My Short Short Story for the Day

I’m gonna be late for work again.  The third time this week.  Rick is gonna be so mad at me.  Oh, please don’t let him fire me.  Lacy hurried down the steps to her car, tossing her bag in the passenger seat and turning the key as she reached for her seatbelt.  She craned her head to the side checking the street and pulled out, shifted into drive and sped off to work.  It was another typical day for her.  Alarm didn’t go off so she overslept only waking because the neighbor decided to pull his leaf blower out at 7am.  She had time for a quick shower and only one cup of coffee before rushing out the door.  Why did this always happen to her?  Why was she never able to get anywhere on time?  She didn’t purposely try to be late; it just always seemed to turn out that way.  She had promised herself over and over that she would try harder but inevitably something would happen and she’d end up late.  She pulled into a parking spot and hopped out of the car, locking the door before running to the shop.  The bell jingled announcing her arrival and she stopped abruptly as the door swung shut behind her.  The smell hit her first and almost instantly she puked.  It was enough of a jolt to make her stagger backwards out of the shop and stumble into the parking lot never once looking away from the scene.

My Short Short Story for the Day

Soon it would be her turn.  She was terrified.  Her time had come and there was nothing she could do now but wait.  Dread filled her heart as she stared down into the shimmering water.  She would have to jump when the signal was given.  No one knew what would happen next.  Some people would flounder and have to be rescued while others would start paddling and kicking and swim to the other shore.  And still others would simply vanish into the unknown, never to return.  It was a rite of passage they all had to go through but even the elders had no idea whether it was better to remain here or disappear.  The anticipation was threatening to crumble her to the ground but somehow she remained standing.  The signal was given and she braced herself.  With one last glance to her parents and siblings, she took a deep breath and jumped.

My Short Short Story for the Day

All he could do was stare as the world before him exploded and the voices of millions screamed in agony.  His heart thundered in his chest at the devastation, the loss.  How could this have happened?  Why?  He was so careful this time.  The tears rolled down his cheeks unnoticed as the screams echoed in his mind.  The dust that once had been a thriving planet now blurred into bright colors stretching across the darkness.  A few moments later the colors faded away.  Death.  Again.  What would he do now?  Where would he go?  Would death follow him forever?  Was there any escape from this wretched existence?  All he ever wanted to do was help, but that had gone wrong.  So terribly wrong.  But why?  He had to find out.  No matter what.  He had to set it right.  Somehow.

My Short Short Story for the Day

Harriet was a smart little kid.  She knew the best time to get into mischief and almost always got away with it.  Almost.  The teddy bear cookie jar sat quietly on the counter patiently waiting for someone to visit it.  Harriet knew that her mother would be out of the room for several minutes.  Just enough time to sneak one of those gooey, sweet cookies.  If they had been her dad’s favorite, peanut butter, then she could have resisted.  If they had been her mom’s favorite, oatmeal chocolate chip, she probably could have resisted.  But since they were pink frosted sugar cookies with rainbow sprinkles on top, who could resist that.  She just had to have one.  Quickly she pushed the chair over and climbed on top.  Then slowly she lifted the bear’s head off the jar and gently set it down.  The small clink it made froze her in place.  After several moments, Harriet knew it was safe to continue.  She stretched up on her tippy toes and leaned forward.  She peered down into the jar and spotted the prize at the bottom.  Just as she was about to reach her hand in she heard something.  She froze in place again, slowing her breathing so she could listen.

“Harriet.  What do you think you’re doing, young lady?”  Her mother said.

My Short Short Story for the Day

“Where’s the elevator?”  She grumbled under her breath.

She started kicking at the bag absently until it shifted.  “Oh, shoot!  You idiot!”  She was straightening it up when the elevator doors opened. 

“Hi Kris!”  Al said.  He was tall, handsome and the absolutely last person she wanted to see right then.

“Hi!”  She grunted lifting the bag just enough to avoid scraping it across the cement.

“Hey, let me help you with that.”  Al grabbed hold of the handles and hefted it up easily.  “Whoa, what’ve you got in here?  A dead body?”  He laughed turning to the buttons.

Her face turned a bright crimson and her hands were shaking so much she had to pin them between herself and the wall.  Stay calm, stay calm.   She repeated over and over in her head.  The 10 second ride felt like hours when the doors finally opened again. 

“Let me go drop this off and I’ll be right back.”  Al said smiling.

“Oh, well, I’ll just...okay.”  She said.

“How about we go get a coffee?”  He said setting the bag down in front of the dumpster. 

“Um, I dunno...”   He walked to the side to lift the lid and her eyes widened as the bag started to tip, loosening the handles.  She was torn between lunging for the bag and running away.

“Oops.  Almost lost it.”  He laughed grabbing the handles and giving them a tug. 

He heaved the bag into the bin and walked to the side to lower the lid back down, continuing to talk but she didn’t hear a word.  All she could do is stare dumbly as a finger flew out of the opening in the trash bag, under the closing lid of the dumpster and onto the ground right next to Al’s foot.  The ring, it had the ring on it.  She couldn’t believe it.  Even now, even in death, he  still had to have the last word.  Well, technically, last two words. 

