43 responses to “Microcosms 11”

1. 

   Bill Engleson

   11 March 2016

   Jolson

   Every day, blood drained from Jolson.

   He needed replenishing.

   “This town will suck you dry, my sweet,” she had said.

   “The KKK are merciless,” he had screamed. “They snipe, and say I am a traitor to my race. And then they strut and sneer and say, “What else would you expect?”

   “Well, I’m not the apple of their jaundiced hateful eyes, am I?”

   “But you are mine. Oh, do sing Avalon, please?”

   “I will. Touch up my blackface, I’m feeling drained.”

   “Strange, isn’t it, Asa? Murnau wants you to travel all the way to Europe to play Nosferatu. If he only knew of your Lithuanian roots, he would just die.”

   110 totally imaginative renderings of the great Al Jolson (The World’s Greatest Entertainer)
   @billmelaterplea
   Vampire; New York; Fantasy

   Reply
   1. 

      Geoff Holme

      11 March 2016

      Yet another aspect of your encyclopaedic knowledge, Bill. Fantastic… literally!
      [ ‘Strange, isn’t IT, Asa?’ surely? But that would take your ‘totally imaginative renderings of the great Al Jolson (The World’s Greatest Entertainer)’ over the limit… Drat! 🙁 ]

      Reply
      1. 

         Bill Engleson

         11 March 2016

         Much appreciated, Geoff. You would make a fine IT guy.
      2. 

         Geoff Holme

         11 March 2016

         Spooky – I was in IT for 25 years…
   2. 

      Bill Engleson

      11 March 2016

      It has been brought to my attention in the best way possible that my last paragraphian sentence begins “Strange, isn’t Asa?” seems to have dropped “it.” “It” would thrust me over the 110 word threshold. If a kind host would consider adding “it” and , say, dropping “the” from the first sentence of this unworthy effort, thus transforming it to “Every day, blood drained from Jolson,” well that might do just fine. Thank you.

      Reply
      1. 

         zwoodle

         11 March 2016

         Done. Please let me know if it looks okay. 🙂
      2. 

         Bill Engleson

         11 March 2016

         It has brought colour to my aging cheeks. Thank you and to Geoff for the edit rescue.
2. 

   Avalina Kreska

   11 March 2016

   @KreskaFiction
   farmer/orchard/romance (what an amazing coincidental spin!!!)
   109 beautiful round globes

   Title: Stupid Cupid?

   ‘These love trees are faulty,’ said Simon the Head Gardener from ‘Love Trees Are US’.
   ‘It’s the bees, they’re declining in numbers,’ said Evelyn the Company Secretary; who’d had a secret crush on Simon for years.
   ‘Pollination problems?’ said Frank, the Sales Manager who had fancied Evelyn ever since she wore that flimsy dress on ‘Open Day’.
   ‘Global dimming – it’s something I saw on TV. The Earth is actually cooling…’ said Lynette the Invoice Clerk, who’d asked Frank out on a date before realising he only had eyes for Evelyn.
   ‘Maybe the grafting went wrong?’ said Mark the Groundsman – who couldn’t work out if Simon was gay or not.

   Reply
   1. 

      Avalina Kreska

      11 March 2016

      sorry, can you change ‘who’ to ‘who’d’ had a secret crush on Simon for years…I’ll love yer forever…

      Reply
      1. 

         Avalina Kreska

         11 March 2016

         ach!!!! I also have another spelling mistake – an added ‘he’ in line three…and a rogue semi-colon in line four after ‘Frank’ – oh boy – I promise to sweep ‘love petals’ into a pile forever…
      2. 

         Geoff Holme

         11 March 2016

         How about ‘…WHO’D asked Frank out…’ as well, Avalina. Convoluted love matrix playing havoc with your synapses? Great take.

         Are the capital letters in ‘Love Trees Are US’ meant to tie the story back to Johnny Appleseed? 🙂
      3. 

         Avalina Kreska

         11 March 2016

         Thanks Geoff. 🙂
      4. 

         zwoodle

         11 March 2016

         Done, done – and done! (Looking at Geoff’s comment, I assumed you’d probably want that one, as well.) Please let me know if it looks okay, now. 🙂
      5. 

         Avalina Kreska

         11 March 2016

         Good idea of Geoff’s – can you change the other who’d too? My menopausal brain had paused this morning. If you’re gonna stick comma’s in after their names then I guess we’d better have them all matching!! Thanks ever so, don’t want to hog the show…
   2. 

      Daisy Warwick

      12 March 2016

      I really enjoyed this Avalina! It’s great how you managed to get such a twisted office love affair into so few words. Great stuff!

      Reply
      1. 

         Avalina Kreska

         14 March 2016

         Thanks Daisy!
3. 

