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Entries for the Micro Fiction Challenge 2022 and Drabble Activity 2024. |
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Short stories of 100 words exactly, written for the Micro Fiction Challenge, 2022, the Drabble Activity 2024, plus a few for my own benefit. |
| Park Bench She was sitting on a park bench in the gathering twilight. Lost in thought, she gave no indication of leaving soon. I approached openly and gestured at the other end of the bench. She nodded in answer to my unspoken question. I sat down. I waited a while before opening the conversation. “It’s late to be in the park.” She looked at me. “Should I be worried?” “Perhaps,” I answered. “Bad things happen in the park at night.” “Are you one of them?” she asked. “No.” “But I might be.” She smiled and I saw the flash of her fangs. Word count: 100 For Intuey’s Newsfeed Challenge, September 2024 Prompt: Write a 100 word story. |
| Sniper Arnold could see the enemy, heavily camouflaged, creeping through the bushes towards his position. The nervous, surreptitious movement of foliage gave the guy away. Arnold barked out a challenge. “Halt! Who goes there?” The enemy froze into immediate immobility. Arnold aimed his rifle carefully at the silent shape. He squeezed the trigger. BANG! The head jerked but then continued to crawl forwards. “You’re dead,” shouted Arnold indignantly. “Missed,” came the answer. “Did not.” “It’s just a flesh wound.” Arnold sighed in frustration. “If you’re going to argue every time you get shot, I’ll find someone else to play with, Jimmy.” Word count: 100 For Drabble Activity 2024, Week 10 Prompt: Write a drabble that is a story (so it has a beginning, middle and end, and a conflict) and a work of fiction (so not a memoir or true tale). |
| Literary Frippery I remember H Rider Haggard, in the sixties thought a blackguard for writing books that were fun, as if that should never be done. I considered then the voice of that Irishman James Joyce, but most of Finnegan’s Wake was so dense it made my mind ache. I found refuge in Sir Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes and Doc Watson his foil ; George Orwell kept me from harm with his tale of the Animal Farm. But best of them all was Lewis. sharp, clear, never tortuous, and, though you will think me balmier, I am happy to be here in Narnia. Word count: 100 For Drabble Activity 2024, Week 9 Prompt: A rhyming poem of 100 words. |
| Every Breath You Take 1983. Jerry and his girlfriend, Stella, were talking music again. “I love that song by the Police, I’ll Be Watching You,” said Jerry. “You mean Every Breath You Take.” Stella paid attention to titles. “You sure? I thought it was I’ll Be Watching You.” “Evidently.” Stella was becoming used to these disagreements over titles. Jerry shrugged. “Okay, I know you’re always right. But the point is, do you like it? It’s so romantic.” “Yeah, pretty good. Not sure I’d want Sting to sing it to me though.” Jerry was quiet. He wasn’t sure he liked the idea of such competition. Word count: 100 First in a trio of related drabbles For Drabble Activity 2024, Week 8 Prompt: Write 3 drabbles related to one another, and yet each able to stand on their own. ––ooOoo—- I’ll Be Watching You 1993. Jerry and Stella, now married and relaxing in their apartment. The radio is playing softly in the background. Jerry reaches across and turns up the volume. “Hey listen, Stella. It’s that old song, I’ll Be Watching You.” Stella looks up from the book she’s reading. “It’s actually Every Breath You Take. But you’re right in a way - it should be called I’ll Be Watching You.” “Why?” “Well, it’s the words. They’re kinda creepy. It could be about stalking.” Jerry is quiet for a few moments, then, “Hmm, you might be right.” “You should know by now, I always am.” Word count: 100 Second in the trio For Drabble Activity 2024, Week 8 —-ooOoo—- Sting 2003 and Sting is being interviewed on the television. Both look to be in their fifties, although Sting is still tanned and fit. “So Sting, what about the controversial song?” “Which one is that?” Sting looks mildly interested. “Oh, you know, the one everyone thought was so romantic. And then somebody said it was creepy. Thought it was about a stalker.” “Ah, you mean Every Breath You Take.” Sting smiles wryly. “Yes, that’s it. So which is it, romantic or creepy?” “Think about it for a moment. The repeating words, ‘I’ll be watchin’ you.’ It was always about a stalker.” Word count: 100 Third in the trio For Drabble Activity, Week 8 —-ooOoo—- |
