No Preventive Maintenance

 

Time Remains

"The landing was scheduled for eleven. What's going on?"

The voice on the phone stumbled.

"I don't care. Where are they?"

Some problem...

"Are they coming or not?"

Silence.

"If they aren't coming, I need to dispose of these samples. You know how human samples deteriorate quickly and the fridge you left here is crap."

A chuckle.

"Oh, funny, is it? You won't find it so amusing when it's your turn to do a tour here on Earth and have your crappy fridge stuffed with beers just because you don't want them to think you're an alien, which you are!"

100 Word Stories

Too Much to Bear

 

Tatty Soup

It was just too much. Pack your bags, quickly. And this urgency... This overwhelming fear... How can we choose which parts of our lives are salvageable? Photos, documents, diaries, books? Books? Which ones, because they are so heavy... Just one. Choose one, quickly. And we don't know which one to choose. I chose "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly". It's small and oh, so big. And we took some seeds. Seeds are light. We need seeds to start over. The bags were placed at the door, side by side with the million steps that would take us away, for now.

100 Word Stories

Camp NaNoWriMo April 2022

 

Four Times One is the name of this year's Camp NaNoWriMo project. The idea is to write a short story each week. 20k words, about 5k per story. If Real Life decides to mess with this plan, I'll extend it to July's Camp. One week prep'ing, one week writing. Do I know what I'll write about? No. And I'm not sure this is a good plan! But... NaNoWriMo's idea is to get you out of your comfort zone, right? So, there! No preparation at all. Here we go!

Slippery Slope

 

Wonderland 2.0

I thought it was risky, but they said "this way". And we all went "this way". The problem with blindly following what others say is that we often end up in rather complicated situations. In my defense, there was a sign that clearly said "This Way". And usually, signs are supposed to be reliable. This time, this particular sign wasn't. And off we went, blissfully unaware. When we reached the end of the tunnel, they pushed us into the pit. And we had to decide whether to take the blue pill or the red... Wait a second... Alice?! Rewind. Rewind!

100 Word Stories

Hair

Time Remains

 

"What have you done?"

My sister shrugged.

"But your hair..."

She smiled and shrugged again.

"Is something wrong?"

She shook her head and mumbled something about a sign.

"What sign?"

She was moving on, away from vanity.

Being a shampoo model had been very profitable for her.

"What about your job?"

She looked at me.

"No, no no."

My hair is now long enough for me to take her old job. I'll get my own place and I'll be filthy rich. Life is a lot simpler than we think. It just takes a bit longer when we're talking about hair.

100 Word Stories

The Books

Mistll

The books on the shelf stared at him sternly.

Feeble. Uncompromising. Late.

The titles suggested a series of events that could easily be totally uninteresting or a complete disaster. Being such a positive person, he thought they were a sign that something dreadful was about to happen.

When a car exploded outside (certainly because of some lunatic defending lunatic ideas), he grabbed the three books and ran, hoping to save himself. He was about to burn them when they arrested him. "Subversive, subversive" they shouted.

While they dragged him away, he pondered about the different meanings of the word "late".

100 Word Stories

Cliché

Saltwater

"A perfect storm," he said.

I replied "what comes around goes around".

He nodded. "If walls could talk..."

"Yup, but sometimes ignorance is bliss."

He nodded again.

There was a moment of silence while we looked at the sea.

"We must think outside the box."

I replied, "but we must be careful not to open a can of worms."

"True. Oh, well. It doesn't matter anymore. He's dead as a doornail."

I smiled. "Good things come to those who wait."

"And we did wait a long time," he said.

"We did. My finger was freezing," I replied, holding the gun.

100 Word Stories

Brownie Mix

 

Milk Wood

When the neighbor started digging holes in his garden at two in the morning, I thought I should do something about it. I took a spade and trotted across his garden. It was a body missing a finger... I put it back in the ground. Should I call the police? I had committed a crime too, trespassing on his property. When he knocked at my door the next day, I froze. He smiled. "Here, have some brownies. It's my own brownie mix recipe. I add a pinch of this and a pinch of that." I sure didn't like his sneer...

