Tag: Winners

Week 543 of #ThursThreads, and y’all never disappoint. We’re in Year 10 and that’s an accomplishment in itself! Thank you to all y’all for coming back to write for all these years. I couldn’t have done it without you. 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 Nellie Batz 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: Mark Ethridge | @mysoulstears Bill Engleson | @billmelaterplea Silver James | @SilverJames_ Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil Eric Martell | @drmag00 Mark A. Morris David A. Ludwig | @DavidALudwig Joel Sandersen | @Whirlwindsof Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir Louisa Bacio | @Louisabacio M.T. Decker | @mishmhem Daelyn Morgana | @DaelynMorgana Honorable Mentions Joel Sandersen | @Whirlwindsof Nellie says: Don’t piss off a parent. You just might become part of a clinical trial that you didn’t sign on for. Seeing a gas mask when it is too late makes you realize that you are really screwed. Side effects might be extra limbs, twitching, seizures, death, becoming a twitching mass of flesh, etc. Mark A. Morris Nellie says: Mark’s story gives new meaning to workplace hazards. Just don’t wave a red flag. The minotaur is going to be unhappy enough as it is. Maybe it’ll be missing a leg in transition. Eric Martell | @drmag00 Nellie says: One small step for Mr. Bear, one giant leap for stuffy kind. This was a sweet story about a girl realizing that some stuffies were just destined for bigger things. winner announcement Week 543 Winner David A. Ludwig | @DavidALudwig Nellie says: Most people don’t realize how much a one night stand and beer goggles can come back and bite them in the ass. Or do something else that is more painful. It would be interesting who or what was the robe the punk rock girl was wearing. The last time I saw her, I had been drinking. But here she was again with her ashy skin and shocking pink hair. I hoped her new robe wasn’t made of what it looked like it was made of. “Holy shit… You’re real!” She turned around from laying the sleeping girl she’d carried in on my couch. The child had the same ashy skin and blue hair that seemed to glow with her peaceful breathing. “Did you miss me?” My mouth opened and closed uselessly. Miss her? I hadn’t thought about her at all since that night. Something was different, though. That night would not have gone the way I think it did if I’d been as scared of her then as I was now. There was fire behind her amber eyes and menace in her small sharp smile. Also, the muscles of her robe just twitched. “I’m afraid I need your help,” she sighed. “The ranger hunting me is getting too close. I can’t have our daughter around when she catches me.” “Our…” I nodded. The girl mostly looked like her mother, but she was about the right age for what I remembered. While I was still figuring out what to say, or even think, the girl’s mother began gesturing with arcane power emanating from her hands. “Thank you.” “For volunteering?” “For your sacrifice.” Her spell crashed down on me. My skin tightened, my bones twisted, and my scream transitioned into an inhuman yowl. The kid slept through that?~~~~~~~ Congratulations Fourteen Time Winner David, and Honorable Mentions Joel, Mark, and Eric! 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! 🙂

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Week 542 of #ThursThreads, and y’all never disappoint. We’re in Year 10 and that’s an accomplishment in itself! Thank you to all y’all for coming back to write for all these years. I couldn’t have done it without you. 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 Louisa Bacio 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 | @billmelaterplea Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil Mark Ethridge | @mysoulstears Miya Kressin | @miya_kressin Silver James | @SilverJames_ David A. Ludwig | @DavidALudwig Mark A. Morris Eric Martell | @drmag00 Louisa says: Happy end of 2022, #ThursThreads writers. As always, it’s a pleasure. Congratulations to all who’ve captured new words. Honorable Mentions Silver James | @SilverJames_ Louisa says: There’s a Kin-ship happening! Fantastic interplay of dialogue and storytelling. The personality of each character comes through. Mark Ethridge | @mysoulstears Louisa says: For Flash Fiction, normally you try to avoid repetition. In this piece, the mirrored opening and closure provides an added sense of closure to the Big Rip. winner announcement Week 542 Winner Miya Kressin | @miya_kressin Louisa says: You had me at “Don’t panic.” Well done setting the mood and great use of description. There’s a lot at stake in this short piece, and such potential of a revengeful pet.  Step one: breathe. Two: don’t panic. Three: Find where you are, so you can navigate back home. Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. It was just supposed to be a simple portal spell. I left the ice and snow of the Midwest and headed to my favorite beach for some warmth and relaxation until dinnertime. Instead, I woke in a stone room, dark enough to be underground or the middle of the night, and my wrists and feet were chained to some sort of seat. “I’ve been waiting for the next mage to jump across our region to give me a new research project. Thank you for volunteering.” A candle sputtered to life, illuminating the goggle clad face of an elven male. Silver magic glittered on his cheek from a recent scratch. “What do you mean, ‘research project?’” At least now I knew where the others in my order had vanished to…. “Oh, well, some I torture. Some I force to do magic beyond their abilities to record the effects. Handsome ones like yourself, if you’re not opposed, I just enjoy you as a pet for several years as I slowly drain your magic until you’re of no use to me. Otherwise, I just enjoy you as eye candy until you’ve served your magical purpose. I may be evil but not thoroughly a monster. Choose.” He sounded…bored. “Umm. Given those choices, I guess ‘pet?’” That would give me several years to plot an escape or be rescued, and he was pretty. ~~~~~~~ Congratulations Nine Time Winner Miya, and Honorable Mentions Silver and Mark! 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! 🙂

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Happy Holidays! Week 541 of #ThursThreads, and y’all never disappoint. We’re in Year 10 and that’s an accomplishment in itself! Thank you to all y’all for coming back to write for all these years. I couldn’t have done it without you. 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 | @billmelaterplea Mark Ethridge | @mysoulstears Eric Martell | @drmag00 Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir Mark A. Morris Silver James | @SilverJames_ Audra Trosper David A. Ludwig | @DavidALudwig Stacy Bennett | @SBennettWrites M.T. Decker | @mishmhem Honorable Mentions Bill Engleson | @billmelaterplea Siobhan says: I’ve read a lot of Bill’s noir writings but this one stood out. An acknowledgment of the predicament a lot of women find themselves in. That acknowledgment by men is important because most men wave it off. This tale gave the impression he was no longer sweeping it under the rug. Eric Martell | @drmag00 Sobhan says: Oh my. When the KID is scarier than the threat of no gifts. And mom better get home quick to back up dad before the kid makes things even more difficult. Made me laugh and hope she gets there in time, lol. winner announcement Week 541 Winner Mary Decker | @mishmhem Siobhan says: “But did you die?” Always the quintessential question that’s guaranteed to make me spit my coffee out in laughter. Still, Cal’s observations rings of truth about communication and avoidance. The last bit of the conversation made me laugh. Well done. A Hard Talk “Look I can’t explain it to you.” “Sure you can. Ya start talkin’ You find a place to begin and just say what’s on your mind.” “It’s not that simple.” Cal looked to the skies and shook his head. “You got breath in your lungs, you sittin’ there tellin’ me it ain’t simple. Ah can do complicated. Ah just need words.” He could feel her glaring at him as he walked inside, grabbed two beers from the cooler, and handed her one before opening his. He took a pull. He let his breath out with a satisfied smile and studied it for a minute. “I can tell you the process used to brew this here beer. I can talk ‘bout chemical reactions and fermentation. Or I can just say, it’s good, but I’m still talkin’ bout it. It ain’t complicated – it’s just beer,” “We aren’t talking about beer.” “No, we aren’t, we also ain’t talkin’ ‘bout your daddy neither. No we’re talkin’ hard about how you ain’t talkin’ about him. Why you so afraid ‘ah him?” “I’m not afraid of him.” “Well, cher, you afraid ah somethin’ an the more you don’t talk about it, the worse it gonna get.” “You don’t know what it’s like.” Cal snorted and took another sip. “Mah daddy used people like puppets, an he tried to kill me when I was five so as he could live forever. Yours can’t be dat bad.” “Maybe, maybe not.” “But did you die?” “No.” “Dat’s a start.”~~~~~~~ Congratulations TWENTY-FOUR TIME WINNER Mary, and Honorable Mentions Bill and Eric! 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! 🙂

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Week 540 of #ThursThreads, and y’all never disappoint. We’re in Year 10 (yesterday was the calendar 11th anniversary of starting this challenge) and that’s an accomplishment in itself! Thank you to all y’all for coming back to write for all these years. I couldn’t have done it without you. 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 Audra Trosper 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 | @billmelaterplea Mark Ethridge | @mysoulstears Silver James | @SilverJames_ Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir Mark A. Morris Nellie Batz | @solimond Eric Martell | @drmag00 David A. Ludwig | @DavidALudwig Stacy Bennett | @SBennettWrites Kelly Heinen | @Aightball Honorable Mentions Kelly Heinen | @Aightball Audra says: Oh my goodness, so much bittersweet beauty wrapped up in this small segment. I’m tearing up. It’s dust. **sniffles** Yeah, dust, that’s it. Nellie Batz | @solimond Audra says: You’ve created such a fun little piece or lightheartedness and yet with just a few words at the end you cast an ominous cloud over it that makes me wish I knew what was going