Week 396 of #ThursThreads had many fantastic tales. I’m honored to see all the writers come to tie a tale as we start our eighth year. If you’ve been doing it a while, thank you. If you’ve just found us, welcome! May you come back again and write more great flash. Thousand thanks to David Ludwig 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:
- Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir
- Charlene Mertz | @rrats1231
- Mark A. Morris
- Silver James | @SilverJames_
- Teresa Eccles | @TeresaMEccles
- Louisa Bacio | @Louisabacio
- David A. Ludwig | @DavidALudwig
- Mark Ethridge | @mysoulstears
- Daelyn Morgana | @DaelynMorgana
- Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil
- M.T. Decker | @mishmhem
- Ashlie Harris | @EmpathUtopiast
David says: I’m always honored to see what a strong writing community I’m a part of, and really had to consider the use of the prompt to break some ties this week.
Honorable Mentions
Louisa Bacio | @Louisabacio
David says: This is a hot fun bit of morning after–both a romp between the sheets and a night of crime fighting. My favorite line was “How was that fair, when I looked like a raccoon in the morning?”
Mark Ethridge | @mysoulstears
David says: This one got an edge from the way the phrase prompt really felt integral to the heart of the story and the question of “what do people want us to say?” I also tend to enjoy writing about writers.
winner announcement
Week 396 Winner
David says: The phrase prompt opened the scene and really drove it for me. The frustration of both Wizard and Jen searching for what else to say hit me viscerally. I found the missed communications elegantly handled and very relatable. This one won, because it was the train wreck I absolutely couldn’t look away from.
Wiz paced the length of the room, muscles rippling beneath his T-shirt as he flung out his arms. “What else do you want me to say?”
He sounded so angry and there was no warmth in his eyes as he glared at me. What did I want him to say? That he loved me? That I was his…mate? Wasn’t that what the other old ladies called themselves?
“I don’t have time for this, babe.” He turned his back on me and stomped to the door. Evidently, I wasn’t worth more than a few moments of his time.
I’d waited too long to respond, hadn’t thought fast enough on my feet. He’d surprised me earlier and I’d just blurted out the words that brought us to this impasse.
“Did you ever care?” The words came from the very darkest bottom of my soul. “Or was I just a pity fuck?”
His lips pressed so tightly together a white line appeared around them. I caught that red glint in his eyes. My time was up. I sank my teeth into my bottom lip, hoping the physical pain would keep my face from giving me away. Wizard’s chest rose and fell, his nostrils flaring as he breathed deeply. And there it was. The same look of disgust on his face that I’d seen on my brother’s.
“Jen.”
“No.” I backed away. “I get it. Totally. Sorry to have bothered you. I won’t again.”
I whirled and ran, ignoring his voice.
“Jen!”
~~~~~~~
Congratulations FORTY TIME WINNER Silver, and Honorable Mentions Louisa 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! 🙂