100 Word Stories

I Was Very Young

Time Remains

I wanted that horse toy so badly and my father said "you'll regret it". I shoved the toy in my pocket and ran. My father yelled "you'll regret it". 40 years later, here I am, still that 10-year old kid at heart. That toy was the beginning of my career. Every time I robbed a bank, I took the horse toy with me, the toy and my father's voice too. Today, I was arrested. My father looked at me and whispered "do you regret it now?" I shook my head and smiled. It had been one heck of a ride.

100 Word Stories

Her Little Paradise

Swayland

The asinine brochure with the inept typo managed to convince her, in a moment of complete vulnerability, she should add, to go find a beach somewhere and age happily. She did. And the beach was lovely, yes, except for the fact that the damn seagulls pooped all over her little paradise. She thought there'd be other people around. But no, nobody, not a single soul. No fish either. So, she had to practice her skills on the pooping seagulls. It was a nasty sight. And she couldn't even eat them... She had given up on meat a long time ago.

100 Word Stories

Fight Fire With Fire

Wintersweet

"I have a dragon."

"I have a dragon too."

"My dragon is bigger than yours."

"No, it's not."

"Yes, it is."

"No, it's not."

"Yes, it is."

"Stop it," shouted the father from the living-room.

"Mine can spit fire."

"Spit? Haha. Mom says that's rude."

"No, it's not, not in dragons."

"Yes, it is."

"No, it isn't!"

"Stop it now."

Two seconds of silence.

"Your dragon's pooping fire."

"No, it's not."

"Then... what's that?"

"It's... It's... He had chili, so there."

This time, silence lasted longer. One of the kids sulked while the other wondered if dragons really ate chili.

100 Word Stories

Pick One

Roche

"Pick one," he said, looking at the box with small dividers. "They are seeds."

Seeds always have this promise of a future in them, she thought.

"I choose these. Are they poisonous?"

"No! They are berries, I think."

She smiled again. She could fall in love with him, she thought.

"I don't know how long they'll take to grow."

She nodded.

Years later, the bush was still there. She had no idea what kind of berries they were but she never touched them.

He did. Needless is to say that he never saw the plant grow.

Temptation is a bitch.

100 Word Stories

Even

Pure Dreams

She inhaled. Ah, coffee.

The nice librarian had suggested the book "Moving On".

How appropriate. Her husband was having an affair.

When she returned the book, she found out that her husband was having an affair with none other than the nice librarian.

Good thing she had also picked up "How to Get Rid of Your Old Life". Lots of interesting advice in it, including a few radical methods of... getting rid of your old life.

Books are extraordinary, and so are libraries.

Nice librarians... not as much. At least, not this one! But even that problem had been solved.

100 Word Stories

Overexposed

Kronbelt

The lighthouse stood by the bay, small waves hitting it softly.

The carcass of a boat rocked back and forth, a warning flag still swaying in the wind.

They had been overexposed to that gas, the one coming from the barrels tossed in the water at high sea. They tried to sail away as fast as they could. But it was only a matter of seconds.

People came onboard. They said no, don't come here. But they did anyway.

And now, the lighthouse stood by the bay, small waves hitting it softly, with no one to take care of it.

100 Word Stories

Don't Push Me

 

LEA 13 Cica Ghost

I am a good mother. I always knew what was good for you. But you never accepted what I said. I always pointed out your faults. That's how you learn. I never praised you because that wouldn't teach you anything. And that day when you wanted to hug me and I was horrified. A hug? Don't push me. And you had that pathetic look on your face. I am a good mother. You came out alright, except for not accepting my orders. You were always stubborn. Now you're indifferent. And we don't talk. Yeah, it's all your fault... your fault.

100 Word Stories

Left

 

LEA 13 Cica Ghost

I am a good mother. The kitty this, the kitty that. Let nature be nature. We need to take him to the vet, and you whined and whined and I took the kitty to the vet. I'm a good mother. It just annoys me to have to change my plans. I had stuff to do. If the kitty had lived till then, I am sure he'd survive a few more hours. And you turned your back on me and left to your room and then you left for good. Now we don't talk. And it's all your fault... your fault.

