Week 403 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 J. Thomas Ganzer 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
- Joe Hesch | @JAHesch
- Silver James | @SilverJames_
- Teresa Eccles | @TeresaMEccles
- Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir
- Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil
- Mark A. Morris
- David A. Ludwig | @DavidALudwig
- Kelly Heinen | @Aightball
- M.T. Decker | @mishmhem
Honorable Mentions
Bill Engleson | @billmelaterplea
Joe says: Keeping with the pandemic theme, I easily imagined the place and time, the crushing despair of the end of things. And he kept digging.
Kelly Heinen | @Aightball
Joe says: Good use of the prompt, that moment when mom shows up and takes over a disaster. Relief and comfort, so long as we have them with us. Great moment imagined.
winner announcement
Week 403 Winner
Joe says: We have pandemics on the brain and in the news lately, and this tale of loss and disease struck me. Lots of emotional heft in 250 little words.
1919
As Alice put another compress on Frankie’s forehead, I had my hand on her shoulder and felt her shuddering.
“Don’t cry, Alice,” I said. But when I looked in her eyes, they were dry. She’d been suppressing coughs, so she wouldn’t wake Frankie.
“It’s okay, honey. I’ll take over now,” I said.
“Thank you, Frank,“ Alice said, pressing her cheek to mine. As she left the room, I heard her cough hard.
I’d gone to France because I was drafted, not to make the world safe for democracy.
I stayed alive there to take care of my buddies, but you can’t take care of someone vaporized by an 88mm shell dropped on his head.
I fought to get home to Alice and Frankie, to see my boy grow up. To feel the warmth of my wife again. Now I felt heat.
I heard the bed springs ring in the next room, then heard that cough again. And again. And again.
Frankie stirred, but his breath came like a fingernail swiped on a washboard. It sounded so much like guys who’d caught just enough Heinie gas to singe their throat and lungs, but not kill them. Not until they got to the hospital in Étaples. They’d die there the next day. Fever. Lungs giving out.
Like Frankie’s did that night. Alice lasted four more days. I’d been home two weeks.
Some nights, screaming, I awaken from this nightmare where that 88mm fell on top of me instead.
I wish.
~~~~~~~
Congratulations Five Time Winner Joe, and Honorable Mentions Bill and Kelly! 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! 🙂
