Welcome back to the home of #ThursThreads for Week 659. Year 12! What a fantastic testament to the writing community. Y’all rock!
Today is Thursday and that means it’s time to start flashing on #ThursThreads, the challenge that ties tales together. Want to keep up each week? Check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on Facebook and the Group on MeWe.
Need the rules? Read on.
Here’s how it works:
- The prompt is a line from the previous week’s winning tale.
- The prompt can appear ANYWHERE in your story and is included in your word count.
- The prompt must be used as is. It can be split, but no intervening words can be inserted or tenses changed.
Rules to the Game:
- This is a Flash Fiction challenge, which means your story must be a minimum of 100 words, maximum of 250.
- The story must be new writing, not a snippet from something published elsewhere with the prompt added.
- Incorporate the prompt anywhere into your story (included in your word count).
- Post your story in the comments section of this post
- Include your word count in the post (or be excluded from judging)
- Include your social media handle or email in the post (so we easily notify you)
- The challenge is open 7 AM to 8 PM Mountain Time US.
- The winner will be announced on Friday, depending on how early the judge gets up.
How it benefits you:
- You get a nifty cool badge to display on your blog or site (because we’re all about promotion – you know you are!)
- You get instant recognition of your writing prowess on this blog!
- Your writing colleagues shall announce and proclaim your greatness on Facebook, Bluesky, MeWe, and Mastodon, etc.
Our Judge for Week 659:
Desk Jockey by Day, Writer by Night, Pecking her way through life, M.L. Gammella.
And now your #ThursThreads Challenge, tying tales together.
The Prompt:
“That’s no problem.”
All stories written herein are the property (both intellectual and physical) of the authors. Comments do not represent the views of the host and the host reserves the right to remove any content. Now, away with you, Flash Fiction Fanatics, and show us your #ThursThreads. Good luck!
Memories are Made of …Hit and Miss
“It was something to do with garlic,” Hannigan says. “Bloody sure of that.”
“Dunno, buddy. You’re thinking of that place in California…what’s it called…Gilroy? ”
“Right. Gilroy was here…that’s the saying.”
“Don’t think so. The whole point was to see the saying everywhere. Gilroy’s on the coast. It ain’t going nowhere else but there. Ever!”
The indefatigable logic of my argument sinks in to Hannigan’s brain. Most days there’s a ton of room there just waiting to be filled.
He nods like he caught that infield fly I just batted. “You’re right. Not Gilroy.”
“And nothing to do with garlic. We’re talking a rallying cry. WW 2. A soldier thing. Something we sure need now, that’s for sure.”
“Another round, guys?” Jenny asks.
“I’m tapped out,” Hannigan shrugs and I jump in with a thirst-quenching salute and say, “That’s no problem, Jenny. Bring a couple more.”
She heads back to the bar, and I say, “Where were we?”
“Garlic!”
“We’ve moved on. So, if it wasn’t Gilroy…maybe it was…”
“I’ve got it,” Hannigan brightens up. “Killjoy!” he yells out.
I fling back, “We’re not talking Trump here.”
He gives me a scowl and says, “Our deal…no politics when we’re drinking.”
“My bad,” I say like the kids do. Or did. I have no idea what they are saying these days.
Hannigan laughs, says, “I know. Anyway, it was Kilroy was here.”
We finally get there.
Jenny brings our next round.
Now we’re cooking.
250 words
@billmelaterplea
@sterlings-son-2.bsky.social
“Hello.”
Both women paused at the voice calling for their attention. It was deep and rich like a decadent bite of warm chocolate cake. No, Aisling decided. Not warm. Cold. Like ice.
“How may we help you.” Janet was all but bouncing on her toes.
“There is a book I need. In this section.” He showed them a piece of paper.
Breathless, Janet gushed, “That’s no problem.”
Aisling pushed her glasses up on her nose and stared at her colleague. “Actually, it is a problem.”
Janet gave her big eyes while tilting her head toward the handsome man, her expression asking if Aisling was nuts. Maybe she was because shivers were still ricocheting around her spine. The man’s gaze fell on her and now she wished she’d kept her mouth shut. His dark blue eyes bored into her and goosebumps pebbled her skin. Drawing a deep well of strength she didn’t know she had, Aisling managed to keep her hands still rather than rubbing up and down her arms.
“This is a restricted area. No one is allowed down there but staff. If you will fill out a request form, we will notify you when you can view the material.”
The smile curving his lips did not warm those cobalt eyes. “But I am here now.”
“Yeah, Aisling. He’s here. I’ll get—”
“No.” Aisling cut her off. “Sir, you need to leave before I call security.”
Smile smug now, he nodded. “It no longer matters. I found what I need.”
****
250 Penumbra Papers WIP words
Silver James silverjames.com
“How long did you not talk to her?” Missy wanted to know more. I couldn’t blame her for asking, really. It explained much of the puzzle that was me.
“Sixteen months. That’s how long I did not call her. That’s how long I stayed away from her.”
“What happened then?”
“I got my first job, got a roommate, and rented an apartment.”
Missy nodded, “You grew up.”
“Yes, I did.” But I was being honest so I had to tell her the rest of what happened. “My roommate was the guy she was dating at the time.”
“What?”
“Yep. We rented an apartment. More than either of us could afford on our own. Nice place. You’d have liked it.”
“But that meant you’d have to see her again.”
“That’s what everyone else said. ‘You know who he’s dating, right?’ And I always answered, ‘That’s no problem.’”
Missy shook her head. “What happened?”