100 Word Stories

Store

LEA 13 Cica Ghost

I am a good mother. I always bought good food for you. There was that time when you went to the store to buy bread, and when you came back you said no more. But why? And you said there was a tavern next door and the men looked at you funny... And I said what a wimp, that's life, you need to get used to it. You were 12 and you had to toughen up. I'm a good mother. I taught you stuff you needed to survive. But now we don't talk. And it's all your fault... your fault.

100 Word Stories

Bee

LEA 13 Cica Ghost

I am a good mother. I fed you and took you to where you needed to go. I gave you books for school and I kept you clean. I was a busy bee till you became the annoying teenager you were. There was this time when you fell down the stairs and I did nothing, just watched. I hate interfering. I am a good mother. I put up with your friends till I managed to push them away from our house. They were too cheerful. Peace at last. But now we don't talk. And it's all your fault... your fault.

100 Word Stories

The Door Flew Open

Time Remains

The elderly home where she lived was... boring.

One day, the door to her room flew open and there he was, as handsome as ever.

"I have a message. In a minute, a man will show up and tell you something. Just say "yes".

She nodded and wondered. Had he been activated? Odd thing at his age...

"How did you find me?"

"I have my sources." He smiled. "Remember Prague?"

She smiled too.

"OK. Just say yes." And he left.

A knock.

She opened the door. It was him again.

"Will you marry me?"

And all she said was "yes".

100 Word Stories

What's That On Your Face?

Asalia House

The crow landed on the arm of the scarecrow.

“Well, I never,” thought the scarecrow.

The crow groomed himself and just sat there.

What on earth. They were supposed to be afraid of him.

A bit of wind made the crow flap the wings briefly.

This is really too much!

"Oh, what's that on your face?" asked the crow.

What, what? The thing was talking!

"That's so sweet. It's a ladybird!"

A ladybird? Where, where?

The crow laughed. "You crossed your eyes!"

The scarecrow smiled.

"Friends? I promise not to eat the crops here."

“Friends.”

And even the ladybird smiled.

100 Word Stories

NaNoWriMo 2021 Concluded

 

The past few months have been difficult, to say the least, and I didn't feel like writing new material (a novel). However, I was determined to get back to writing more than 100 words a week. NaNoWriMo was the perfect "excuse". 

Today, I have surpassed the 50k mark thus becoming a (rebel) "winner".

Thank you. You know who you are. Without you and your support, I wouldn't have made it to the end. Every time I felt like giving up, I could hear your voice saying "you can do it". Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Arson

Enoshima

The box sat on the floor. Everyone was quiet, imagining the potential level of devastation it could cause.

“I thought we were torching the place,” said one of them. “These are... well, ammunition for whatever war weapon. We don't have that weapon, do we?”

The question made them snort.

“We could get it,” another ventured.

“It must cost a fortune.”

Everyone mumbled. Destroying the place for the insurance was far more complicated than they had anticipated.

"I don't understand... Why don't we torch the place? Done."

Yep, he was done alright.

Let's face it. Simple solutions aren't always the most fun.

100 Word Stories

Unsure

Octoberville

He thought he had led a good life until someone from out of town whispered something in his ear. It wasn't easy to upset him and yet here he was, panicking. He took the fish from the lines where it was drying and hid it in a bag. He looked at his hands and felt the need to wash them, frantically, obsessively. But he just stood there. And he wondered... He wondered if the stranger really knew what he had done, traveling through space but, above all, through time, that time he had so desperately tried to run away from.

100 Word Stories

The End

"The End".

She put the pen down, happy.

The book was published. But she abhorred the cover. And she was very vocal about it too. No one listened because the book was a success, "a huge success" as the publisher always made a point of stressing.

OK, fine! So be it.

Her next book was called "The Fool". And she loved the cover, a photo of a foot sticking out of the ground. She had taken it herself with her cellphone. It was much cheaper than hiring some top designer.

Buying the gun, however, did mess up her whole budget...

100 Word Stories

NaNoWriMo 2021

Non-fiction. Personal. 50.000 words. November 1-30.

Since Records Began

 

Bridgetown

When it all started, no one expected to understand. They waited. Some waited patiently, others complained. After a while, it was clear that since records began, time had been bent to the limit. What was happening? When? It seemed the safety net everyone knew - seconds, minutes, hours, days - had disappeared. Town clocks were removed. A law was issued. No watches.. What had happened would happen again, multiple times. Everyone got poorer and had to live in shanty towns. But he smiled. The colorful row of light bulbs crossing his street gave him solace.... And he decided not to wait anymore.

