Author: Siobhan Muir

Week 588 of #ThursThreads, and y’all never disappoint. We’ve made it 11 years! Well done and thank you to everyone who writes each week. You made this happen. If you’ve just found us, welcome to the crew! You’re in good company. May you come back again and write more great flash. A thousand thanks to Mark Ethridge 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: Bill Engleson  Gora Shade Mark A. Morris J. Thomas Ganzer Silver James Sheilagh Lee  Cara Michaels David A. Ludwig Siobhan Muir  M.T. Decker  Honorable Mentions Mark A. Morris | Website Mark says: Technology run amuck. Kinda reminds me of other such stories, like Ghost in the Shell, and Robots. Gora Shade | Website Mark says: A deserved reward to a real estate agent. Although I wonder if the agent has a soul to be eaten. winner announcement Week 588 Winner J. Thomas Ganzer Mark says: Love how the AI can’t figure out what’s happening in the little story. A story of where AI could take us, if we’re not careful. Okay, don’t panic. Throat closing…don’t panic. What the hell did I eat? Shit. Phone, need my phone.Press 9911. Shit. 9111. Shit. Focus…911 “911. How may I direct your call?” “Amblanche. Help!” “Okay, I didn’t catch that ma’am, how can I assist you? And please, speak more clearly.” “Ambwants! Need help! I can’t bwee-“ “Ma’am, please calm down. How can I assist you? And please, speak more clearly.” How can this idiot be so calm, I’m dying here!“Can’t…bweet!! Allergee!” “Hmmm, let me find someone to assist.” I know that voice, that’s the same dude from half my reels. Why the hell is he- “911. How may I direct your call?” “I…can’t…”*gulp*“…bweeethe. Hep!” “Ma’am, I show that you live at the following address: 825 West Lindmore. Is that correct?” “YESSS!” “Great. We have many services, police, fire, ambulance, and poison control. Which service do you need?” I know that voice too, the other half of my reels. “Speak…to…a…oprato.” “Sorry, I didn’t catch that.” Christ, there has to be someone. One fucking human being. I’m fucking dying! “I nee-” … “It’s been thirty seconds with no response. We will send a patrol to check on you. Response times vary. Be advised this AI 911-auto response system is here for your convenience.”~~~~~~~ Congratulations Three Time Winner J. Thomas, and Honorable Mentions Mark, and Gora! 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! 🙂

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Week 587 of #ThursThreads, and y’all never disappoint. We’ve made it 11 years! Well done and thank you to everyone who writes each week. You made this happen. If you’ve just found us, welcome to the crew! You’re in good company. May you come back again and write more great flash. Check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on Facebook or the #ThursThreads Group on MeWe to keep up with news, etc. Entries: Bill Engleson  Mark A. Morris Cara Michaels Silver James Siobhan Muir  David A. Ludwig  Sheilagh Lee  Kelly Heinen M.T. Decker  Honorable Mention Bill Engleson | Website Siobhan says: Oh this one hits a little close to home. Miriam says “writing is a pleasure, not a torture.” But us writers only find that to be true part of the time. Great tale. winner announcement Week 587 Winner Cara Michaels Siobhan says: What made me love this tale was the vulnerability of John, and yet his inner core of strength. He’s the epitome of courage – doing something even in the face of anxiety and fear. And his chief of staff knew he’d find it. Great tale. There has to be someone—almost anyone in the palace, he should think—more qualified to address a nation. A nation angry and grieving. A nation demanding answers and leadership. Yet somehow it’s John walking up to the podium with his head high. His hands are shaking and he might conceivably black out at any moment, but he reaches the center of the room mostly upright and breathing. You’ll be fine. August’s “pep talk” game needs to level up if they’re seriously going to get through this together. A handwritten speech waits patiently on the podium, and John stares at someone else’s words. Thank you all for coming here today, and for watching wherever you are right now. Together we mourn the passing of our king in an act of senseless violence… It isn’t a terrible speech, per se. It’s bland. Safe. Guaranteed to inspire no one to rally behind John. John, the new crown prince, by virtue of there being literally no one in the succession left alive before him. John, the next king of a nation left trembling in the wake of a mass assassination. Together we mourn isn’t going to cut it. With a glance to the stage wing where August waits, John slides a handful of notecards from his inner coat pocket. August doesn’t panic or urge him to stick to the script. No, he simply raises one eyebrow. A question? Or a challenge? You’ll be fine, he’d said. And now, he smirks at John, mouthing, Told you.~~~~~~~ Congratulations THIRTY-SIX TIME WINNER Cara, and Honorable Mention Bill! 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! 🙂

