My Short Short Story for the Day

Marie hung up the phone, gently setting it on the counter.  She paused in the kitchen doorway looking out across her living room silently waiting for the truth to settle in.  How could this be?  It just didn’t seem right.  It didn’t seem real.  Her hand dropped to her side even as she held tightly to the doorway with her other hand.  How could this be?  Her mother had been so calm when she told her.  It was an accident she said.  The road was slippery and visibility was poor.  Neither driver had been drinking or speeding.  It was just…just an accident.  The other driver had been injured but Aaron was dead.  Dead.  She’d never see him again.  Never talk to him, never hear his laugh, never argue about politics, never reminisce about their childhood.  Nothing.  None of that, ever again.  Her funny, opinionated, idealistic, kind, indestructible brother was gone.  The grief tore through her as she collapsed to the floor.  The tears streamed down her cheeks as the sobs shuddered through her body.  Why?

My Short Short Story for the Day

“So how did you get that scar?”  Ralph asked.

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”  Emma replied.

“No, go on.  Try me.”  Ralph laughed and settled into the comfy chair.

“Ok.  Well, I was out running in Topanga Canyon.  You know the nature trails they have out there.”  Emma started.  “Anyway, I had my iPod playing some Bon Jovi and I’m jogging along and all the sudden this snake is right there, next to my foot.  I’m mid stride so I couldn’t stop or anything.  And he’s all rattling away and there was nothing I could do.  My foot hit the dirt right by his head and snap.  He sunk one of his fangs into my leg and I screamed.  I had no idea what to do except I knew I had to get him off.  So here I am shaking my leg with this rattler dangling off it holding on by a fang and whoosh!  This huge hawk swoops down, grabs hold of the snake and flies off.  I’m just standing there staring after it wondering what are the odds of that happening.  Then the pain shoots through my leg and I start crying again.  I couldn’t remember if you’re supposed to suck out the venom or cut your leg to let it drain or what.   All I knew is that I needed help so I start running as fast as I could back down the hill to the parking lot.  I’m crying and swearing and stumbling all over the place.  Just as I get to my car I think, oh, wait.  Doesn’t running spread the poison faster?  Crap!  I jump in my car and race to the nearest emergency room.  They take me right in and the doctor said that since it was only one fang the amount of poison wasn’t enough to kill me.  So, here I am.

“Wow!  That’s crazy.”  Ralph said leaning forward.  “Did that really happen?”

Emma stared at him for a moment then spoke.  “No, my daughter was using me as a jungle gym and scratched me with her toenail.

My Short Short Story for the Day

It felt like years had passed since Janice was out of bed.  This cold had really wiped her out and two weeks later she was finally starting to feel the urge to get up and move around.  It was almost 11am when she padded down the hallway.  She opened the fridge and saw nothing edible inside.  Maybe a walk down to the store would do her some good.  It was only a short distance and she suddenly felt the need to be outdoors.  She gathered some clothes and turned the water on.  A nice hot shower really perked her up.  She dressed and pulled her hair back into a ponytail.  As she sat down to put on her shoes, she almost felt normal.  She grabbed her keys, some money and opened the door.  The sunlight blasted her in the face and she cringed, blindly grabbing her sunglasses off their hook by the door.  She put them on and walked out into the bright light.  She watched as people drove by going about their business oblivious to her two week absence.  The air was cool and pleasant as she walked along realizing that even though her world had been in limbo, everybody else had moved on around her.

My Short Short Story for the Day

Quinn raced across the ground dodging the swirling circles focusing on the other side.  Almost there she thought as she moved swiftly, stepping with great care.  Just a little further and I’ll be safe.  This was a test of agility but even more so of bravery.  She knew she was quick and clever.  Her father had taught her everything and praised her for being such a good student.  She knew she could do it but the tingle of nervous excitement filled her belly.  Finished!  Her father hugged her tight and the crowd cheered.  She looked to her mother in the stands and saw the relief ease the tension in her face.  Her mother waved then quickly brushed the tears from her cheek.  Her baby had made it safely across.  Father had tried to assure her the night before but Quinn was her baby, the last child to take the test.  After today, she wouldn’t have to suffer this heart wrenching anxiety anymore.  Suddenly there was a commotion in the arena.   Saber had almost finished his turn but something had happened.  He was teetering on the edge of a swirl.  Quinn reached out stretching for her best friend’s hand.  She didn’t think, didn’t hesitate.  She had to help him.  Their fingers locked and she pulled.  It looked as if he would right himself but suddenly the swirl shifted and sucked him in.  Time stopped for an eternity of an instant as Quinn’s eyes locked onto her father’s. 

My Short Short Story for the Day

It had been 10 years since she had seen him last.  They had met when he was a Junior and she was a Senior in High School.  He was into punk with jet black hair in a choppy, overgrown Mohawk.  He always wore black shirts, pants, shoes and a worn out black leather jacket.  He had piercings, tattoos and the sexiest smile she’d ever seen.  She wore her brown hair long, usually pulled back into a ponytail.  She was a straight A student, athletic and always home before curfew.  He was sweet, funny and just a bit dangerous.  She was quiet, focused and just a bit naïve.  They fell for each other instantly.  They broke up just before graduation but she never forgot him.  Then yesterday she got an email from him.  He was in town for a few days and wanted to see her.  Now standing here in the elevator she could hardly breathe.  She stared at the doors as the numbers dinged above.  Her heart began to pound.  She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.  She opened her eyes again as the doors slowly slid open.

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.