to happen when Gertie goes hunting and how she comes to have a dire hound at her side. winner announcement Week 523 Winner Stacy Bennett | @SBennettWrites Audra says: I’m a complete sucker for romance and outside of the excellent setting, you delivered a wonderful romantic longing in Khoury and a fiery Falin. I want to know what they are searching for and why Khoury feels like he might need to compete for Falin’s affections when she seems rather oblivious about any feeling toward her by whoever Enys is. Khoury wandered the castle, debris crunching under his boots. He tried to picture how the place might have looked in days past. Now, the hall was ravaged and smoky, and the roof was missing in places. Vines spilled through broken windows and crept up the frayed remnants of forgotten tapestries as morning light filtered through dancing specks of dust. Suddenly, Falin emerged from the doorway leading back into the stronghold. “I found the hidden chamber,” she breathed, the hint of a mischievous grin dimpled her grime-smeared cheek. “I guess Enys will be happy about that,” Khoury said with more bite than he’d intended. The huntress frowned and sniffed. “I’m on my way to tell him now, in fact.” She strode toward the main door and Khoury wasn’t sure if she expected him to follow or if she even wanted him to. He touched her arm as she neared. “You don’t need to—” She whirled, giving him a hard stare. “Don’t need to what?” He lost himself in those eyes, glad to see her fractious spark had returned. Although she was far more difficult to handle this way, he loved that spirit. “I’m not afraid of him,” she said into his silence. Khoury chuckled wryly and slid his hand down to twine their fingers. “You’re not, but maybe … I am.” She paused, then grinned. “Bah, you’d trounce him,” she crowed, leaning into his chest, making his heart ache with longing. “Maybe it’s not that kind of competition,” he murmured. ~~~~~~~ Congratulations Three Time Winner Stacy, and Honorable Mentions Kelly and Nellie! 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! 🙂

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Week 539 of #ThursThreads, and y’all never disappoint. We’re in Year 10 and that’s an accomplishment in itself! Thank you to all y’all for coming back to write for all these years. I couldn’t have done it without you. 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 Stacy Bennett 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 Ethridge | @mysoulstears Mark A. Morris Bill Engleson | @billmelaterplea Eric Martell | @drmag00 Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil David A. Ludwig | @DavidALudwig Joseph P. Garland | @JPGarlandAuthor Honorable Mentions Silver James | @SilverJames_ Stacy says: I guess I have a fondness for furries tonight. This is another Wolf story. As always, Silver gives you a complete community in a short time. I fond of military styled heroes as well. And who doesn’t love a puppy-pile of kids? The dialogue is so natural, so comfortable to read. I need to know more about these characters and this trek they are on. Mark Ethridge | @mysoulstears Stacy says: Ah, Mark. This was so endearingly awkward. I hope it was meant that way. It totally made me smile. Can’t you just picture them, the sweet, shy do-gooder and the slightly spacey computer guy? I for one am totally rooting for them.  Thanks for a lovely little vignette wrapped up with a bow. winner announcement Week 539 Winner David A. Ludwig | @DavidALudwig Stacy says: I love a good werewolf versus vampire story. The cat-and-mouse dilemma hints at tumultuous history between Lupita and Avery, leaving us with many questions. I love flash that generates questions. How did Lupita become a werewolf? Why did Avery lure her to the church (using a bus full of children, no less. How Machiavellian)?  And why are they at odds? Could be a vampire/wolf thing but I sense something more personal. It definitely feels like there is much more below the surface. “I made it easier for you to find us,” the haughty voice echoed through the derelict church. Lupita Lopez used to think vampires were pretty cool. In a scary story context. Then she met Avery Scarlett Alexander. Well, technically, she became a werewolf and then met Avery. Lupita’s hackles rose, and she snarled through her silver muzzle, “If you’ve hurt any of those children, I’ll rip your throat out!” “Oh, WE haven’t hurt the children…” The missing school group shuffled out of the shadows in a circle around the werewolf, each blank-faced and armed with a silver fixed blade. “Mierda…” Lupita curled her claws hard into her palms. After smelling the kids all night and too many false leads, she hadn’t imagined they were really here. The courageous canine quickly reconsidered her circumstances. “Before you get any ideas, you should know I’ve programmed them to kill each other if you leave.” The children advanced on the leather-clad loba. Those knives could seriously damage Lupita, let alone the kids. Avery’s high laugh echoed through the once-holy space. The vampire probably wasn’t even present. “Do let me know how this turns out if we see each other again.” “Abuela,” Lupita growled in her mind. “I’m on my way,” the old bruja responded telepathically. “I can break Avery’s spell, but you’ll need to use the binding ritual to hold them until I get there.” Lupita winced at her bleeding palms. “That’s the one that uses silver powder, isn’t it?” ~~~~~~~ Congratulations Thirteen Time Winner David, and Honorable Mentions Silver and Mark! 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! 🙂