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Week 586 of #ThursThreads, and y’all never disappoint. We’ve made it 11 years! Well done and thank you to everyone who writes each week. You made this happen. If you’ve just found us, welcome to the crew! You’re in good company. May you come back again and write more great flash. A thousand thanks to Sabrina York 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: Bill Engleson  Sheilagh Lee  Silver James Cara Michaels Casket Siobhan Muir  David A. Ludwig Mark A. Morris Kelly Heinen M.T. Decker  Honorable Mentions Cara Michaels | Website Sabrina says: Clever and crisp writing that draws you in. David A. Ludwig | Website Sabrina says: Magic and sacrifice really made the story. Mark A. Morris | Website Sabrina says: Gives a whole new meaning to gladiatorial. winner announcement Camera Shy Casket Week 586 Winner Casket Sabrina says: Evocative, moving, and a little mysterious. The woman before him was ethereal, even shrouded in the stage’s shadow. It made sense- for it had been her stage once. Red fabric clung to her striking figure, so loud with its glittering sequins and embroidered jewels but somehow soundless in its movement. Her hand’s hold on his face was a promise, blackened nails with red French tips digging just deep enough to threaten crescent imprints. The message was clear; don’t mess this up. His eyes burned in turn, too dry contacts pulling with each blink. It was hard to focus in the dim back stage light surrounded by a cacophony of sounds that only grew louder with each passing beat. Was that the bass or his own heart? It was getting harder to tell them apart. His lips parted, jaw aching with unspoken words. Her gaze sharpened, “There will be no questions.” Sharp like shards of glass the words cut through his throat, bubbling past his lips weakly. “But-“ Something on his face must’ve broken through her steely demeanor because her grip loosened, moving up to tuck a loose curl behind his ear with an unusual tenderness. “You’ll be fine. We’ve practiced more than enough.” It was true; they had. Steady hands guided him to the curtain, the stage just out of reach. “Dance for me.” And he always would.~~~~~~~ Congratulations Winner Casket, and Honorable Mentions Cara, David, and Mark! 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! 🙂

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Week 585 of #ThursThreads, and y’all never disappoint. We’ve made it 11 years! Well done and thank you to everyone who writes each week. You made this happen. If you’ve just found us, welcome to the crew! You’re in good company. May you come back again and write more great flash. A thousand thanks to Heidi Rundle 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: Angora Shade Bill Engleson  Silver James Sheilagh Lee  Siobhan Muir  Mark A. Morris David A. Ludwig  M.T. Decker  Kelly Heinen Louisa Bacio  Honorable Mentions Louisa Bacio | Website Heidi says: Storytelling is great. Really easy to fall into and imagine that you’re part of the story. M.T. Decker | Website Heidi says: Very intriguing. Has a fabulous beginning to an exciting story. winner announcement Week 585 Winner Silver James Heidi says: Wow, within a few words I was hooked into the story, and very eager for more. Kathleen didn’t want to open the door. She’d refused to answer the phone after screening the calls. Why couldn’t they leave her alone? The imperious knock rattled the front windows. She cracked the door and peered out at the two police officers. “You need to come with us, Mrs. Gallagher.” “Why?” “We’ve made an arrest. There’s a press conference.” “Tommy’s dead and buried. You don’t need me there.” An hour later, she wore widow black and a stoney face. The chief, and other official types milled around. Alex Crenshaw, the district attorney, brushed past her and she cringed away. Every instinct she possessed urged her to flee. “Where do you want me?” Crenshaw demanded. The public information officer lined up everyone but Kathleen. With luck, the woman had forgotten she existed. The PIO gave her instructions then noticed Kathleen. “I want you in front of the chief and the DA. You’ll say a few words after they speak. There will be no questions.” A moment later, the door opened and they filed out in front of the crowd of reporters. The first face Kathleen saw stood in the very back. She knew him. Her heart knew him. The man from the cemetery. The man from the restaurant. The man who silently watched over her. When it was her time to speak, she said, “Thank you for coming.” And that was all. Once it was over, she found him waiting. “I’ll take you home.” But she knew she was already there.~~~~~~~ Congratulations SIXTY-SIX TIME WINNER Silver, and Honorable Mentions Louisa and Mary! 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! 🙂

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Week 584 of #ThursThreads, and y’all never disappoint. We’ve made it 11 years! Well done and thank you to everyone who writes each week. You made this happen. If you’ve just found us, welcome to the crew! You’re in good company. May you come back again and write more great flash. A thousand thanks to Mirra Allure 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: Bill Engleson Mark Ethridge Siobhan Muir Mark A. Morris Sheilagh Lee David A. Ludwig Silver James M.T. Decker Louisa Bacio Honorable Mentions Louisa Bacio | Website Mirra says: I love a good fantasy fiction/mythical creatures type books. And the story line seems like a warm coming of age movie and it made me want to know will she prove she saw what she saw? Bill Engleson | Website Mirra says: I love the usage of the prompt and how the story could easily go a couple different ways. If expanded it could get really good. Love the characters. winner announcement Week 578 Winner David A. Ludwig Mirra says: I immediately got into the narrative of the short story and wanted to know the next set of events. I was drawn in. Tenko took a breath through her nose, adjusted her quiver, and dashed downhill toward the rendezvous point. Not a single movement could be wasted. She calculated they had thirty-six seconds to give their enemies the slip. A precious six of those thanks to the arrival of the Wood Witch and her oni. The only thing in Tigers’ Forest more dangerous than the tigerlings themselves being allied with the half-animal people was a problem. She was relieved seeing her companions already had the rescued priests organized to go. “Hurry back to the shrine quickly and quietly,” the young scholar instructed. “Mana, Sora, Arashiko, and I will draw the enemy off.” “Where do you want me?” The tall monk that covered Arashiko’s retreat stepped seriously up to Tenko. “With the others. They’ll need you.” He nodded. “My name is Shinrin. If I can ever be of service to you, you need only ask.” Tenko’s party returned to her and Shinrin to the priests. “I’ve placed ofuda along your path. They’ll mask your trail and transfer it and any noise you do make to us. Hopefully, that will be enough to fool the tigerlings.” Tenko didn’t mention that there was little chance of her magic fooling the Wood Witch. As they split off from the priests, Tenko’s friend, Mana, fell into stride next to her. “What aren’t you telling them?” “There was a presence with me on the bluff. Gleaming eyes, a masked aura, and there might have been a tail.” ~~~~~~~ Congratulations Nineteen Time Winner David, and Honorable Mentions Louisa and Bill! 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! 🙂

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