Week 694 of #ThursThreads was a success, a remarkable feat for 13 solid years. Thank you to everyone who writes each week. You are why we’re still doing this. I’m truly grateful for all y’all!
If you’ve just found us, welcome to the crew! May you come back again and write more great flash. A thousand thanks to Eric Martell for judging this week. Follow Siobhan Muir on Bluesky or check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction server on Discord or the #ThursThreads Group on MeWe to keep up with news, etc.
Entries:
- Bill Engleson
- Silver James
- Siobhan Muir
- David A. Ludwig
- Sheilagh Lee
- Kelly Heinen
- Miranda Gammella
Honorable Mention
Sheilagh Lee | Website
Eric says: A bit on-the-nose with the message, but it resonates anyway. We understand her, we know him (hopefully we haven’t been him). What we wouldn’t give for the people like him we know to be fired from their fifth fast food job after an epic, self-inflicted fall from grace.
winner announcement
Week 694 Winner
Eric says: I’m a sucker for a good “scene from a life” story, and this certainly qualifies. We know about her job, her name, and that she’d really rather the bus not be late on a foggy evening after 11. We don’t know much about the boy, just how he looks and that he’s antsy. But we don’t need to know more. You can fill in more of the story if you want.
In a Fog
“Thick as pea soup. Ain’t that what they say, Lady?”
He’s a rough lookin’ boy. Just him and me at the loop. Waiting for the 11:05. There’s usually just me, Maggie McAdam, leaving my shift at the Conkers. Tucking the old bird in, not leavin’ until Hestia comes for the graveyard shift. She was on time tonight. Not always the way with her.
I don’t like talking to folks after work. My brains all full of home care fiddle-faddle, cleaning, wiping, all the messy little bits and bobs of caring for the feeble. But I’d better say something. Just to be polite. Unless he’s got somethin’ else on his rough little mind. Rough lookin’ but not all that big. My size if it comes to that.
I nod, say. “Yes, that’s what they say. I’ve said it meself once in a while,” I throw in, just to be polite, let him know I’m normal.
Think it, anyways.
“Bus might be late,” he says.
I glance at my wristwatch, and he’s right. 11:10 pm.
“The fog,” I offer as if it could be anything else. Stupid thing to say. So I add, “Usually pretty on time. That counts for something, right?”
“Not in my book. Slack ass drivers. Taking their own good time. I got places to be…you know what I mean?”
“Me too, “ I say though I want to say, ‘Maybe you should just start walkin’.’
I don’t of course.
I just want to get home.
~~~~~~~
Congratulations FORTY-ONE TIME WINNER Bill, and Honorable Mention Sheilagh! Don’t forget to claim your badges and display them with pride. You certainly earned it!
Pass on the great news on Facebook, Discord, MeWe, Bluesky, Mastodon, shiny mirrors, Morse Code, and signal flags. Check out all the original tales HERE. Thanks for stopping by and happy reading! 🙂
