“It was a night like this when we met, remember?” Roumina used to rub my back when I started reminiscing. She would be silent then, as she is now. “A humid June night. You asked to bum a cigarette.” A pained laugh escapes my lips. “Back when we thought it was cool to…
Jason stopped mid-stride. “Is that a king or a coral snake?” “Red and black means a friendly Jack.” “Don’t be an ass, Drake. No snake is friendly. Answer the question.” “Red and yellow will kill a fellow.” “Well, that thing has red touching black and red touching yellow. So which is it?” Drake shrugged.…
“That’s it.” Bea nodded her head toward the gray block building. “That’s the Med-Lab? It looks deserted.” “Most of the staff go to and from using a tunnel system.” Mac studied the windows, but watching for signs of movement was impossible through the opaque glass. “Do you remember when they change shifts?” “No. All…
Her mouth twisted in jagged lines, chin and cheeks fractured in the reflection. Seven years bad luck. It’s already been eight. Elaine raised her glass to her lips. Ice cubes rattled against the crystal and rainbows glinted off the beveled squares that wrapped around the tumbler. She drew in a mouthful of bitter, honey-colored…
“Your throne, Your Majesty!” The duke bowed and duchess curtsied. The king gazed at the perch across the moat. Light glimmered off the gilded royal seat. Rubies encrusted in the high back sparkled. “How shall I get there?” The duke stepped back and gestured to the gleaming horse and carriage, both draped in the ornate dressings of the…
The metal creaked under her feet. “Are you sure this is the only way?” The younger girl glanced back. “We’re not far now.” An unnatural quiet surrounded them. Mac focused on each footstep and the pressure she put on the ancient steel beams. Most were decaying from rust, revealing gaps to the ground and…
Precious (Fiction; 100 words) The boy bounced and strained against the belt. “Settle down, Precious. You mustn’t appear overactive.” His guardian, a middle-aged woman with deep wrinkles and a permanent odor of smoke, checked her watch again. “They could decide they don’t want you and then what? All that wasted time and effort.” He grimaced…
All’s Fair in Love and Camping (Fiction; 99 words) “How much longer? It feels like we’ve been driving through this park forever.” This may have been a mistake. “Up around the bend here. Home sweet home for two nights.” Hayden forced a light tone and an exaggerated grin. “It’s a tent.” “Um, yeah. We’re camping.”…
Fresh (Fiction; 100 words) She’ll love this. Billie set down her paint brush and smoothed a few hairs from her face with the back of her hand. The wet lavender paint shined in the late afternoon sun. New coat of paint, new town, new start. She’ll be happier here. It’ll be good for us. She’ll see.…
The Road Less Traveled Fiction; 100 words Mac stared at the decrepit road from the tree line. It stretched east and west, further than she could see. A few birds hopped around deep holes that marred the surface, pecking at the black dirt and rocks. John crept forward and crouched next to her. “What…
VCE Chemistry teacher in Melbourne, Australia
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Fiction Writing
The Mom Who Runs: 