Patricia M Osborne

Today’s challenger to write a story in less than one hundred words comes from writer Helen Ellwood. Helen’s story is Rescue and you can read it below.

I don’t know why we’ve been shut in this cardboard box. My kittens are crying. Someone is carrying us somewhere, without care. I smell water, hear birdsong. The canal? The box is on the ground now. A pause. Heavy footsteps walk away.

It’s dark and I can’t escape. My babies crawl under me. I comfort them, but I’m afraid.

Sunlight is bright as the box is opened. A human girl picks me up and holds me to her heart. Her friend picks up my kittens. The girls are crying, but my heart sings with joy.

We are safe.

98 words

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To find out more about Helen’s writing you can visit her blog here.

 

Andrew Roberts is our latest writer to take up the challenge to write a story in less than one hundred words. You can read Andrew’s story, A Storm is Coming, below.

A storm is coming. I feel it as I drive to work. I don’t feel prepared for it. I don’t think I want to be at work with it looming. That’s all I ever am; at work. Although it doesn’t mean I’m working.

I’ve not got much holiday. Four weeks a year. It just isn’t enough. I’m stuck here. I’m probably about to be fired. I don’t care. I’ve had enough. The storm will make it worse.

Perhaps I should leave. It won’t prepare me for the storm, but I can enjoy myself before it hits.

I turn around.

99 words

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I think we can all feel that storm ahead. What do you think?

You can find out more about Andrew’s writing by visiting his blog here.

Today’s challenger is Stuart Pereira and his response to the challenge to ‘write a story in less than one hundred words’ comes in the form of Perfect Day. I like the sound of that. You can read Perfect Day below.

Dave watches his float for signs of a nibble, an electric blue Damselfly hovers close to the fat frog basking on a lily pad. Long, sticky, frog-tongue flashes. The blue light is extinguished.

The grass snake slithers silently into the shallows, threading through the tall, yellow-flowered Flag Irises. She strikes from behind. It’s over in a heartbeat.

Frog clamped in her jaws, she swims for the shore. A stroke short of the bank the pike pounces, swallows snake and victim in a single gulp.

Three hours later, Dave reels in the pike.

Perfect end to a perfect day.

98 words

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I thought this story had some beautiful language. The rhythm in Stuart’s sentences and wonderful images conjure up relaxation. What do you think?

Steve Barnett is the next writer to take up the challenge to write a story in less than one hundred words. His response comes in the form of Tick, Clonk which may be read below.

The writer’s mind ticked. His tongue clicked. Stretching his fingers, he made motions to type. They lacked direction. He sat comfortably in his bed waiting for inspiration to spring. The door handle clonked.

‘The potatoes are in the oven. I boiled them. They’ll be perfect,’ his girlfriend said. She lay next to him munching Wotsits.

I’ve no inspiration,’ The writer said, as he wrote mundane happenings hoping for inspiration to kiss.

‘How do you spell Wotsits?’ he asked.

She told him, then demanded to get a mention at the end of his story.

Thunder roared. Kelly.

96 words

Author Maggie Cobbett is the latest challenger to have a go at writing a story in less than one hundred words. Maggie’s story A Sisterly Put-Down may be read below.

VAUDEVILLE STARS RETURN TO HICKSVILLE AFTER FIVE YEARS! COME AND SEE VIOLET AND DAISY, THE AMAZING PIANO-PLAYING SIAMESE TWINS!

The girls were getting ready to perform when Violet said, ‘I think I’ll give that handsome deputy a call.’

‘The one you invited back to our room before?’ asked her sister. ‘When I had to pretend to read a book all night?’

‘That’s him.’

‘Get over yourself! As if he’d remember you after all this time!’

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75 words

Ha ha – hardly forgettable.

To find out more about Maggie and her writing you can visit her website here.

 

Today’s challenger is Anne Craig. Her response to the ‘Write a story in less than 100 words’ comes in the form of The Longing. You can read Anne’s story below.

Each evening I took out my needle and dreamt of a daughter. I stitched pure white lawn, creamy calico and fine merino wool into garments. Gingham brought a tear to my eye as I imagined my little sprite going to school.

John took it hard but we never talked about it after the first few years.

I gathered my fabric store and began a quilt. The final border, purple, from my funeral outfit. I won’t wear it again. I have my memories and only have to spread out my quilt to see the whole of my life before me.

99 words

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Well I’m sure you’ll all agree that was a bit of a weepy.

 

Today’s challenger is Karen Baker. Karen’s response to the challenge to ‘Write a story in less than one hundred words’ comes in the form of Skimming which you can read below.

It’s flat, smooth, shapely, sensual, and fits perfectly in my fingers, an extension of my right hand. Calm and motionless, I stand for a long meditative moment eyes closed.

Reminding myself of the Zen of this exercise with three deep intakes of breath, I turn sideways-on and take the correct stance, knees bent. Then raising my arm, elbow flexed, I lean with a slight sway that tests my balance.

My arm swing and wrist-flick catapult the stone across the water. One… two… three… four… five…

Yes!!

Still the same jubilation.

 

90 words

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To find out more about Karen and her writing you can visit her website here.

Our challenger today is author Janet Hardacre. Her response to the challenge ‘Write a story in less than one hundred words’ comes in the form of  Who am I. You can read Janet’s story below.

As Simon Granger entered the lobby of the Hotel Excelsior, he was not alone in wondering what this night would bring.

‘Good evening, Mr Granger’ greeted Miss Brandon the receptionist.

‘Good evening, Lou’ replied Simon knowing how annoyed she would be at this familiarity.

Louisa Brandon did not approve of his weekend performances in Lounge 69 of the Hotel Excelsior.

Simon Granger entered, but beautifully transformed three hours later, ’Simona Starlet, Greatest Drag Act in The South’ emerged. Breathing in as far as her corsets would allow, Simon preened into the mirror and whispered ‘Showtime.’

95 words

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Well I don’t know about you, but that one came as a bit of a surprise to me. What did you think?

Today’s challenger to ‘write a story in less than one hundred words’ is Geoff Parkes. Geoff’s response to the challenge comes in the form of Apple Vision which you can read below. Enjoy.

In the first age, I raged beneath the tree because I was too short to pluck the plump red apples there.

In the second age, I climbed the tree, smiled and sat branch-fast, munching and crunching sweet-juiced fruit.

In the third age, I cried as truth hit home. My enfeebled legs denied me apple time. But now I smile a sated, grateful smile. Let others feast; I know how apples taste.

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What a lovely story. Don’t you agree? 

 

 

Today’s story comes from challenger, Zowie Sweetland. Her response to the ‘Write a story in less than one hundred words’ is The Cloak which may be read below.  Enjoy.

As the mysterious cloak, which surrounded her waking mind, lifted, she realised that she was not where she expected to be. Cautiously, she peered out the window, at the leafy scene rushing by. Where was she? Why didn’t she recognise any of the scenery? She looked around the carriage, but it was empty, apart from a discarded water bottle. Never mind, she would check her phone and find out her location. Except, she couldn’t… her bag, which had only moments before, (or so it seemed to her), been next to her, was gone forever…

94 words

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Ooh another spooky one. I love how these prompts bring out a similar theme.