100 Word Stories

You Saved My Life and Then...

Collins Land

You saved my life and then you followed the disposal protocol. "I must keep moving," you said. And I knew you meant climbing that money ladder. You grabbed my hand to pull me out of that hole they had hidden me in. Those were the worst 5 days of my life, I thought. But... no. That was not true because the worst 5 days of my life were... now. You barked "No need to shower her." And you pointed at me. I smiled at the thought that the kidnappers had been kinder than you and your petty little nauseous vengeance.

100 Word Stories

The Heat of the Moment

Amar

What have you done? They put two and two together. They found out. You ran, hid, wore hats and dresses. Ridiculous. What for? What a waste of time. You should've run away. What have you done? Yes, you have killed them all, haven't you? That's what they'll say. And here you were, so full of myself. You answered their questions, all of their questions, and you can't even remember the answers anymore, you buffoon, thinking you could outsmart them all. What now? Now... Now you're in deep shit. But you've escaped once and you'll escape again. For how much longer?

100 Word Stories

Over to You...

Franceportnawak

They sat in silence, the three of them, in a luxurious room that was not meant for them.

"We tried."

Outside, everyone scrambled to save themselves.

"Yes, we did."

The icy water didn't stop people from jumping.

"Why bother?"

"We could make it."

"You think?"

They laughed and held up their glasses filled with the best whiskey.

And they sat in silence again.

Suddenly, they heard a deafening noise.

Water. Lots of water.

They knew the end was near.

"Bottoms up, boys!"

"Over to you..." And they looked up. They had never believed in God.

Fear changes everything, doesn't it?

100 Word Stories

Doubtful

 

Boudicca's

We looked at the letter, a small candle leading our doubts.

"He disappeared such a long time ago," my friend said.

I nodded and reread the letter.

"Maybe this is an old letter, written a long time ago," she insisted.

I nodded, my brain going over every detail. I knew he hadn't written the letter.

"Did you tell anyone?" she asked in a whisper.

I shook my head.

"Then I shall clear our names," she barked.

"Our names?" I asked, a grin on my face. "You mean... your name."

We had buried him that night.

But I wrote the letter.

100 Word Stories

Some Might Say...

LEA 7

Some might say that nothing changed. The empty room was still empty. The beautiful view was still beautiful. The cranky neighbor was still cranky. When I asked the neighbor why you weren't picking up the phone, he shrugged. "But where did she go?" I asked and he walked away. I just stood there, in the middle of an empty room, looking at the beautiful view, wondering. I still had that photo we took together in Brazil, laughing like two lunatics, two happy lunatics. When I terminated the lease on the apartment, I noticed that B, drawn on the dusty kitchen counter.

100 Word Stories

Where Do I Begin

BWC Village

"Maybe they want... No, they don't. They just want information, nothing else. That's why they are sitting in that shabby hut. I can smell them from here. They just want a snitch and I'm no snitch. I am committed to the cause. This small house by the river is the perfect place to keep an eye on them. They have no idea I'm here. None." And he chuckled.

When the window shattered, a single shot coming from the shabby hut, he fell.

“Where do I begin..." said the sniper at his debriefing. "If you hesitate, you're done, and he hesitated."

100 Word Stories

If I Had a Nickel for Every Time...

Collins Land

If I had a nickel for every time I back-paddled, I'd be rich, he thought. He was the kind of man who never had a clear opinion. He often used the word "potentially". It sounded grand, but he wanted to be left alone, that's all. The problem was that he never wished to be a CEO. He just wanted to get the money, which was very good, and paddle his boat around the lake at his mountain cottage. Work was such a waste of time. He sneered and tossed a nickel into the deep dark waters, making a wish... again.

100 Word Stories

Misnomer

Avatar Games

They called her Butterfly not because she was gracious but because she liked to see things fly. Often enough, people had to scatter in all directions when something came flying towards them. When she upgraded from apples and pears to dishes, someone yelled "not the butter". She couldn't care less and off it flew, the dish with the butter on it. It flew straight towards the head of the good old fisherman. He was never the same again. His grumpiness disappeared and he only had eyes for Butterfly who, still today, keeps making things fly. Her latest achievement... a bicycle!

