Category: Flash Fiction

The Reality Theme ParkThe Reality Theme Park is open to all. People are drawn to it for the unusual experience. In daily life, we rarely look at the unpleasant. There is a Park in many major cities–and every capital city. Politicians and their staffs often feel an obligation to go to experience Reality at least […]

Why We Create Stinkers Towards the end, pretty much everyone involved, including Patricia, knew it was a stinker.  It could have been a publisher or theatrical producer or opera composer, but in this instance it was a film.  Even the Producer thought the script shallow and derivative, but there was enough money to turn it […]

Star Draggin Once upon a time, in a galaxy far far away (across the street does not work,) a grand adventure began–because Fred wanted more. That was the extent of his tale, truly: he had little and wanted more.  He wanted what the elites had–justice, love, good beer (Fred avoided beer because it looked so […]

Ballrooms And Bunkers The President was remaking the capital city in his imagined image.  Haunted by monsters from his past, he demolished part of the official Presidential home to build a huge ballroom–however, renovations on official land required approval.  The President never waited for approval–his motto was steam ahead, never apologize.  His solution?  Declare a […]

Ernie Uses His Bore-0-Meter Ernie did not wonder why no one listened to what he said to them.  He knew.  He was a bore. How did he know?  Through science.  Ernie invented the Bore-0-Meter to determine his boredom level.  He wore it under his shirt, and listened to the results in an earpiece.  It registered […]

Diplomacy Diplomacy was hanging out in the Club, patiently explaining its concerns to War and Anger.   Peace chatted with Envy in one corner, Jealousy with Love in another.  Only Friendship was concerned with what Diplomacy was saying.  War and Anger listened with obvious impatience as Diplomacy told them: settle disputes by knowing what the other […]

Arnold And Mediocre Arnold was very wealthy, proud of himself–but had come to accept he was mediocre.  He did not want to be mediocre.  He wanted to be known for creating original things (whatever they might be.)  Yet he had no original ideas—neither, he reasoned, did anyone else.  Over five thousand years civilizations had plowed […]

Sam Watches Horror Movies Sam was 81.  He settled into his favourite armchair, his Jaws shark popcorn bowl full, and turned on Netflix to watch the latest horror movie.  Sam loved chills, vicariously experiencing danger.  Creative gore was cool.  It was a cheap thrill which hurt—and affected—no one.  Sam loved cheap thrills, they were vital […]

Treading Water All his life Dan felt as if he was treading water–even when there was no water.  He had a good family, successes, yet always felt naked and floating, going nowhere.  The sunny blue sky grew dark, there was rain and wind and turbulence.  His main task was keeping his head above water.  He […]

Needing To Be Productive Milt was a writer who wrote about writing–and if not writing, reading writing (which he found enlightening.)  He thought he was right so (despite some insights) he continued to write (often into the night.)  Insights?  He had few readers, wrote only on online blog publications, writing every day as if an […]

Wildfire Smoke George did not want to breathe air he could see: orangey brown, a steady haze in the sky.  It was a yellow alert, not the worst but people were advised to stay indoors, breathe through masks.  The smoke was Covid, a spreading disease, a disease of fire.  Wildfires start with lightening–a message from […]

Waiting To See Spider-man Victor was excited to see the new Spider-man movie–but the first weekend, every theatre was sold out.  Theatres continued to be sold out as the week progressed.  The success of the new film was phenomenal, around the world.  Victor was thrilled at the film’s success.  If you asked why Victor was […]

You Are Never The Boss Society was broken.  Felicity believed it could be fixed.  Her government was a swamp, as was the corporate complex complicating things.  It had to be drained, cleansed, restocked.  It was a reflecting pool of society.  She had just finished college, with a B.A. majoring  in Nothing Useful with a minor […]

Travelling Life’s Road A sharp curve was on an entrance to the bridge.  One day the road was free of traffic and dry, Glenda  driving at moderate speed when in the middle of the curve the car suddenly spun in a complete circle, Glenda frozen as her world whirled.  She gently braked, the car stopped.  […]

Are Possessions Vital? Irwin had a standalone computer and a laptop–he only needed one.  He also had two cars, theirs and his late mother-in-law’s.  His wife drove that red car to work–Irwin worked from home, did not need a car, yet they maintained both.  And storage lockers filled with possessions they were unable  to part […]

Brain’s Brain Brian’s brain and stomach held a conference (with his kidneys, bladder, liver, lungs and heart sitting in, his muscles shuddering.)  A few years ago the conference became weekly.  Today’s conference theme: Improving Communications.  Everyone but Brian’s brain came prepared, with notes.  “We don’t communicate at all!” Brian’s stomach angrily began.   His brain […]

Life On Film Tom had a career related to movies, working with actors once they reached thirty, men and women who were aging out.  Films used young leads.  Audiences wanted youth and fine bodies.  The thespians expected their careers to wither into supporting roles, solely due to age.   Which was when Tom’s work began.  […]

Frank And Society Frank believed happiness came from managing expectations of society.  He managed  expectations of politicians, accepting they lied (at least disassembled,) often failed to keep promises, on occasion sexually harassed their office staff and could be remarkably vague when bookkeeping.  Frank’s key to happiness: lowered expectations of society.  These days, Frank wondered how […]

Roads Each morning he woke (which took about an hour, reading the news on his computer, drinking coffee, taking his morning pills.)  Then, settled, he’d ponder what to do that day.  Every day he had to decide which fork in the road to chose.  Right or left, into the sunshine or darkness.  Clarence had roads […]

Talking And Listening Eddie worried that few of his friends or families or colleagues listened to him—and he loved to talk.  He inserted witty or perceptive comments into conversations which were ignored.  It not that they disagreed.  It was that—what?  They were bored?  Was it what he said?  Or was it…him?    He analyzed what […]