Week 497 of #ThursThreads had many fantastic tales. What an amazing feat we’ve pulled off. Nine years! If you’ve been doing it a while, thank you for coming back each week. If you’ve just found us, welcome! You’re in good company. May you come back again and write more great flash. A thousand thanks to Teresa Eccles 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:
- Katheryn J. Avila | @katheryn_avila
- Sandi Layne | @sandyquill
- Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir
- Richard Gibney | @ragtaggiggagon
- Silver James | @SilverJames_
- Catherine Verdier | @CatVerdier1
- Bill Engleson | @billmelaterplea
- Mark A. Morris
- Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil
- David A. Ludwig | @DavidALudwig
- Kelly Heinen | @Aightball
- Eric Martell | @drmag00
Teresa says: This week’s stories were all great! It was difficult narrowing down the field to one winner. However, it had to be done, so here you go.
Honorable Mentions
Bill Engleson | @billmelaterplea
Teresa says: Bill has a distinctive voice in his writing that I enjoy reading. This story makes me want more. Why is Frank so apathetic? Who is Solly? What does he want with Frank’s ex? Who is Henry Samuels and why is he so elusive? So many questions!
Katheryn J. Avila | @katheryn_avila
Teresa says: The imagery Katheryn uses immediately pulls me into the story. Nora’s vision is horrifying and her lack of trust in her father’s guard makes the story more intriguing. While she trusts Nolan, the reader still experiences a veil of mystery around him, leading us to want to know more about him.
Kelly Heinen | @Aightball
Teresa says: This story broke my heart. It brought to mind the loss of my own mother. This is an interlude in time that the narrator both treasures and despises and Kelly does an excellent job in bringing those emotions to life.
winner announcement
Week 497 Winner
Teresa says: Silver takes this moment between two lovers and gives the reader a glimpse into the dynamics of their relationship in a way that feels honest. And sometimes, I read someone else’s line and wish I had thought to write it. In this case, Silver’s first line makes me envious – “hoarding her regrets as if they were a dragon’s treasure.” Love that!
She said nothing, hoarding her regrets as if they were a dragon’s treasure. No, she thought. Not treasure, chains. Kathleen almost smiled. Her and Marley’s Ghost, weighed down by the heavy chains of shoulda, coulda, woulda.
“Hindsight is a bitch,” she finally said. “With twenty-twenty vision.”
Devlin ducked his chin and dug the toe of one work boot in the dirt. “You’re free now.”
He spoke the truth. She was. Tommy was long gone and buried. The police, the reporters, people on the street—they were all fading memories. She was no longer hounded, no longer on the receiving end of speculative looks.
“Why?” she asked.
He reached over and brushed her cheek with the tenderest of touches. “Because.”
“You knew.”
“Aye.”
“And you did something.”
Unable to meet her eyes, he kept his gaze on the ground. He said nothing yet his silence spoke volumes.
“Why?”
A muscle twitched at the corner of his mouth. Was he fighting a smile? She hid her own grin as he answered, “Because.”
“You?”
He shook his head. “No, luv. You.”
“Why?”
“You know what I am.”
“I do.” And she did. He was a member of Boru’s Wolves. He was Ronan O’Connor’s attack dog. He was kind and honorable and believed in duty no matter what it cost him personally. And he was so much more. He was magic. Truly. Because any man who could shift into a wolf had to be. She took his hand. “Mine.”
“Yours,” he agreed. “And mine.”
~~~~~~~
Congratulations FIFTY-SIX TIME WINNER Silver, and Honorable Mentions Bill, Katheryn, 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! 🙂
Congratulations to all!