   Stephen Shirres

   11 March 2016

   Honeytrap Apples
   by @The_Red_Fleece
   I hate this part of my job. The ladyship doesn’t need her orchard protecting at night. She’s lost more gardeners than apples since the trees were planted ninety years ago. “But they keep me alive dear,” she says.
   A footstep on damn grass echoes through the darkness. I run after the noise. A short figure, hooded in black, is reaching towards one of the apples.
   “Stop. These apples are protected.” By me, I want to add but that isn’t much of a threat.
   The figure does as I ask before walking towards me. “I know dear. I’m not here for one of my apples. I’m here for you.”

   Word Count = 108
   Gardener/orchard/horror.

   Reply
4. 

   dana faletti

   11 March 2016

   @danafaletti
   109 words
   Shinigami, Luau, Romance

   Eve’s Dark Desire

   You caught me by surprise this dewy morning in Luau garden.
   With crimson-tinged talons and rheumy eyes, you slid from behind the forbidden tree.
   “Delicious,” you hissed. “Just like you, Evie.”
   Blush burned my cheeks as my gaze fell from your velvet eyes to the blood-red fruit in your palm.
   Heart-shaped and glossy, it was as if you were offering a part of yourself.
   How could I have refused?
   I sank my teeth into its shiny flesh, imagining the taste of you.
   A pulsing sweetness flooded my senses.
   I gave myself over to your lusciousness, and, for just one moment in paradise, it felt sinfully good be bad.

   Reply
5. 

   Sal Page

   11 March 2016

   Crackling

   Simon leant against the trunk, with Doris’s head in his lap. They’d spent many afternoons here at the end of the garden; from the blossom drifting like confetti to apples hanging ripe and heavy above them.
   He stroked her head. Simon adored Doris but soon they would part forever. His parents had organised wife and wedding. An apple crashed to the ground at his side and wondered whether his wife could make apple sauce.
   Doris nibbled the toggles on his duffle-coat and, grunting, nuzzled him with her snout. As his hand played up and down her beautiful broad back, Simon drooled a little at the thought of her crackling.

   Pig-Garden-Romance
   @SalnPage
   110 words
   #FlashDog

   Reply
   1. 

      Sal Page

      11 March 2016

      There really should be a ‘he’ before ‘wondered’ in the second paragraph if it can be changed. Though I do like the concept of apples wondering anything. Do apples think about apple sauce? Probably not. Though who knows what goes on in the core of an apple’s being.

      Reply
      1. 

         Geoff Holme

         11 March 2016

         But, dear Sal, like Bill before you, you say your word count is already 110. Why not a full stop after ‘side’ then change ‘and wondered…’ to ‘He wondered…’? (Perhaps I should stop proof-reading and think about entering. 🙁 )
         [I’ve been veggie for since mid-1970s… Anyone beat that?]
      2. 

         Sal Page

         11 March 2016

         BUT the missing ‘he’ was part of the 110 word count. AND your suggestion is what I changed it from last minute.
      3. 

         KM Zafari

         11 March 2016

         Wow! So many vegetarians! 23 years for me. 🙂
   2. 

      Bill Engleson

      11 March 2016

      The vegetarian in me is simultaneously horrified and pleased. Awkward…foe me but a delight to read.

      Reply
      1. 

         Sal Page

         11 March 2016

         Thanks Bill. I haven’t eaten meat for nearly twenty years myself but I also know many people love pigs … especially eating them! 😉
      2. 

         Stella Turner

         12 March 2016

         Mmmm wonder who that is ? 🙂
6. 

   Holly Geely

   11 March 2016

   Lu-ouch
   @hollygeely
   110 words
   Shinigami, luau, romance

   “You’ll be gone soon. Tell her,” Bill urged me.

   “Even if I’ve got a chance, it’s too late,” I said.

   Bill put his heart into this luau-theme going away party. I’m not a party person, especially when there’s a pig with an apple in its mouth, but the dancing!

   That’s why I tripped.

   The dark figure laughs. “Burning coals? Really?”

   He has many names. I was an anime nerd in high school so I’ll call him “shinigami.”

   “There was a fire pit.”

   “Clumsy Lila.” He hands me a key. “This is your second chance,” he says.

   I wake up with Sylvie at my side.

   I promise I won’t waste it.

   Reply
   1. 

      Bill Engleson

      11 March 2016

      As a “Bill,” I appreciate any opportunity to move Flash Fiction and romance along.

      Reply
7. 

