Happy Holidays! Week 541 of #ThursThreads, and y’all never disappoint. We’re in Year 10 and that’s an accomplishment in itself! Thank you to all y’all for coming back to write for all these years. I couldn’t have done it without you. If you’ve just found us, welcome to the crew! You’re in good company. May you come back again and write more great flash. Check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on Facebook or the #ThursThreads Group on MeWe to keep up with news, etc.
Entries:
- Bill Engleson | @billmelaterplea
- Mark Ethridge | @mysoulstears
- Eric Martell | @drmag00
- Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir
- Mark A. Morris
- Silver James | @SilverJames_
- Audra Trosper
- David A. Ludwig | @DavidALudwig
- Stacy Bennett | @SBennettWrites
- M.T. Decker | @mishmhem
Honorable Mentions
Bill Engleson | @billmelaterplea
Siobhan says: I’ve read a lot of Bill’s noir writings but this one stood out. An acknowledgment of the predicament a lot of women find themselves in. That acknowledgment by men is important because most men wave it off. This tale gave the impression he was no longer sweeping it under the rug.
Eric Martell | @drmag00
Sobhan says: Oh my. When the KID is scarier than the threat of no gifts. And mom better get home quick to back up dad before the kid makes things even more difficult. Made me laugh and hope she gets there in time, lol.
winner announcement
Week 541 Winner
Siobhan says: “But did you die?” Always the quintessential question that’s guaranteed to make me spit my coffee out in laughter. Still, Cal’s observations rings of truth about communication and avoidance. The last bit of the conversation made me laugh. Well done.
A Hard Talk
“Look I can’t explain it to you.”
“Sure you can. Ya start talkin’ You find a place to begin and just say what’s on your mind.”
“It’s not that simple.”
Cal looked to the skies and shook his head. “You got breath in your lungs, you sittin’ there tellin’ me it ain’t simple. Ah can do complicated. Ah just need words.”
He could feel her glaring at him as he walked inside, grabbed two beers from the cooler, and handed her one before opening his.
He took a pull. He let his breath out with a satisfied smile and studied it for a minute.
“I can tell you the process used to brew this here beer. I can talk ‘bout chemical reactions and fermentation. Or I can just say, it’s good, but I’m still talkin’ bout it. It ain’t complicated – it’s just beer,”
“We aren’t talking about beer.”
“No, we aren’t, we also ain’t talkin’ ‘bout your daddy neither. No we’re talkin’ hard about how you ain’t talkin’ about him. Why you so afraid ‘ah him?”
“I’m not afraid of him.”
“Well, cher, you afraid ah somethin’ an the more you don’t talk about it, the worse it gonna get.”
“You don’t know what it’s like.”
Cal snorted and took another sip. “Mah daddy used people like puppets, an he tried to kill me when I was five so as he could live forever. Yours can’t be dat bad.”
“Maybe, maybe not.”
“But did you die?”
“No.”
“Dat’s a start.”
~~~~~~~
Congratulations TWENTY-FOUR TIME WINNER Mary, and Honorable Mentions Bill and Eric! 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! 🙂
