Week 444 (Yuletide Edition) of #ThursThreads had many fantastic tales. I’m honored to see all the writers come to tie a tale as we start our ninth year. If you’ve been doing it a while, thank you for sticking with us. If you’ve just found us, welcome! May you come back again and write more great flash. Thousand thanks to Mary Decker for judging this for the holiday. Check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on Facebook or the #ThursThreads Group on MeWe to keep up with news, etc.
Entries:
- Mark A. Morris
- Bill Engleson | @billmelaterplea
- Katheryn J. Avila | @katheryn_avila
- Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil
- Kelly Heinen | @Aightball
- Cie | @readersroost
- Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir
- Silver James | @SilverJames_
- David A. Ludwig | @DavidALudwig
- Louisa Bacio | @Louisabacio
Mary says: Merry Christmas everybody! Sorry for the delay, there was a lot of life happening. Thank you for your wonderful stories as always, you make my job interesting.
Honorable Mentions
Bill Engleson | @billmelaterplea
Mary says: Your story had an interesting twist that turned the story on its end. Well done,sir.
Kelly Heinen | @Aightball
Mary says: Your story looked at something I never thought of – the idea of not messing with an immortal is a long-standing one – but you never think about the cost of one immortal crossing another.
Special mention
Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir
Mary says: I am so looking forward to more of this story – it just really makes me want to read more, and though you’re intelligible to win, I look forward to reading your entries and I was not let down in the slightest.
winner announcement
Week 444 Winner
Mary says: Reading your story I thought things were going in one direction, and they were, but then there was this delightful undertone. There’s just something about Judgemental Xenomorphic matchmakers that delights me in its uniqueness.
The star-cruiser hung above her. Beyond it, Alphadid’s star, its corona a seething disc of fire spreading across fifty-eight degrees of an arc. Her suit’s heat-exchangers were beginning to overload, the temperature of the air wafting across her face already oven-hot. She couldn’t remain here much longer, or she’d be roasted alive.
“Tell me more,” the alien demanded. “About your mother.”
Eleanor choked, the atmosphere burning her sinuses suddenly causing an obstruction, making her flail at the end of her tether.
“She was a formidable woman,” she gasped, drily. “She was the true head of our household. A much-misunderstood icon, in my eyes.”
The Hantorian’s thoughts pulsed again, interleaving with her own. It made her feel nauseated, as though the alien had poured its mind into her head.
“But yet you left her,” it accused. “You saw that she was aging but you still fled into space. Your brothers all had their own careers, so it was right they shouldn’t accept the liability. All four of them are now married, three of them with children. And yet, you’re still unmarried and without child.”
“I’m so sorry,” Eleanor mumbled, realising she had nothing to gain. “I think I ought to withdraw. Colonel Mills isn’t a xenolinguist, but I can help advise. He’s our commander. He should be here to negotiate, I think.”
The alien gave her mind another quick whirl, making her baulk. “Yes,” it said. “Please do. And maybe you two should socialise more; he’s got a doctorate, hasn’t he?”
~~~~~~~
Congratulations TWENTY-ONE TIME WINNER Mark, and Honorable Mentions Bill, and Kelly! 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! 🙂