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Week 538 of #ThursThreads, and y’all never disappoint. We’re in Year 10 and that’s an accomplishment in itself! Thank you to all y’all for coming back to write for all these years. I couldn’t have done it without you. 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 Daelyn Morgana 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: Mark Ethridge | @mysoulstears Silver James | @SilverJames_ Bill Engleson | @billmelaterplea Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil Mark A. Morris David A. Ludwig | @DavidALudwig Eric Martell | @drmag00 Honorable Mention David A. Ludwig | @DavidALudwig Daelyn says: It sounds like this family has some secrets I want to know. I wonder if Mama knows more than she’s letting on with this change of heart. Has she heard the stories in her hospital of the vigilante saving people? I’m super curious now. winner announcement Week 538 Winner Mark A. Morris Daelyn says: I’m a sucker for fantasy, and I love when it is paired with cold, hard science in some way. It’s a contrast of beliefs that I love to see. The opposites attract mentality seems like it struck gold with this duo, too. I’d love to see more of how they interact with each other. It was dead. Her runes were blazing along the length of its torso and its head was missing. Its stomach had been chewed up, chunks of flesh hacked away where his blade had bitten in. A mortal creature would have been finished at that point, but he’d needed to be sure. These creatures had a habit of coming back and surprising the unwary. “You finished him. Of course, I made it easier for you to pull your sword free so you could remove his head. You could have been in trouble if I’d not seen you struggling. You’re lucky I was following you: it proves you need someone to watch your back in case your traditional methods fall short.” Gallant lowered his weapon. He hated to admit it, but perhaps his wife was right. Her spellcasting was unnatural – there was no reason behind the things she could do. He preferred to put his trust in the physical sciences. A length of cold-forged steel was more reliable, a comfortable weight in his hand. He turned, determined not to feel shame. He’d needed this; his manhood had been at stake. He was sure he could have beaten it back and regained his advantage. “I was going to bring you a trophy,” he said. “A token to prove my worth. But your magic has spoiled everything. And now, it’s melting away like a winter snow on desert sand.” He watched the chalk outline slowly fade away until all of it was gone. ~~~~~~~ Congratulations THIRTY-TWO TIME WINNER Mark, and Honorable Mention David! 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! 🙂

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Week 537 of #ThursThreads, and y’all never disappoint. We’re in Year 10 and that’s an accomplishment in itself! Thank you to all y’all for coming back to write for all these years. I couldn’t have done it without you. 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 David A. Ludwig for judging this week. Check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on Facebook or the new #ThursThreads server on Discord to keep up with news, etc. Entries: Joseph P. Garland | @JPGarlandAuthor Mark Ethridge | @mysoulstears Bill Engleson | @billmelaterplea Silver James | @SilverJames_ Mark A. Morris Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir Eric Martell | @drmag00 David A. Ludwig | @DavidALudwig Honorable Mention Silver James | @SilverJames_ David says: Something about the levity of the inconvenienced morning in such a difficult situation just did it for me. In particular, the structure of bookending the flash with the importance of the hot bath was excellent. winner announcement Week 537 Winner Eric Martell | @drmag00 David says: I love that you opened with the prompt, that the story hinged on what it referred to, and ended on it again. I especially love handling such a heavy topic without ever explicitly spelling it out. Something about knowing (suspecting?) what was being discussed without ever stating it felt just right for this story. Well done. “Then explain this to me.” She stood there, stone-faced, the evidence in her hand. I couldn’t explain it away. I couldn’t pretend it wasn’t real. “Explain that this isn’t exactly what I think it is.” I couldn’t, and she knew it. This was what she’d been wondering about for a long time now, what she’d flat-out asked me about, and what I’d bald-faced lied about. She turned away and walked back to what was – or what had been up until this moment – our bedroom. I stood there and waited to see if she was going to throw me out or grab her stuff and leave. Mostly, I was in shock. There’s times where you don’t really think