Week 647 of #ThursThreads was a success, and y’all never disappoint. Thank you to everyone who writes each week. You are why we’re still doing this, and why we’ve made it 12 YEARS!
If you’ve just found us, welcome to the crew! May you come back again and write more great flash. A thousand thanks to George Varhalmi for judging this week. Follow Siobhan Muir on Bluesky or check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on Facebook or the #ThursThreads Group on MeWe to keep up with news, etc.
Entries:
- Bill Engleson
- Siobhan Muir
- Silver James
- Mark A. Morris
- Eric Martell
- Kelly Heinen
- Mark Ethridge
- David A. Ludwig
- K.R. Van Horn
Honorable Mentions
Mark A. Morris | Website
George says: First off, I really like how the prompt was broken up with the protagonist catching themselves midstream to change the subject even temporarily. Secondly, the loneliness of isolation and waiting to be found really came through in the tale. In the end there is a glimmer of hope that even the mundane could be unique in the cold darkness of space. Mark, thank you for the enjoyable tale. It was nicely done.
K.R. Van Horn | Website
George says: With all of the anger in the world, what is one more thought to compile the tension. In a society that is becoming self-absorbed what is the breaking point and maybe for the protagonist it’s about the next fight. In part, I feel sad for them because maybe instead of the hammer they need the carrot to find the common ground. So, what will it be, Garcia? The tale had a nice intense pace for a crazy world and maybe tomorrow will be different. Thanks K.R. for the intense tale.
winner announcement
Week 647 Winner
George says: What a sad and remorseful tale filled with lost happiness. We all need to learn to listen before we jump into the conversation. I know I am still learning and some days I am better than others and that is why it drew me as the winning story of the week. It’s a great tale, Bill, with the simple reminder to cherish each of the moments in our lives. Thank you for writing it, I really enjoyed from beginning to end.
Leilani Moon
If she were still here, I could ask her thoughts. I know what she would say. But even if I did know, I would never give them voice.
I once had a bad habit of finishing her sentences, even if they weren’t quite what she meant to say. So it was not unusual for her to snap back and instruct me directly, “Don’t do that you big galumph.”
Sometimes her command to stop would be accompanied by a smile. I craved that smile. Occasionally I imagined the smile was there even when it wasn’t.
Whatever the subject was that we were discussing and often it was politics, we usually were in accord. I thought at the time, before I got wiser, that finishing her sentences was a sign of our shared beliefs, proof that I knew what she stood for. My parents had been like that, but more often than not, it was my mother who completed my father’s sentences. He was not a talkative fellow and my impression was that he appreciated the effort my mother put in to assist him to finish his thought.
I once explained this to Leilani, explained how I was raised, the love that I thought my parent’s shared. She looked at me as if I never buttered bread or cooked with spices. In other words, that I was lacking some of the key ingredients to make her happy.
I see her image in the night moon now.
And I am speechless.
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Congratulations THIRTY-FIVE TIME WINNER Bill, and Honorable Mentions Mark and K.R! Don’t forget to claim your badges and display them with pride. You certainly earned it!
Pass on the great news on Facebook, MeWe, Bluesky, Mastodon, shiny mirrors, Morse Code, and signal flags. Check out all the original tales HERE. Thanks for stopping by and happy reading! 🙂
