My Short Short for the Day

Margie stared, mouth open, eyes fixed, legs paralyzed as the ominous cloud rolled towards her.  Her mind was screaming to run but she just couldn’t get her legs to move.  Must run!  She yelled at herself.  Run Margie!  Run!  Suddenly her legs broke free and she moved.  Unfortunately, no matter how hard she tried to run, her legs only moved in slow motion.  Faster Margie or it’ll get us for sure!  She urged her body to move, she demanded, she pleaded but nothing helped.  Her body moved slowly inching forward, refusing to acknowledge the impending doom.

The cloud rolled relentlessly toward her.  She struggled to speed up but to no avail.  She could hear people screaming around her to hurry but she couldn’t.  She tried to crouch and push off like a sprinter.  She tried to leap and jump start her running.  She tried taking smaller steps to get more traction.  But nothing worked. Her legs moved ever so slowly.

The cloud was on her now.  She yelled, cursing her legs and choking on the dirt laden air. She thrashed her arms and bolted upright in bed.  Still coughing she stared into the darkness until the cloud disappeared and her mind refocused.  “I hate those dreams!”  She muttered flopping backwards.  “Stupid slow motion.”

My Short Short for the Day

“Swim fishy, swim!”  The little girl shouted skipping along the snake trail. 

“Hurry up Etta.”  Her mother called.

Etta switched to a run to catch her mom and dad.  Her blond streaked pigtails flapping in the breeze as she pumped her arms back and forth, as fast as she could.  She ran headlong into the back of her dad’s leg. 

“Whoa, careful kiddo.”  Her dad said swinging her up into the air.

“Whee!  I’m a bird!”  Etta sang stretching her arms out.  “Look at me Mom!”

“I see.  You’re flying.”  Her mom smiled up at her.

“Oh, look!  The fishy is flying, too!”  Etta grinned.  “Fly fishy, fly!”

“Silly Etta!  Fish can’t fly.”  Her dad said setting her back on the ground.

“This one can.”  Etta replied pointing up.  “See?!”

Etta’s mom and dad looked up and saw the beautiful blue sky with some puffy, white clouds floating lazily by.  “Sorry Etta, but I don’t see any flying fish.”  Etta’s dad said patting her on the head.

“But it’s right up there.”  Etta’s smile faded.  “Can you see it Mom?”

Etta’s mom squatted down next to her.  “Um, well, that cloud kind of looks like a fish.”

“Hrmph.”  Etta pouted.  “Well, it is up there.  I’m looking right at it.” 

“I’m sure you believe that, dear.”  Etta’s dad said walking away.

“Sorry, fishy.  I guess they can’t see you.  But I do.”  Etta said.  “Have fun flying.”

Etta waved to the fishy and ran off to catch up with her parents.  The fishy flapped its flipper then soared into the deep, blue sky, leaping up and over the fluffy clouds. 

My Short Short for the Day

Ollie raced down the packed dirt path, up the stone steps, weaving in and around the weathered grave markers.  This is awesome!  Ollie loved to run.  He ran across fields, through forests and up and down the leaf strewn pathways of the graveyard.  That was his favorite.  The silence was eerie to some, but not to Ollie.  He felt at peace here, among the ancient stones.  Sometimes he would slow down enough to read the names and dates and try to imagine what life had been like for them.  Once in a while he came across someone who had died very young.  He’d be sad for days after, trying hard not to imagine how the person’s family had felt when they lost their child. 

The wind blew strong bringing tears to his eyes but it didn’t slow him down.  Not today.  No time for reading names or calculating dates.  He was with his best friend Zak and Zak was winning.  That just wouldn’t do.  He knew a shortcut and made a sharp left turn.  He raced down the path, breathing heavy but smiling as he kicked up dust behind him.  Almost there, just a bit further.  He dashed across the invisible line just as Zak crested the hill.

“Aw, man!  You won again Ollie!”  Zak patted Ollie on the back.  “You’re too fast for me, boy.”

Ollie nudged Zak’s hand and Zak gave him a quick scratch behind the ears.  “Good run, boy!  Here you go."

Ollie accepted the biscuit and devoured it in one bite.  He fell in step with Zak, padding along beside him.  Tongue hanging out to the side and a happy grin on his face.  Still the fastest runner around, he thought proudly.