about what you’ve done until you’re forced to, mostly because you don’t want to think about what it said about you. The back door slammed, and I realized that not only was she the one heading out, but she wasn’t even going to return to the living room to yell at me. I moved to the sofa and sat down. She’d dropped the evidence on the coffee table, and I made myself look down at it. The last time I’d seen it, it was hiding in the back of my underwear drawer, but there it was, big as life, no longer a secret. I brought it to my face, hoping to take comfort in the scent that still lingered from that night. But there was nothing. All of it was gone. ~~~~~~~ Congratulations TWENTY TIME WINNER Eric, and Honorable Mention Silver! Don’t forget to claim your badges and display them with pride. You certainly earned it! Pass on the great news on Twitter, Discord, Facebook, MeWe, 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 536 of #ThursThreads, and y’all never disappoint. We’re in Year 10 and that’s an accomplishment in itself! Thank you to all y’all for coming back to write for all these years. I couldn’t have done it without you. 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 Muirlette #1 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: Mark Ethridge | @mysoulstears Bill Engleson | @billmelaterplea Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil Silver James | @SilverJames_ Mark A. Morris Chase David A. Ludwig | @DavidALudwig Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir Stacy Bennett | @SBennettWrites Kelly Heinen | Aightball Honorable Mentions Stacy Bennett | @SBennettWrites Muirlette says: I liked the adventure and the twist. I would love to read more of this story. Well done. David A. Ludwig | @DavidALudwig Muirlette says: I enjoyed reading this piece. I like the chemistry between Lupita and her abuela. Would love to read more. Chase Muirlette says: I liked the twist at the end and would like to see where it goes. And what causes it. Great job. winner announcement Week 536 Winner Mark Ethridge | @mysoulstears Muirlette says: I loved the humor and satire in this story. It was an absolute blast to read this. I laughed so loud my mom came to check on me. Excellently done. “Before I destroy the fabric of your reality, let me say this. You can send backup anytime now. You’re going to need it.” I didn’t wait for a response, and instead leaped straight into my destructive work. “How much is 100%?” “What?” “How much is 100% of something? Or anything? Can you have more than 100% pure gold?” “No, you can’t get more than 100% of anything! Every idiot knows that!” I looked at the chart on the wall, and pointed at it. “Then explain this to me.” The chart showed survey results from asking 2382 white Christians a set of questions about the population of the United States. What I found hilarious was the makeup of the population, per the chart. White people – 40% of the population. Black people – 30% of the population. Asian people – 40% of the population. Hispanic/Latino people – 40% of the population. If you added it all up, it was 150% of the population of the country. “How can white Christians think there are more people in this country than are in this country?” I was greeted by silence. Apparently the idiot knew that the numbers made no sense at all. “How can white Christians add 40, 40, 40, and 30 together, and get 100? Do they not know how to add?” I stared at him. “Or, perhaps, they’re just terrified of things, of people who are not white Christians like them?” You can’t really argue with numbers like that. The guy shut up. ~~~~~~~ Congratulations Sixteen Time Winner Mark, and Honorable Mentions Stacy, David, and Chase. 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! 🙂

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Week 535 of #ThursThreads, and y’all never disappoint. We’re in Year 10 and that’s an accomplishment in itself! Thank you to all y’all for coming back to write for all these years. I couldn’t have done it without you. 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 Mary Decker 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 | @billmelaterplea Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir Eric Martell | @drmag00 Silver James | @SilverJames_ Mark Ethridge | @mysoulstears Joel Sandersen | @Whirlwindsof Katheryn J. Avila | @katheryn_avila David A. Ludwig | @DavidALudwig Mark A. Morris Mary says: As always the challenge has been set and well met. I wish I could give you all an award, and I’m always amazed on how any given day you call can stand up and write something outstanding. You did not disappoint this week! Thank you for making me a part of your week! Honorable Mentions Eric Martell | @drmag00 Mary says: Fortunately, even with the bad days we’ve all had lately, it hasn’t been that bad – That story hit home and serves to remind us to keep an eye on what’s important. Mark A. Morris Mary says: Your story serves to remind us all to never trust a smiling Kzinti. (and a lot of afternoons spent in the Student Union.) You build the atmosphere well, and I would like to see more. winner announcement Week 535 Winner Joel Sandersen | @Whirlwindsof