| Friendship Spurned Through my father, I came to love Staffordshire Bull Terriers. The only other breeds he ever owned were Bull Terriers and a lone Boxer. The Boxer, a female, was harmless and friendly. Her size made her appear as fierce as the tougher dogs my father preferred, however. This our local milkman found out one day. Our Boxer, in the mood for play, went lolloping after him and he went into full retreat, throwing milk bottles at her in terror as he ran. I was too young at the time to know that I should not find the sight immensely funny. Word count: 100 For Drabble Activity 2024, Week 7 Prompt: A non-fiction work. Essay, memoir, op-ed: creative nonfiction (not just a regurgitation of facts). |
| Bactrian Ways Victorian explorer, Charles Fitzgerald, proposed crossing the desert in search of the lost city of Merzuh. To do this, he would need a camel so, at the first opportunity, he visited Mustapha Leek, the local camel dealer. They soon settled on a suitable beast but Mustapha warned of the idiosyncrasies of camels in general. He explained, “If you annoy them at all, they will not hesitate to spit back.” “We’ll see about that,” replied Charles, producing a sword from his backpack and skewering the camel. Mustapha was shocked. “Why did you do that?” “Just showing it I can spit too.” Word count: 100 For Drabble Activity 2024, Week 6 Prompt: An animal or plant must be central to the story. |
| Waiting in Line Two spirits, Hank and Bubba, were waiting for admission at the pearly gates. Hank turned to Bubba. “I fell off a cliff. What happened to you?” he asked. “How come you’re dead?” “Shipwreck,” replied Bubba. “I was left in the middle of the Pacific on a raft with only two other survivors.” “Ah, so you died of starvation.” “No, we drew lots and decided to eat Jim.” “Good grief,” said Hank. “That’s desperation indeed. But surely that would keep you alive?” “It did,” answered Bubba. “So what happened? How did you die?” “Stupidity. I died of thirst the next day.” Word count: 100 For Drabble Activity 2024, Week 5 Prompt: A story involving a crime – murder, robbery (theft) or embezzlement. |
| A Green Balloon A few days ago, a green balloon floated by my window. I rushed to the window to see what was happening. Far below, a small child was crying in the street as his mother attempted to comfort him. I ran downstairs, out the front door and around the corner to Fred’s Toy Shop. “Quick, have you got any green balloons?” I asked. Fred sold me one and I dashed out of the shop to find the child and his mother. I gave him the balloon. He burst into tears again. “He didn’t like that colour the first time,” she said. House Martell Word count: 100 For "Game of Thrones"  Westeros, Citadel Task 95Prompt: Write two Micro-Fiction stories in exactly 100 words. Use the following prompts: Story #1: A black cat; Story #2: A green balloon floats by your window. |
| A Black Cat Lucky enjoyed living up to his nickname. Although not exactly superstitious, he was aware that it would be foolish to tempt fate. You would not find him showing off to his friends by walking underneath a ladder, for instance. Thus it was, when he saw a black cat crossing his intended path one day, he immediately decided to use a different route to his ultimate destination. His brother, Buddy, on his way to identifying the body, decided that it was mere coincidence that Lucky’s changed path took him past the zoo, where a black panther had escaped only minutes beforehand. House Martell Word count: 100 For "Game of Thrones" Westeros, Citadel Task # 95Prompt: Write two Micro-Fiction stories in exactly 100 words. Use the following prompts: Story #1: A black cat; Story #2: A green balloon floats by your window. |
| Unexpected Visit “Say, declare yourself, that go sneaking in the darkness of night upon my humble campfire.” Fidelius stood resolute, having been raised to alertness by the cracking of a twig in the gloom. “No need for guarded words,” came the answering voice. “‘Tis I, Sinistrius, that seeks you here. Nature teaches beasts to know their friends, and we are surely higher than beasts.” Fidelius stepped forward, arms wide to greet his friend, all his fears at rest. Sinistrius appeared in the firelight, sword raised in hand, and drove the blade into Fidelius’ chest. “And some are lower,” said the dying Fidelius. Word count: 100 For Drabble Activity 2024, Week 4 Prompt: Use a quote (or quotes) from William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, or Jane Austen (highlight the quote/s in bold). Quote selected from Coriolanus by William Shakespeare. |
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