100 Word Stories

Discard

 

BCC

Warm and cozy. Discard.

Tea brewing. Discard.

Books and more books. Discard and discard.

That's what he had said. Discard.

But she loved her warm cozy room. Books were her life. How could she discard all she cared for?

And then she would hear his voice, roaring inside her head, discard, discard, discard.

Had he discarded everything too, she asked in a barely audible voice. He turned to face her. If looks could kill...

Discard, you hear me.

And she did.

Becoming a secret agent was not for her, but they sure taught effective ways of.. getting rid of anything.

100 Word Stories

Mad

Avidya

"Can you help me? The noise is driving me mad."

"But you're already mad, aren't you?"

"Am I?"

"Yes, you are!"

"I don't think so."

"Oh, for sure."

"Your hair wants cutting."

"What? We were talking about being mad."

"I know, and your hair makes me mad."

"Why?"

"I haven't the slightest idea. It just does. If you knew time as well as I do... "

"You wouldn't waste it."

"Not it. Him."

"I'm confused."

"So am I."

"Is this a riddle?"

"Yes. Have you guessed it yet?"

"No. What's the answer?"

"I haven't the slightest idea. And I'm still mad."

100 Word Stories

Letter

Kats Beach

What's the color of a letter? Is an A a whispered amber? Is a B a bitter lemon? He didn't know.

But he kept writing those letters, his stories told in the tones of the chosen color.

The woman at the stand would smile benevolently and nod.

One day, "I have mail for you!" the envelope marked C! Cosmic latte, he said and they chuckled.

She already had many more letters ready and she hoped he'd skip the D, too many dark and deep colors in that one.

He never figured out it was her and she continued to smile.

100 Word Stories

Needle

Kronbelt

"Empty. Damn dopehead thief."

Everyone made faces. The place stunk.

"Where to now? He has to be somewhere."

Everyone looked at the deserted road.

"We should..."

"Yes, we should do something."

Everyone looked at the elderly woman, standing at the back, knitting.

"This is no time to be knitting, lady."

She smiled.

"I know where he is."

"Where?!"

"At my home. I'm helping him. And no one, I mean no one, will touch him. He's trying."

"Well, why did you come along in the search party then?"

"Because I like to keep an eye on overly enthusiastic people, let's say!"

100 Word Stories

So Many Questions

Avatar Games

I sat at my desk and pondered.

Should I go and interview the man?

Should I shake his hand?

Should I be friendly?

Should I smile?

Should I let him lead the conversation or should I ask him specific questions?

Should I show him the photos? The ones with their faces? The ones where they were still smiling?

And the maps? Should I show him the maps, the ones where the crosses mark the different locations?

Should I ask him...? Should I ask him about the bodies?

And are there more out there? Are there?

Where, please, tell us, where?

100 Word Stories

Bonus Outbreak

Time Remains

“Ah, dreams. Those wondrous moments of sheer leisure. Some are just wonderfully peaceful. Others are inspiring. Most are memorable.”

“Really? I don't recall most of my dreams...”

“Poor you... Such a simpleton. All dreams are a bonus, an added plus to our boring existence.”

“To be honest, not all dreams are a bonus. Some are like an outbreak of something weird.”

“You simple, you! Those would be nightmares and not dreams.”

“It does depend, doesn't it?”

“It does?”

“Yes. If one is somewhat masochistic, a nightmare would be a dream.”

"Ahm..."

"I'm not that much of a simpleton, am I?"

100 Word Stories

Footnote

Milk Wood

Footnote is the prompt, they said.

Footnote... Something about a writer... no, that's boring.

A mystery then. Something that had remained unspoken for many decades.

OK, let's go crazy then, why not!

Let's add a guillotine, but not just any guillotine, one made of solid gold.

Oh, and the Chinese mafia, determined to get to the said guillotine.

Now, the house. A strange house with secret compartments, dusty and dark.

Plus a few characters, odd characters.

Who's the main character?

Yes, that woman, what's her name...

The bell rang. Damn.

"Your time is up."

The Unspoken Footnote. It's a start!

100 Word Stories

Riding Shotgun

Bridgetown

Sitting in the back made him feel sick, very sick.

