Week 594 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
- M.T. Decker
- Siobhan Muir
- Sheilagh Lee
- Mark Ethridge
- David A. Ludwig
- Mark A. Morris
Honorable Mention
David A. Ludwig | Website
Siobhan says: What I really appreciate this story is their attempt at non-violence. In our world, violence seems to be everyone’s go-to end result, and I find myself trying to move away from it. So I really liked that the aim was to negotiate and interact rather than kill. Nicely done.
Special Mention
Mary Decker
Siobhan says: What I liked about the story was the last line about seafood gumbo and chocolate. Not all of us love the sweets. Fun tale, and yeah, Valentine’s Day is gonna suck for the devout this year.
winner announcement
Week 594 Winner
Siobhan says: I feel this tale every time I have to do my own workout. But I also feel the very last dialog lines: “I don’t do this for them. I do this for me…This is how I survive.” He’s talking mental health, I’m thinking physical health, but either way, we’re both right. It isn’t for them, it’s for ‘me’. Great reminder.
“You’ve got it all worked out, don’t you? A regular daily schedule. You scheduled time to do dishes, laundry, your workout, even to get a shower, and take a nap.” I put my wallet and keys on the computer table. “A schedule that gets you through the day.” I took off my jacket and hung it on the back of the chair in front of the table.
This was the hardest part of the workout. Getting started. It sucked. And it sucked the life right out of me. I wandered to the top of the stairs and stared down at the stationary bike. “It’s only 30 minutes.”
30 minutes of sweat, and pain, and pushing my body. 30 minutes in which I’d ride that bike, according to its computer, over 8 miles.
“Why do you do this to yourself? You know that no one cares. You could get fat and die, and no one would really care.”
I went down the stairs, found my athletic shoes and put them on. “And I’m tired of hurting. You know that. Doing this just damn hurts.” I turned on the TV set, set it to stream music videos, then got on the stationary bike. I plugged in the computer on the bike and waited for it to complete its startup sequence.
“I don’t do this for them. I do this for me.”
30 minutes later I stopped. 8.23 miles according to the computer.
“This is how I survive.”
~~~~~~~
Congratulations TWENTY-TWO TIME WINNER Mark, and Honorable Mention David! 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! 🙂