“She came over when we got moved in, to visit us in the new apartment.”
“I bet that went well.”
“It did. She told me to call her.”
“She did?”
“Yep.” I took a breath and continued, “And when I did she asked me to take her out to a movie.”
“I bet that went over well.”
“Turned out she was breaking up with him.”
“Talk about luck.” Missy shook her head again. “You’ve got to be the luckiest guy I know.”
“I didn’t have a problem with my roommate, I’ll put it that way.”
247 Words (Per Google Write)
@mysoulstears.bsky.social
Indy blinked. “What do you mean, it worked? Isn’t this what you wanted?”
“Yes, but I didn’t think I’d actually get him to agree. He must really want to stay as Lord Regent.” Diana sat down on a chair and scrubbed her face with her hands. “Now we just have to figure out how to get all this learning I proposed done while toting along a royal guard. He’ll have to wear normal clothes, not his official uniform.”
“That’s no problem. I think he’s from one of the lower houses, Misthaven or Stonehelm, something like that.” Indy shrugged. “We could have him look like a merchant traveling with us.”
Yssa cocked her head. “You’re awfully sanguine about this trip, Head Wrangler. Aren’t you concerned with the welfare of the Royal Brightmare Herd?”
Indy shook her head. “It takes several days to get to the summer pastures. We’ll need to pass through several of the Nine Houses’ holdings, so the Keeper can meet the people in their communities. I usually avoid getting close to settlements, but wranglers in the past have not done so. There are places for the herd to visit and we can camp nearby.”
“Excellent.” Diana grinned and rose. “When do you think we’ll need to leave?”
Indy tapped her chin. “I think that depends on you, Keeper. How much time will you need to prepare for this trip? We sleep rough, not like the luxury you’re used to here.”
242 ineligible #TwelvePrincesses words
@siobhanmuir.bsky.social
It’s been a rough fortnight. The Sea Beacon did not escape the HMS Temperance unscathed, and hit an uncalmable storm before they could make repairs. Blitzen Brün’s crewmates are exhausted and she’s doing the work of half a dozen. But she can handle it.
Everything needs to be moved to the port side to get the damaged starboard higher out of the water. That’s no problem. Mr. Light needs Blitzi to hang from a line over the side of the ship to help with the repairs from the outside. Then rebalance the ship. All fine. She needs to hold the ship’s wheel while the officers meet to chart a new course. Easy.
Blitzi’s happy to watch Pippi’s demon while the masked player composes herself. She doesn’t mind taking extra watches or helping Cobb and Bones with their chores while they recover. Her beast gives her the power to do what the others can’t. All it asks in return is food.
Today, Blitzi and her beast could eat a horse each. But the pantry’s empty with still no land in sight.
That’s a problem.
183 words
@davidaludwig.bsky.social
𝙈𝙮 𝘼𝙘𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙍𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘿𝙖𝙮 𝙄 𝙈𝙚𝙩 𝙈𝙮 𝙒𝙞𝙛𝙚
I found her on the third Tuesday of ambition.
She was sitting beneath a tree that looked suspiciously like a lamp post, eating lemon drops from a hollowed-out paperback. The sky smelled faintly of vanilla, and when she laughed, the clouds blinked.
We’d been talking. Or maybe we hadn’t. One thing was certain, though. The conversation had a definite beginning.
“I love you,” I said. It slipped out ahead of my lips like it had somewhere to be.
She tilted her head as if listening for something only the universe could say aloud. “Love? Like… ‘we’ve built a life together and shared a thousand Tuesdays’ kind of love?”
“No, no,” I said quickly, shaking my pockets in case something wise fell out. “More like… love as in, I don’t know. I’m glad I met you.” Her eyes were the color of a thought I hadn’t finished yet. Something bright but just out of reach. “You make me better.”
She tilted her head. “I do?”
“Yes. So I love you. Maybe not as a woman, yet. But as a human. A human woman. When we’re together, I’ll hold you and breathe you in.”
She studied me.
“I mean it,” I said, standing straighter, storybook-bold. “I love you, human woman!”
She smiled. “You don’t even know my name.”
“That’s no problem,” I replied. “It’s probably something excellent.”
She laughed again, and this time, it rained upside-down. “Should we build a staircase to the moon and paint it green?”
Something real had happened.
250 words
@krvanhorn (X & Bluesky)
When my mom died when I was five, my father took over raising me. He learned to do everything and I took him for granted. When I was a teen and girls didn’t like me. I first really heard from my dad, “That’s no problem, there’s nothing family can’t solve together. Respect makes girls like you.”
If I needed a ride no questions asked my dad would say the magic sentence picking me up. When I got married, he told me to always put my family first. He welcomed my children with open arms. I never knew how much I relied on my dad until he got sick. He said,” I don’t want to be a burden.”
I said, “That’s no problem because I work remotely, you can stay with us.”
“You better consult, Mary.”
I just showed him Mary’s text.
My father wasn’t getting better, and he was worried how this would affect his grandchildren Megan and Kyle.
“As you always say it will be no problem; there’s nothing the love of family can’t do together.” I answered.
My father died twenty years ago and now I too, am in his spot. My son said to me those words I’d sent to my father so long ago. As I smiled at my son, I saw the light form and my father step to my side,
“My family?”
“.That’s no problem we can do it together. They’ll be fine, we’ll watch over them.”
We then walked into the light.
250 words
@sweetsheil.bsky.social
#ThursThreads is now CLOSED. Thanks to everyone who wrote this week and I hope to catch you next week.