My Short Short for the Day

Ed stumbled down the hallway blinking his eyes rapidly trying to clear away the blurriness.  What was in that drink?  He didn’t think he’d had that much alcohol.  Usually he could hold his own for at least 4 or 5, but tonight, one was enough.  Whew!  Almost there.  He paused for a moment to steady himself.  A couple more rooms and he’d be at his cabin.  The train rocked gently as it sped down the tracks.  He used to love trains as a child.  Watching them.  Building them.  Drawing them.  Chasing them.  But this was his first time riding one.  He’d felt like a kid when he boarded back in San Jose.  Now he felt so old.  Rest.  That’s what he needed.  Just a short nap and he’d feel like his young self again.  Just one more door. 

“So, there you are, my boy!”  The gruff voice came from behind.

Ed leaned his back against the wall and slowly turned his head toward the voice.  He squinted trying to focus but could only see hard, dark eyes staring back at him.  “Do…do I know you?” 

“Sure you do, old chum.  Let’s get into your cabin there and have ourselves a chat.”  A rough hand clenched his arm while the other opened the door. 

Roughly Ed was shoved into the room.  He stumbled and caught his chin on the tiny table by the window.  He saw stars for a moment before the black of night overcame him.

My Short Short for the Day

The cool water soothed her burning muscles.  She couldn’t believe she had run so fast or so far.  Her legs were screaming at her when she finished but now they were soaking in the sparkling, cool water and only whimpering a bit.  She tilted her chin up to the sun and floated on her back, relaxing, releasing the tension, letting go.  She closed her eyes and let her mind drift away while her body bobbed on the surface. 

Suddenly, there was a tingle up her spine followed by a jolt.  The next thing she knew she was being dragged down into the water, deeper and deeper at a speed so fast that everything was blurred.  She held her breath but her lungs were burning now.  Her heart was thundering in her chest as panic flashed through her.  Her mind reeled trying to figure out what was happening. 

Then, it stopped.  She wasn’t moving downwards anymore, she was frozen in place for the shortest of seconds.  Her heart still thundered but she didn’t move.  She focused her eyes but all she saw was clear water ahead.  She struggled to force herself to look down and when she did, there was nothing but the sandy bottom.  Her eyes darted around her but there was nothing unusual.  Her lungs were on fire so she kicked her legs and shot up to the surface. 

She gulped in the fresh air and immediately swam to shore.  Too scared to look around, she focused on the shoreline and blocked everything else from her mind and her sight.  Once on the safety of the beach, she stood and looked out to the water.  She stood still, straining her eyes, then, for an instance, she saw something.  Could it be?  Was it more than just a legend?  But the water here was too shallow for such a creature.  Nothing else could have pulled her under like that, though.  She stared for a long time, trying to catch a glimpse of it but nothing appeared.  Was she imagining it?  Was it real?

Finally, she turned and walked up the beach.  Grammy would know what to do.

My Short Short for the Day

There once was a fish who was fast

Others called him but he would swim past

His fins were so fine

And his scales were divine

Until one day he came in dead last

My Short Short for the Day

“I knew it!”  Callie cheered.

“Hey Honey, I’m home.”  Stan said kicking off his shoes as he closed the front door.  He walked through the kitchen and into the living room trying to unknot his tie.  

“How was your day Dear?”  He asked still struggling with the knot.  After a moment of silence he looked up.

“Callie?”  Stan stared at the empty chair frowning for several moments then shrugged and walked down the hall. 

The ripples in the fish tank slowly subsided, settling into a serene, smooth surface again. 

“Huh.  Must be at Zumba still.”  Stan said successfully removing his tie with a grin and tossing it onto the bed. 

“Maybe I should make dinner?”  Stan wrinkled his nose.  “Nah.  I’m not that hungry.”

Stan turned on the shower, cranking up the hot water, then stepped in.

The water in the fish tank began to sway as ripples spread out from the center.  A flash of light pierced the room, then Callie was back in her chair.  She jumped up from her chair and raced to the bedroom, pounding on the bathroom door.  “Honey, you’ll never believe what just happened!”

“Oh, good.  You’re home.”  Stan yelled back.  “What’s for dinner?”

“Never mind that.  I’ve got to tell you what happened.”  Callie shook with excitement.  “You see, I found some sort of time travel portal or transporter or something.  I don’t know exactly but it was amazing.”

“That’s good Dear.”  Stan yelled back humming to himself.  “So what did you say was for dinner?”

“Nothing.  I’m talking about traveling to another dimension or time.  It’s…it’s incredible.”  Callie started to pace, her mind racing with the possibilities.

“Sounds interesting.”  Stan mumbled as he shut off the water and wrapped a towel around himself.  He peeked out the door.  “So…about dinner…?”

Callie stopped, stared at him, and then stomped out of the room.

“Should we order take out?”  Stan called after her.  “I’m starving.”