Week 506 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 Eric Martell 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
- Katheryn J. Avila | @katheryn_avila
- Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir
- Silver James | @SilverJames_
- Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil
- Mark A. Morris
- Mark Ethridge | @mysoulstears
- David A. Ludwig | @DavidALudwig
- Louisa Bacio | @Louisabacio
- Kelly Heinen | @Aightball
Eric says: Sitting down to create a world in 250 words – how tough would that be? Sometimes the muse plays nice and the words flow easily, showing up on the screen as if you’re revealing what’s already there instead of creating them out of nothingness. Other times, you and the muse battle over each character in each word and you beat your story into submission, for good or for ill. Whichever way it went for you this week, thanks for taking the time to write and to share your worlds with us.
Honorable Mentions
Mark A. Morris
Eric says: We don’t know who Alexa is or why she’s in this prison, but we can see her, can’t we? We can feel the canvas and the worry for the future. We know she’s a woman of some means – a lot? A little? Will she find her someone waiting for her when she walks out the doors? If, that is, she walks out the doors? I love when I get to ask questions of a story.
Katheryn J. Avila | @katheryn_avila
Eric says: Two stories this week about rebuilding, this one with the grandmother alive. You can feel the land in this story, the trees that have crept into the yard, the bright flowers calling for you to find a way to coexist with them even as you rebuild the home. I hope it gets done in six months. I hope the grandmother gets to enjoy it and connect with her past.
winner announcement
Week 506 Winner
Eric says: It’s tough to paint that clear a picture in so few words, but I can see the house, feel the sunlight, and hear the voices. In my mind’s eye, the narrator is a young woman, thrilled at the chance to work on this project with her dad, and he’s just as excited. The best stories paint just enough to let you fill in the blanks and make it your own, setting fire to your own imagination. Nicely done.
Staring at the house I grew up visiting every day after school, after church, for meals, I realize it’s mine, now. Grandma’s gone now, and I’ve inherited her house. And boy do we have a lot of work to do. This poor thing is stuck in the past, with orange and pink psychedelic wallpaper, green 70s shag carpet, and harvest gold appliances. The one blessing is all the woodwork is original and Grandma polished it daily.
“Well, here’s the keys.” Grandma’s panda charm still dangles from the front door key. “Guess we’ll have to talk about fixing the place up a bit. Mom left you some money for improvements, but knowing you, it will take twice that.”
“Staying in a budget…how tough would that be?” I smirk at Dad, and he rolls his eyes.
The sun hits an orange spot of wallpaper and we both flinch. Dad sighs, eyes misting a bit. He loves telling stories of growing up in this house. He and Mom built their house a few hundred feet away, so he and Dad could farm together. I’m not interested in college, so I’m going to live here, a few hundred feet away from my folks and farm with Dad.
“Well, let’s get a plan drawn up.”
We settle at Grandma’s table and Dad pulls out his drafting paper.
~~~~~~~
Congratulations Seventeen Time Winner Kelly, and Honorable Mentions Mark, and Katheryn! 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! 🙂