   Daisy Warwick

   11 March 2016

   @WarwickDaisy
   Princess/ Motel/ Mystery
   Mirror Mirror…
   Words – 110

   Being inebriated, Alan didn’t instantly register that a woman wearing a wide-bottomed dress was stepping through the cracked mirror hanging on the back of his motel bedroom door.
   “Help!” she cried.
   “I’m not dreaming?” he gasped.
   “Help me!” she demanded.
   “With what?” he asked, rubbing his head and wondering if he’d locked the door. Maybe the ‘Princess’ was on a hen party, and lost?
   “Mother is at it again!” she cried.
   “Heh?” he said, pulling the sheets over his furry beer-gut.
   “Poisonous apples! Do I really have to explain?”
   “Um… Do you want a banana instead?” he said, pointing to the withered fruit sitting on top of his open suitcase.

   Reply
8. 

   thebatinthehat

   11 March 2016

   Leilani
   109 words
   @thebatinthehat
   Shinigami, luau, romance
   (I run the site, so this is just for fun.)

   His leathery wings folded as he landed on the shore. These beaches were different than the starry sands of Okinawa – even his ancient feet could feel that. He buried his toes in their velvety softness before unfurling a small scroll.

   Yoshimoto-san: chokes on kalua pua’a, 7:37 p.m.

   Tourists filled their plates as Leilani took the stage. Hibiscus in her hair, enchanting smile. He watched, mesmerized by the sway of her hips…

   A butterfly fluttered by with a new scroll.

   “No…” He checked his watch. 7:38 p.m. “Please,” he pleaded. “Not this time.”

   Leilani: drowns in the ocean, 9:21 p.m.

   There were always consequences.

   Reply
9. 

   A.J. Walker

   11 March 2016

   Love and Death on a Wet Friday in Droyslden
   A.J. Walker

   There had been an administrative cock-up. Stella, a Japanese death god, had arrived at the Frog & Bucket in Droylsden to lead old Mr Yashimoto to the next world.

   Geoff, a Hindu Love God (Tameside Branch), was also there to introduce Yash to an exciting new era in his life: Romance.

   The Bucket was mid luau party – which largely comprised Hawaiian shirts, lurid cocktails and culturally embarrassing music – so no-one noticed the two minor deities sat puzzling over their paperwork. After a jug of mojitos they eventually shook hands to their compromise deal.

   Yash’s body was to be found wearing only a flower garland and an insanely wide grin.

   —
   WC:110
   shinigami/luau/romance

   Reply
   1. 

      Geoff Holme

      11 March 2016

      You rose to the challenge of the tricky given elements wonderfully, AJ. But “Geoff” a Hindu Love God? Does not compute…

      Reading your title, I made a mental note to point out the typo, but you managed to spell ‘Droylsden’ correctly in the story. Nice bit of bathos there!

      (That name always takes me back to my childhood: my Auntie Olive had a ‘corner’ shop in the front room of her terraced house in Hindley Green. Robertson’s had their jam factory in Droylsden – before gollywogs became non-PC, it was in the address to which you had to send your collection of paper gollywogs (tucked in the label at the back of the jars) to get gollywog enamel badges and, later, pottery figurines… innocent times. 🙂 )

      Reply
      1. 

         Stella Turner

         11 March 2016

         @stellakateT
         #FlashDog
         109 words
         Princess/New York/ Horror

         Legacy of King Kong

         He’d followed her all day; he was good at this, with her cute English accent, tight blonde curls and lips you just wanted to kiss. Empire state building now, he could hear her telling her friends about King Kong scaling the heights seeking the blonde beauty and falling to his death. God she looked like Princess Di, but didn’t all British girls. He touched her arm and as she swung round he stabbed her with the thinnest sharpest stiletto he’d ever possessed. She hardly murmured, slumped gracefully against one of her friends, a tiny rivulet of rosy red blood staining the satin of her blouse. One classy dead girl.
      2. 

         Stella Turner

         11 March 2016

         whoops how did my 109 words end up here…. Sorry !!
10. 

    Stephanie Ellis

    11 March 2016

    Spring Planting

    108 words
    elements: gardener, hospital, horror

    @el_Stevie
    #FlashDog

    The sound of digging caught George’s attention. Trespassers were forbidden. He had only just finished tending the hospital’s memorial garden and now an intruder was crouching over his freshly-tilled beds. It was Matthew, the mortuary technician, the bane of his life.

    “You said you needed a hand,” he said.

    George moved nearer. Saw Matthew burying a severed arm in the soil. He grinned, the joke was good … but he knew a better one.

    “Actually,” he said. “What I really need are more bodies in the garden.”

    “Now that,” said Matthew, “may be difficult.”

    The tines on George’s pitchfork glinted in the dark. “Not at all,” he said.

    Reply
11. 

    CR Smith

    11 March 2016

    @carolrosalind WC 109 Vampire/Orchard/Horror

    Bloody Apples
    Something was wrong with him! He’d followed his training, seduced his victim, whisked her off to a secluded spot, only to find he couldn’t bring himself to drink her blood. The problem was the taste — he didn’t like it!

