Week 565 of #ThursThreads, and y’all never disappoint. We’re more than halfway through our tenth year and the time is flying. Thank you to everyone who writes each week. 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. A thousand thanks to Nikki Prince 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
- Silver James | @SilverJames_
- Bill Engleson | @billmelaterplea
- Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil
- Kayla West | @bookwormattack
- Mark A. Morris
- Louisa Bacio | @Louisabacio
- David A. Ludwig | @DavidALudwig
- Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir
- M.T. Decker | @mishmhem
Nikki says: I love judging these. Everyone’s writing is fantastic. It’s hard every time to pick people because [there’s] an awesome set of authors writing for this. Every story was great, but I could only pick a few.
Honorable Mentions
Katheryn J. Avila | @katheryn_avila
Nikki says: “Here’s hoping the knot in my chest is just anxiety and not a premonition.” – Katheryn J. Avila
Loved how this was wrapped up. There was just enough there to keep me invested and wanting to know if it’s a premonition or just her anxiety.
David A. Ludwig | @DavidALudwig
Nikki says: “She calmly cleaned her blade under the watchful eye of her grandfather.” – David A. Ludwig
Wow how dare you get me caught up in 175 words! This was awesome please tell me there will be more?
M.T. Decker | @mishmhem
Nellie says: “Failure, it always an option, not a good one, failure will make things more difficult, lessin’ you fail to die when they want you to. Death, now death makes things all kinds of difficult.” -Mishmhem
This reminded me of the books my father read when I was a kid and I used to sneak them off his dresser to read them. Loved this. It also reminds me of dad in some ways as he’s from Alabama…loved how Cal talked.
winner announcement
Week 565 Winner
Louisa Bacio | @Louisabacio
Nikki says: “Some found themselves stuck in a situation by circumstance or choice. She’d been born into it and then some. Her Momma—Devil curse her soul—never held down a job or a man, until this one.” -Louisa Bacio
I was swept up into this tale right from the beginning. I could actually feel the girl’s pain and that is what is needed when writing tear jerkers. I do hope this is going to be a book.
The dull knife blade took effort to chop through the peeled potatoes and carrots. She leaned into it. She’d stopped complaining, remembering the sting of his backhanded slap the last time.
“Stop your bitchin’.” He didn’t have to say it, to hear it in her head.
She’d lit so many candles, recited so many rituals, wished upon every first star every night for eternity, only to be stuck in this hellhole. When he drank, it got worse.
Some found themselves stuck in a situation by circumstance or choice. She’d been born into it and then some. Her Momma—Devil curse her soul—never held down a job or a man, until this one. The house they lived in had belonged to her grandmother.
“Failure will make things more difficult.” What the hell did that mean? She’d think it was some sort of Star Wars Jedi speak but her stepdaddy was too mean for that “Nerd shit.”
The smart thing would be holding out until she turned eighteen or trying to report him again. But he knew people. And where would she go? The house belonged to her, until Momma married the asshole and downed too many pills and whisky.
He snored, mouth open, head back on the living room recliner. The pulse of the vein in his neck danced, tempting.
Another dumb thing he’d said, “It’ll hurt me more than it’ll hurt you.”
She weighed the heft of the cleaver in her right hand.
Well, that one may be true.
~~~~~~~
Congratulations Eleven Time Winner Louisa, and Honorable Mentions Katheryn, David, and Mary! 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! 🙂
