Week 574 of #ThursThreads, and y’all never disappoint. We’ve made it 11 years! Well done and thank you to everyone who writes each week. You made this happen. 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
- Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil
- Silver James | @SilverJames_
- Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir
- Mark A. Morris
- Eric Martell | @drmag00
- David A. Ludwig | @DavidALudwig
- M.T. Decker | @mishmhem
Honorable Mentions
David A. Ludwig
Siobhan says: What I liked about this tale was the simple and enduring friendship. Friends don’t have to be asked – they’re more than willing to have your back and go on an adventure just to spend time with you. Really liked that sentiment. Nicely done.
Eric Martell
Siobhan says: The ending was too open-ended to be the winner, but I really liked this story. I liked how Ronnie understood what she’d lost especially when it came to the why behind it. But I would’ve liked to know where she was going, what her plan was. Good tale.
winner announcement
Week 574 Winner
Siobhan says: What I liked about this tale was the very real exhaustion of Maggie. I’m not an ER nurse, but I understand the feeling. And then the resignation of still having to do her job at home. But her last remark, I could hear the eye roll at the line he fed her. Great tale.
Maggie wanted three things—a hot bath, a stiff drink, and a good night’s sleep. They were short-staffed at the ER and she’d pulled a double shift. She stood, undecided, in the front hall of her grandmother’s house. Booze or bath first?
Outside, braking tires screamed like a bansidhe. She heard a thud then a car door slamming and squealing tires once more. Instinctively, she rushed to the door but hesitated as her hand gripped the doorknob. Pressing her ear against the heavy wood, she listened. Nothing. Standing on tiptoes, she put her eye to the peephole. Like a blotch of shadow, something sprawled on her front steps.
She did not want to open the door and go out there. “ER nurse,” she muttered and knew. She had no choice. Gripping her phone tightly in one hand, she flipped the deadbolt and unlocked the door. Opening it a crack, she peered out. No cars moving on the street. No pedestrians either. There were few lights on in the houses around her. It was after midnight so no surprise.
Squaring her shoulders, Maggie opened the door and stuck her head out. She scouted the entire street. Nothing moved. She crept out and eased down the steps to the body collapsed there. She hunkered down. Male. Breathing. Bleeding. A lot. Her training kicked in. She recognized the man. Her very handsome and sexy next-door neighbor. His eyes opened.
“Have I died and gone t’heaven?” he slurred.
“Since I’m no angel, not hardly.”
~~~~~~~
Congratulations SIXTY-FOUR TIME WINNER Silver, and Honorable Mentions David, 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! 🙂
