Five Stars

 

Ashlar Whispering Wind

Five stars for what, crappy food?

The food was not bad, said the receptionist.

No? What about that horrid thing on the wall?

The receptionist looked up at the bull head skull. It was a sculpture, not the real deal. Besides, continued the receptionist, we are not in the business of eating the decor.

Insolent! The client's always right!

Not here. You see, sir, here we rate the clients, not the other way around, and you are a 0.

What?!

Would you like the bull head skull wrapped to take, so you remember us, since we won't allow you back?

100 Word Stories

Behind

 

Milk Wood

Look behind the phone. There was nothing. It's there, she said. But it wasn't. And she giggled. That old classic... Made you look! She giggled again. And where is it? When she started giggling, he lost it. He was standing there, holding the damn phone, looking stupid, and she was making fun of him. On top of it all, the phone was yellow, the one color he couldn't stand. I need that fucking code, right now. She bok-bok'ed and giggled some more. The next day, there was a headless chicken on her doorstep and no one saw her, ever again.

100 Word Stories

Random Words?

Milk Wood

'I don't... you... me'. This could mean anything, said the detective, where's the rest of it? No one knew. Is this blood? No one knew that either. Did you search the rest of the house? That they did know. And? Nothing? Nope. How about the garden? Silence. OK, forget it. Send this to the lab. They all nodded, relieved. By the way, said the detective, I don't care what you think about me. I'd fire the lot of you. Amateurs, thought the detective. Wait a second, what I just said... Perhaps these words are not as random as they look.

100 Word Stories

Half Missing

 

Wonderland 2.0

They roamed the garden, looking for the key.

Is it big, is it small? What exactly are we looking for?

Questions, questions, and more questions... A key, of course, everyone replied in unison, exasperation showing on their faces.

Suddenly, someone gasped. Found it!

OK, so, where's the door?

Door?

Yes, the door.

No one knew.

So, why exactly were we looking for a key?! I thought we were looking for a key to the shed, that one.

Well, now we'll be looking for a door.

Which door??

Why are some people so negative? You already have the key! Be happy!

100 Word Stories

Ending

Milk Wood

 No ending, no story, delete it all, he said. She frowned. Why not keep what has been written so far and put it on the back burner for a while, perhaps they'd come up with a good ending later. No, no, no, delete it all, he said. She then snatched the laptop away from him. He elbowed her aside. She fell but stuck her leg out and he tripped. He grabbed the laptop cord and wrapped it around her neck. She punched him right in the face. Oddly enough, this was part of their creative process. One ending coming up.

100 Word Stories

Play the Game

 

Milk Wood

Twist my words, he said, play the game. Come on, do it. She replied she had the orchestra waiting. He laughed and said you can't do it. You're not strong enough. She remained silent. He continued to laugh and twist her words. She felt like saying, come on, do it, but she didn't want to miss the right moment. He turned away to face the closed window. No one heard anything. No one saw anything. So, yes, she thought, she was strong enough to play the game. She dumped the weapon in the lake and the silencer in someone's trash.

100 Word Stories

Cruising

 

Salt Water

The pelican flew over the cruise ship. The tourists took their phones out to start lives. Look, look, a bird. Most didn't even know it was a pelican. Some called him a giant seagull. But the pelican flew over again. After the lives came the photos. Social media is hungry, let's post some photos and show off our ignorance. The pelican flew back and forth. Suddenly, he pooped on the tourists. Shrieks of amusement and more lives, featuring the pooped deck. Likes, hearts, laughing emojis. Then, the pelican flew away, grunting, "bring fish, next time!" and thinking humans are idiots.

100 Word Stories

Keep Well

China

I knew someone innocent would die. He wanted to clear his name and trampled all over anyone who stood in his way.

I wanted to ask him "why". But I never did. He would've denied it. The images have been doctored. It wasn't him on the video. "Can't you see?" And no, I couldn't. It was him, stealing from his best friend.

When he was arrested, I said "keep well". He just looked at me. And I knew I'd have to run for my life.

Perhaps I should go to that place in the painting and hide in plain sight.

100 Word Stories

Perhaps a Poem...

 

Collins

Discard the old.Discard the old and frame it. Put it on display so you never forget.

The background music, nagging your memory, doesn't help. But... Forget it.

Forget it all. Move elsewhere. Do something else. Walk away.

They'll try to chase you, those cold recollections, they will. But... Forget them.

Forget it all. Sell your house. Buy a new one where no one knows you. Walk away.

Leave your pain behind. Or whatever you call pain. It might be a wave, a word, a doubt and a certainty.

The water is dark and deep. But... forget it.

Save yourself.

100 Word Stories

Limited Edition

Goblins Knob

Sparrow, a limited edition of dolls, had everything but sparrows, the symbol of protection and hope. A doll house, doll furniture, doll-everything. It looked dark and gloomy. An adult now, his sister still loved dolls, the pink kind. He hated his sister. When he gifted Sparrow to her, she loved it. Well, that didn't work, he thought. So, he got another doll, wrapped in a white shawl, a reminder that even when you're trying to get revenge, there is always a glimmer of hope. OK, great, now he wanted to destroy the damn thing. He smiled. Perhaps that would work!

100 Word Stories