The vehicles were old and made out of scrap, the rusted parts an adventure each time they bumped against a rock on the road. Plus, it didn't help that all the guys drove like lunatics.

When he was promoted to siting in the front, he couldn't be happier. No more snarky remarks about how green he looked. He was free!

When that unidentified piece of metal poked his right eye out, the first thought that crossed his mind was "it doesn't matter, green no more!"

Priorities, yes, priorities are paramount!

100 Word Stories

Trade

Collins Land

Trading vintage posters had become quite the busy activity.

John had a bunch of them hanging on the walls of his study.

He dusted them and created a website to sell them. Trading was for retards.

The phone rang a few days later.

A man was interested. And John was happy.

They met and John opened the trunk of his car.

"No trading."

The man sneered and walked away.

"Hey!"

The man waved dismissively.

John went back home, updated the website, traded a bunch of posters for different ones.

Yup, John, just go with the flow. It'll be less painful.

100 Word Stories

What's That On the Horizon?

Milk Wood

She sat there and watched the horizon. The view was stunning. She closed her eyes and waited. She didn't know what she was waiting for. She just knew she had to be there. And she sat for a long time.

A dog barked far away and she snapped out of her hypnotic state. The horizon was still there, the view still stunning.

And then she knew why she had to sit there, waiting.

She knew she had to learn that despite everything she was going through, she could still come back and sit down, quietly, peacefully, and be. Just be.

100 Word Stories

Hand

Kronbelt

The hand, the foot, the wall. Don't do it. But they did. A hand, a foot, a wall. Just any wall, just any foot, just any hand. The drawings held the secret, they said. And everyone believed them. We found them. And everyone believed them. They are centuries old. Everyone stared in awe. Scientists came from the capital to check and re-check the wall. And they believed them. By then, it was too late. They couldn't say a word. The hand, the foot, the wall... Tourists loved them. Locals loved them even more. Money and jobs. Yes, money and jobs.

100 Word Stories

Don't Press the Button!

Time Remains

"This is a camera. It takes snapshots as all cameras do. However, this is not a real camera," said the seller, smiling.

The client frowned.

"This is a mind-reader."

The client chuckled.

"You don't believe it."

The client shook his head, a sneer on his lips.

"Whatever you do, don't press the red button. This is how it works."

The client held the camera and he just had to... Click.

A snapshot slowly slid out of the camera.

The last thing the seller saw, a mask of horror on his face, was his own death on the client's mind snapshot.

100 Word Stories

Stay Safe

France Portnawak

"Stay safe and enjoy the trip."

He repeated these words in his mind, over and over again, while trying to keep his head above the icy water. He knew he didn't have much time left.

"Stay safe and enjoy."

And it had been very enjoyable. Very enjoyable, he repeated in his mind.

Good music, good food, nice company. Very nice.

"Stay and enjoy. How nice."

The water was so cold. He couldn't see anything. He could hear people around him, crying and yelling.

"Stay, be nice."

And he felt he was so far away. It was strange.

"Stay... Stay... Nice..."

100 Word Stories

List

Kingpost

"Attention! Today's specials!" said the innkeeper.

The room lit up with enthusiasm.

"Fish and apples!"

A murmur of disappointment...

"Fish, apples AND seagull!"

The crowd went back to the usual chatter, uninterested.

"... and RUM!"

A roar of eagerness thundered throughout the room.

"The fish is fresh and.."

Everyone laughed.

"Well, the rum is OK..."

A round of lively applause.

The innkeeper was sweating profusely by then.

In fact, the rum was the cheapest he could find.

Let's just say the evening ended with him bobbing away inside a barrel, doused in his own rum.

Luckily, they didn't light him up.

100 Word Stories

When Will It Stop Raining

Hestium

When will it stop raining?

When will they be able to stop wearing those silly helmets that didn't let them breathe properly?

The people at the monastery couldn't care less, and he admired them for that.

They disregarded the compulsory quarantine, saying they had to help the ones in need.

They made offerings to some obscure entity and they didn't care about the rain.

That's why they walked around wrapped in this odd material they had come up with themselves, and only at night.

When will it stop raining, he thought. He wanted to go and become one of them.

100 Word Stories