Mary says: Your story is tight, complete, but leaves a lot of room where you could build it up and out. I enjoyed the fact that the story was a test – but it wasn’t the test our hero expected. (or more to the point, the test give expected) Well played. “Jerome Solomon, you are under arrest for mutiny, suspected murder, and several crimes against the Bioethics Replenishment project.” Jerome turned back to see three of the maroon-suited jarheads, that the Congregation for Scientific Advancement used for security, approaching him. “I have committed no crime. I simply commenced the planned Ark expedition early and liberated its crew from involuntary confinement and forced servitude.” “Sir,” Simon’s voice hissed in his ear, “you also jettisoned Dr. Abelle without proper bulkhead reinforcement and ordered your computer to run an unlicensed mindwipe of the entire command structure of this facility.” “Not helping, Simon,” Solomon gritted through his teeth. “Mr. Solomon,” the guard growled, “do we need to take active measures?” “You can send back up anytime now, Simon.” “I’ll think about it,” the computer’s voice answered. “Think about it, what is there to think about? Everything I did today was based on your model for my best escape route.” “But you did it, sir, not me.” Simon answered, sounding oddly philosophical for a computer. “Yes, of course I did it. I had to do it.” I had to be responsible, otherwise people would blame…” Jerome looked up, finally understanding, “they’d blame you.” “Did I pass your test Simon?” At that moment, five dock droids slammed into the jarheads. “Yes, you treated me as a peer and not a machine and protected me.” Simon replied. “Now please run, we have five minutes before our launch window closes.” ~~~~~~~ Congratulations Three Time Winner Joel, and Honorable Mentions Eric and Mark! 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! 🙂

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Week 534 of #ThursThreads, and y’all never disappoint. We’re in Year 10 and that’s an accomplishment in itself! Thank you to all y’all for coming back to write for all these years. I couldn’t have done it without you. 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 | @billmelaterplea Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir (First post) Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil Silver James | @SilverJames_ Joseph P. Garland | @JPGarlandAuthor Eric Martell | @drmag00 Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir (Second post) David A. Ludwig | @DavidALudwig Chase Imler Mark Ethridge | @mysoulstears Louisa Bacio | @Louisabacio M.T. Decker | @mishmhem Honorable Mentions Silver James | @SilverJames_ Siobhan says: We so very rarely write stories where the heroes CAN’T save everyone, but Silver’s tale reminds us that even in fiction there’s an element of reality, just enough to make it believable. I’m with Meg on this one, but I can’t argue with the Wolves either. Nicely done. Eric Martell | @drmag00 Siobhan says: I liked that this tale didn’t end on a dark and gloomy note. Would the decision Lucy made be hard? yes, but it was her choice and the benefits outweighed the drawbacks. And there was hope. Lovely. winner announcement Week 534 Winner David A. Ludwig | @DavidALudwig Siobhan says: This tale started off so simple – a brother and sister talking about getting together for the holidays…or not. But then it took a sharp left into spooksville and the reason Lupita doesn’t want to come home is VERY apparent at the end. Eep! Great tale (and he used both prompts, too lol) “You’re going to back out now?” Her brother’s judgment over the phone shot through Lupita’s sensitive ears. She blew a deep breath out her quivering nostrils and tried to sound casual. “Well, I have some reservations about coming home, sabes?” Jorge’s easy laugh over the line confirmed that he did not, in fact, know. “I think we all have them, manita.” It was Lupita’s turn to bark her coarser laugh. “Mr. Perfect is worried about going home for the holidays?” “No, I’m worried about my slacker little sister coming home for the holidays.” “There’s just, a lot going on right now.” “Are you okay?” “Ya, estoy bien.” Lupita mentally kicked herself for not making that sound more convincing. “You’ve been gone a year, manita. Everybody’s been worried about you.” “No, they were glad to see me go.” “That’s the thing,” Jorge worried. “Nobody saw you go. And it was around the same time as all those beast attacks; the authorities still don’t know what killed those people. I thought you might have been… sabes?” Lupita was glad this wasn’t a video call. Her forced smile would’ve freaked him out. “No, I just ran out of couches to crash on. Had to go somewhere nobody was sick of me yet.” Somewhere no one knew her. “Please come home, manita.” “I’ll think about it.” Lupita hung up and tossed the arm she’d clutched all through the call on the pile of bodies at her feet. She couldn’t stay here any longer either. ~~~~~~~ Congratulations Twelve Time Winner David, and Honorable Mentions Silver and Eric! 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! 🙂

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