Week 718 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 Katheryn J. Avila for judging this week. Follow Siobhan Muir on Bluesky or check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction server on Discord or the #ThursThreads group on Facebook to keep up with news, etc.
Entries:
- Bill Engleson
- Silver James
- Mark Ethridge
- Siobhan Muir
- Eric Martell
- David A. Ludwig
Honorable Mention
Silver James | Website
Katheryn says: I’m a sucker for romance, and even more so when the love interest is both reluctant and protective. Even in this short scene, the connection between the two characters felt intense. I really enjoyed this!
winner announcement
Week 718 Winner
Katheryn says: This piece spoke to me on a spiritual level. I’ve been there, staring at the dishes and wanting to scream, so tired it feels unnatural. Being a caretaker is tough, and this piece felt viscerally real. Well done!
Have you ever tried not to cry when you think about washing the dishes at night? I know. It’s stupid. And silly. To look at the dishes and try not to cry. Or scream. Or throw things. Or in general react like a 2-year-old. But these days that’s what happens when I look at the dishes.
Every now and then I manage to wash them. Too often I fail.
I used to be able to wash the dishes any time I wanted to. That was before the tired set it. Before her father fell and broke his leg in multiple places. Since then, we take care of her parents. When they need to get to a doctor’s appointment, we get them there. When they need odds and ends picked up at the store, we pick them up.
I tell myself this is OK. This is normal. That it’s OK to be this tired. This ready to take another nap. After all these months of taking care of her parents, I’m tired. And I know it.
I feel it every time I look at the kitchen sink, and the dishes. And every time I look at the dishes I want to walk away and hide somewhere. So the dishes pile up like they never used to pile up. And I keep trying to make myself wash them.
I look at the sink, and I think, “I’ve got you.” Then sometimes. Too often. I add, “Tomorrow.”
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Congratulations TWENTY-FIVE TIME WINNER Mark, and Honorable Mention Silver! Don’t forget to claim your badges and display them with pride. You certainly earned it!
Pass on the great news on Facebook, Discord, Bluesky, Mastodon, shiny mirrors, Morse Code, and signal flags. Check out all the original tales HERE. Thanks for stopping by and happy reading! 🙂
