Week 593 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. 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
- Siobhan Muir
- J. Thomas Ganzer
- Mark A. Morris
- David A. Ludwig
- M.T. Decker
Honorable Mention
M.T. Decker | Website
Eric says: Why do we create art? What draws us to art? It’s a particularly human kind of magic.
winner announcement
Week 593 Winner
Eric says: Buttons exist to be pressed. Even the ones that launch nukes. A wonderful story about what people might think when presented with the ultimate button.
BUTTON…
“I’ve always wanted to do this. Just push at it. Hammer it down. It’d be the greatest thing. And then afterwards, there wouldn’t be any recriminations. Everyone else would be gone.” Scott grinned and jabbed at the button, first with two fingers and then using his fist. The launch indicator lights remained stubbornly green, the missiles still sleeping, their payloads of nuclear destruction waiting patiently for their release.
“And that’s why we have fail-safes,” Harry said, looking nervous. “Christ Almighty. I think you would. I really worry about you sometimes. Remind me to never nominate you for a position of authority. You’d be the end of us all. You’re deranged.”
Scott shrugged. “It’d be such a blast, though. Wouldn’t it? I’d be in this bunker. Tucked away, not a care in the world. And global warming wouldn’t ever be a problem. The nuclear winter would take care of that.”
“Hmmm. Yes. You’ve got it all worked out. But what would you do then? How would you pass your time? Would you count corpses every night if you couldn’t sleep? Or would you sleep soundly, not a care in the world? I’d need to have someone down here with me for company. Not that I’d launch an attack. I’d hate to have the responsibility to do that.”
“And that’s why you’d never be chosen. You’re weak-minded. Self-possessed. I’m exactly the kind of person they’d go for. Somebody who wouldn’t question his orders. A man who’d do what he was told.”
~~~~~~~
Congratulations THIRTY-SEVEN TIME WINNER Mark, and Honorable Mention Mary! Don’t forget to claim your badges and display them with pride. You certainly earned it!
Pass on the great news on Facebook, MeWe, Bluesky, Mastodon, shiny mirrors, Morse Code, and signal flags. Check out all the original tales HERE. Thanks for stopping by and happy reading! 🙂
