Week 423 of #ThursThreads had many fantastic tales. I’m honored to see all the writers come to tie a tale as we start our ninth year. If you’ve been doing it a while, thank you for sticking with us. If you’ve just found us, welcome! May you come back again and write more great flash. Thousand thanks to Kaylee Haynes for judging this week. Check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on Facebook or the #ThursThreads Group on MeWe to keep up with news, etc.
Entries:
- Silver James | @SilverJames_
- Mark A. Morris
- Teresa Eccles | @TeresaMEccles
- Bill Engleson | @billmelaterplea
- Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir
- Patty Dump | @pattydump1
- Charlene Mertz | @rrats1231
- David A. Ludwig | @DavidALudwig
- Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil
Honorable Mentions
Teresa Eccles | @TeresaMEccles
Kaylee says: I had no idea what was going on in this story until the end. I loved that it was a kids birthday party!
Bill Engleson | @billmelaterplea
Kaylee says: This one made me laugh. It speaks to me with everything going on in the world and puts a lighter touch to everything.
winner announcement
Week 423 Winner
Kaylee says: Her story surprised me at the end. I was expecting it to go the other way. I was proud of Jen for sticking up for her self when she was under and shocked with the ending. It left me wanting to know what happened.
“You think you’re so smart.”
I stared at Brian. What were we, four and seven again? “No. I don’t think I’m smart, I know I am.”
Brian had always been a bully. And like most bullies, he managed to hide it from the people who could do something about it, like our parents. As if they would, I reminded myself. Brian was the apple of my dad’s eye, a chip off the old block. And Mom? I stopped that thought dead in its tracks. Going down that road was a bad trip.
“Shut it, Jen. I’m not putting up with your lip today.”
“My lip?” I worked hard to lock my jaw so it didn’t drop. “In case you haven’t noticed, Brian, I’m a grown woman. And devolving to your level, you are not the boss of me.”
His fist clenched but I managed not to flinch. He hadn’t hit me since I was twelve. I’d put a stop to that when I grabbed his baseball bat and swung for the fences. That bat connected with his ribs. The memory of the sound of those ribs cracking still made me nauseous. Dad explained Brian’s injuries by telling the ER staff he’d fallen out of a tree. They left me at home because explaining my black eye and split lip? Anyway. I was no longer afraid of my older brother.
“Do what I say, Jen.” He glared down at me. “Or else.”
“Or else what?”
I never saw what hit me.
~~~~~~~
Congratulations FORTY-THREE TIME WINNER Silver, and Honorable Mentions Teresa and Bill! Don’t forget to claim your badges and display them with pride. You certainly earned it!
Pass on the great news on Twitter, Facebook, MeWe, shiny mirrors, Morse Code, and signal flags. Check out all the original tales HERE. Thanks for stopping by and happy reading! 🙂