    But who could he tell? He’d be the butt of every joke. Vampires for Dummies was useless — as much good as telling Grandma how to bite eggs.

    Exiling himself to the orchard, he satisfied his natural inclination, biting into apple after apple. Until, just before dawn, a milk maid passed by. Sinking his teeth into her neck, he found thick, warm blood mixed with apple juice was a big improvement.

    Reply
12. 

    Stella Turner

    11 March 2016

    @stellakateT
    #FlashDog
    109 words
    Princess/New York/ Horror

    Legacy of King Kong

    He’d followed her all day; he was good at this, with her cute English accent, tight blonde curls and lips you just wanted to kiss. Empire state building now, he could hear her telling her friends about King Kong scaling the heights seeking the blonde beauty and falling to his death. God she looked like Princess Di, but didn’t all British girls. He touched her arm and as she swung round he stabbed her with the thinnest sharpest stiletto he’d ever possessed. She hardly murmured, slumped gracefully against one of her friends, a tiny rivulet of rosy red blood staining the satin of her blouse. One classy dead girl.

    Reply
13. 

    Meg Kovalik

    11 March 2016

    @meg_mediocre
    110 words
    Elements: shinigami; luau; romance

    Change of Heart

    The lore was clear: the crone had complied many times, whispering to the worst side of her victims until they drove themselves to suicide. She never questioned why.

    But this was too much.

    As she sailed through the vibrant cacophony of the farm-warming luau those she brushed against shivered and drew closer to the fire pit. She ignored them, consumed with horror for her intended victim.

    A baby.

    He looked into her soul and graspingly giggled his joyful exuberance.

    “No,” she wept, “not this time.”

    As she curled around his heart she vowed to whisper love, to be his lucky charm for a long and prosperous life.

    Lore be damned.

    Reply
14. 

    Craig A

    11 March 2016

    Hot Date

    Mindy noticed a young man with his hood up in the corner. He had a slender build and a gothic vibe. Yummy!

    She glided across the dance floor, ignoring the traditional fire dance. It was pure fluff, meant for the tourists.

    As she got closer she glanced at his face, but the dancing shadows obscured her view. She’d just have to get closer.

    She sidled up next to him, “Hi there. Are you here with someone?”
    His voice was deep and hollow, “Actually, I came here to meet you.”

    Her heart beat faster. Then she saw the hollow eyes.

    She turned to run, but the flames were faster.

    108 words
    @todayschapter
    Elements: shinigami; luau; romance

    Reply
15. 

    Brady Koch

    11 March 2016

    Mountain Path

    At this distance she could no longer hear the pulsing music from the luau below but could still see the fire dancers. The spinning flames circled around and around, reminding her of the wedding band on her finger.

    She turned back to the vague, thin man beckoning her up the mountain. Always far enough away to only make out his toothy grin. She walked farther up the hill, her husband’s ashes in their pouch bouncing against her thigh. She knew where the smiling guide was leading her. She was willing to go there. Up to the mouth of the volcano where she would join her husband in the next world.

    110 words
    @bradythewriter
    Elements: shinigami; luau; romance

    Reply
16. 

    Tricia De Jesus (@PhynneBelle)

    12 March 2016

    Red Lacquers
    @PhynneBelle
    student/Halloween/fantasy
    110 words

    Happy Samhain! Every inch of the school structure was festooned with facsimiles of an archaic pagan ritual. In every fourth entryway stood virtual apple-bobbing stations. Each apple was a perfect red, lacquered, replica of the other, suspended hypnotically in mid-air. Mar’Quan groaned inwardly as another upperclassman sailed by, smugly sporting the latest trend: a holographic whirl-a-matic that changed your All Hallow’s costume every hour, the whole span of a planetary rotation. To the tune of a circa 1980s song no less!

    Mar’quan imagined she wouldn’t detest this annual ritual if she possessed what every other cosseted teen citizen of this establishment did: an Exalted National’s line of gold. Unfortunately, only First Descendant children were entitled to this.

    Not Mar’Quan and her sad secondhand plastic apples.

    Reply
17. Honeytrap Apples – Author's Notes – The Red Fleece

    21 March 2016

    […] I entered my third Microcosms tale of flash fiction last week with my 108 word tale Honeytrap Apples. As always with Microcosms I had to use the three prompt to craft my story and as usual I got mine from their spinner as their suggested were quite hard – their words not mine! The three I got were: […]

    Reply
18. The Shinigami – LearaWrites

    23 April 2016

    […] Written for Microcosms (11) though I missed the deadline. Prompts were Shinigami/Luau/Romance. WC 109. Photo from […]

    Reply

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