young, and idle. Now she wanted to make everyday count, no matter how numbered her days were. Determined, she limped painfully from her coffee table to her laptop. Even the morose Robin of the Willow sang with unusual energy and vigor.
This was written for Charli’s Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction Challenge. The word prompt for this week is Blossom.
She Tapped Thrice
She tapped on his door every day when they were kids. “Shall we do our homework together?” “I have already completed mine”, he snapped, slamming the door. She continued tapping over the years. At college, she tapped after his basketball practice, “Some hot chocolate?” “I don’t eat or drink chocolate.” he smiled, turning her away. One day, she stopped tapping. He waited in his room, crying and praying, as she lay in the hospital. Drained of all arrogance, he hoped she would tap again. He would follow her this time, either to her room or to the other world.
This week’s Carrot Ranch Challenge is to write a story that includes tapping. You can play with the sound, make it an action, or create something unexpected. Tap a story and go where the prompt leads!
Rainbow and the Librarian
Where was it now? Rainbow nudged an old copy of Oliver Twist. The powder was stashed on the first page of the second chapter. I offered it to Rainbow, the cat. He shook his head sternly. I shrugged and inhaled it. Heavenly! He winked at me and smiled with closed lips. I was on high while Rainbow scratched the books under Healthy Recipes. It was evening; I began to grow restless. I searched in the children’s picture books for my powder. “Rainbow, find it for me.” The window was open. Had he escaped? Was there a Rainbow at all?
This week, in Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction Challenge, we are required to write a story in 99 words about a library cat named Rainbow who escapes.
Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction – Mail for You
“Was this the mail you were reading?” the young lieutenant passed a letter to Henry.
“Thank you,” Henry took it and wondered if he was expected to salute the lieutenant
The lieutenant hesitated, “I found this under the wires. It probably fell from your pocket.” Henry looked at the bruises in the lieutenant’s hands where the barbed wires had cut him. He took the crumpled photo of his girlfriend. “Thank you,” he said, quietly.
The lieutenant saluted him and walked away. Henry stared at his back, then walked back to his tent to join the other prisoners of war.
This was written for the Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction Challenge. In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story that includes a sugar report. Use its original meaning of a letter from a sweetheart to a soldier, or invent a new use for it. Go where the prompt leads!
Loyalty – Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction Challenge
“Wait here. I will be back,” he told me as he walked inside the house, coughing. He stumbled and I heard a loud crash. I wanted to check on him, but he had asked me to wait. I heard a voice sobbing softly. People came and left, wooden-faced. That evening, I smelled lilies and heard the wail of terrifying silence. Everyone from his house came out, except him. I knew where he was kept. Should I follow him? But, he had said he would be back. I waited in the garden, amongst the daisies. He always kept his word.
This was written in response to the prompt at the Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction. Write a story to the theme “a dog in the daisies.”
Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction Challenge – Lucy’s Letter
Lucy woke up, optimistic, knowing that something was about to change. She ran down the street when she heard the postman’s bike a couple of streets away. A letter from her wayward son! The postman looked at the 90-year old Lucy jumping up and down and realized that his efforts had been worth it. He had braved the storm, the governmental warnings, and a pickpocket to reach his destination. He smiled at Lucy. At this, Lucy became self-conscious and looked angrily at the postman. The grinning dumbo! After all, how would this man know how important her letter was!
This week’s prompt is to write a story of 99 words about a postal carrier in an extreme situation. Thank you, Charli.
Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction Challenge – Consequences
Peter turned off the alarm clock in haste. It was 9. In 15 minutes, he was in the living room, ready for office. However, there was no sign of breakfast. “Maisy, where is my breakfast?” She stared at him and turned away. Peter had slapped her yesterday and she was acting up. The next day was the same and so was the next. If he made extra food, meaning to save some for the night, she ate everything. Anger rose in him, but he thought of its consequences. “Maisy,” he began in a low voice, “I am extremely sorry.”
This was written for the Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction Challenge.
Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction Challenge – Meghan
Meghan stood at the entrance of the church looking at the white flowers which had begun to wither prematurely. Her husband, egged on by his friends, had carried her down the steps. They had been together for a month when he was called away to the sea. He described the calm and stormy waters in detail, calling the sea his mother and best friend. Although a little sad, he was highly excited when called away to the sea. “I am going home”, he had told her. Meghan adjusted her black veil as she went in to attend the service.
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Meghan smiled at the colourful flowers and wondered if he would carry her down the steps or would be too tired to do so. Her fiancé had been called to the sea after their engagement. She thought about the fierce storm and six months of fear, wondering if he would come back. However, he was never in any doubt. He had called the sea his mother and best friend. His faith had been rewarded and he returned home, cherishing life and his loved ones. Meghan adjusted her white veil and took her dad’s arm as she entered the church.
These two stories were written for the Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction Challenge. Thank you, Charli.