My Short Short Story for the Day

“We’re almost there honey.”  He said pushing the panic back down.  Now was not the time to lose it.

She smiled at him admiring his self control.  She hadn’t been sure how he would behave when the time came but he was doing great.  Her stomach tightened again and she breathed through the contraction.  Not much longer, she thought.  The excitement bubbled up inside her.  It was just over 9 months and she was more than ready to meet her little girl.  The pregnancy had been a lot easier than she had expected and the labor wasn’t too bad…so far.  She knew there was pain to come but she wasn’t nervous.  Whatever happened, she knew she would deal with it.  In such a short time her life was going to change completely and forever.  And to her continued amazement, she was absolutely thrilled about it. 

“Here we are.  You okay?”  He asked taking her arm to help her out of the van.

“Yes, we’re going to be fine.”  She said patting her belly.

My Short Short Story for the Day

She lost track of how long she’d been standing there staring.  After all these years, he had finally left.  She should have seen it coming and maybe some part of her had.  She was still shocked, though, when he packed his bags, tossed the keys on the table and walked out the door.  She ran after him choking on her words, praying he’d stop.  He didn’t speak, didn’t look back.  Just walked away.  She clutched her chest as the pain stabbed her heart until she felt numb.  The sadness draped over her like an old, ratty shawl.  The tears rolled silently down her cheeks as she wondered why.  Stupid question.  They hadn’t been happy for a while but somehow she thought it would all just work itself out.  One day she’d wake up and things would be like they used to be.  Like they should have been.  Like she had hoped they would be.  It hurt so much, the emptiness that filled her up.  Maybe she should have tried harder to make things work.  Maybe she should have fought harder to make him stay.  Maybe…who knows… but now it was simply too late.    

My Short Short Story for the Day

“Stretch little one.  You can do it.  Come on.  Almost there.”  It was hard for him to sit still.  He was so excited but a little nervous.  She hadn’t tried to reach anything so high up before.  The couch was tall and he wanted to help her but knew she had to do it herself.  She was on her feet now grabbing the edge of the couch with one hand.  A little wobbly but getting steadier.  The giggling was music to his ears.  There was no greater joy than what he felt at that moment as his best friend reached her tiny little hand up to him.  “Almost there.  Almost there.”  He leaned forward ever so slightly and her face lit up with a smile so big her eyes twinkled.  “Good.  Just a little further.  That’s it.”  He wiggled in anticipation.  She stretched out rising to her tippy toes.  The fingers reaching closer and closer.  He leaned a little more, just enough.  “Puppy!”  She said gently touching his head.  He jumped up, rewarding her with wet doggie kisses until she plopped down onto her butt.  “Good girl.”  He woofed.

My Short Short Story for the Day

"Thank you, Ma'am.”  The young clerk said with a smile.  “Have a nice day."

When did I become a 'Ma'am'? Angie thought nodding to the clerk as she stubbornly carried her own groceries out to her car. She fumbled with the key, pushing the button and cursing under her breath when it took several tries before the trunk lid rose up. She dumped the groceries onto the floor and slammed down the lid.

"I'm not old." She reminded herself taking a quick look in the rearview mirror. With a defiant nod she turned her attention to driving.  As she pulled into the driveway she felt better. Good enough even to smile and hum along with the radio.  When the song ended she climbed out of the car only pausing for a moment as her knee creaked and popped. Brushing the moment from her mind she pushed the smile back into place and resumed humming. As she neared the front door the plants lining the steps caught her eye. At first she couldn't figure out what was odd about them. She set the bags down and took her sunglasses off checking them for smudges. As she was cleaning them on her shirt, she looked at the green plants leaning in closer and staring for several minutes before straightening up again.

"Seriously? Now I need glasses?" With a pout, Angie trudged up the steps. "It sucks getting old."

My Short Short Story for the Day

Move fast.  Can’t let him catch me.  Where can I go?  Is he still back there?  Don’t look!  Don’t look!  Keep moving!  Gates locked.  How do I get out?  Gotta hide.  Here.  No, no…too much light.  Where?  Where?  Is that him?  Is he…?  No don’t look!  Have to keep moving!  Oh, God!  Please!  Help me!  Someone!  Anyone!  The dumpster.  That’s big enough.  Have to reach it.  Almost there.  The elevator.  Faster!  He’s coming.  Safe.  My breathing.  It’s too loud.  Slow it down.  Have to slow it down or he’ll hear.  Calm.  Small.  Quiet.  Footsteps getting closer.  No.  He can’t hear me.  He doesn’t know.  He doesn’t know.  Oh, please, somebody come.  Please.  Help me.  Please.  Please.  No.  Don’t find me.  Shrink smaller.  Quiet.  Don’t move.  No.  Walk away.  Please go.  No.  No.  No!