Title: The Fairytale
Source: Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers – Week of March 14, 2017
Word count: 160 words

They told the story every year, but nobody believed it. Only Alufa believed. Mother told her people use to follow the words of the story, but they found nothing. She said it was only a fairytale.

Alufa didn’t accept the argument that since no one had found it, it wasn’t real. This year she decided not to wait any longer. She packed a bag and set out alone, guided only by memorized words and unwavering conviction.

She walked for days, weeks, months, banishing the tendrils of doubt each time they entered her mind. Reciting the words aloud as she walked, she stopped and stared wondering if her eyes merely conjured what she wished to find. She walked closer and tentatively reached out to verify the illusion. Her hand touched metal, the car from the story.

Alufa, collapsed against the rusting metal frame, she had found the portal. The story was true and at last she would lead her people home.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Title: The Bequest
Source: Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers – Week of March 7, 2017
Word count: 170 words

Harper read the will multiple times, but one bequest still confused her. Alzheimer’s took Mother, but the will was written when she was still lucid, just after Dad past away. There hadn’t been a will when Dad died, but Mother demanded she have one.

Named the executor, Harper found most of Mother’s wishes easy to honor, some even mundane. Still she left one task undone. The attorney finally insisted she finish so the case could be closed.

As Mother wished, the brand new grand piano was delivered to Harper’s house. She placed it in a rarely used room, where it wouldn’t make her wonder.

Months later Aunt Martha came to visit and asked about the piano. Harper told her the story, confessing her bewilderment. Martha hugged her and explained.

“As a little girl, you begged for piano lessons. They couldn’t afford the piano or the lessons. Your mother always regretted it. You don’t remember?”

When Martha left, the piano was moved to the living room and at last Harper understood.

__________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Title: Dinner

Source: Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers – Week of February 28, 2017

Word count: 170 words

The children needed to learn there was more than video games and concrete. So, he moved them to the farm and his own childhood. Three faces, alternating between angelic and devilish, kept him on his toes. He had prepared them for today.

“Remember what I told you. The cow is not a pet. We are not naming the cow. He is someone’s dinner. While the cow is here we will feed him, and give him a good life.”

The children had been excited, petting and feeding the cow and asking question after question. He answered while gently reminding them not to name the cow. At last they headed into the house for dinner, homework and bed.

The next afternoon three excited children leapt off the school bus yelling as they ran up the lane.

“Whoa, slow down, one at a time.”

“Daddy can we go feed Dinner now.”

“Dinner?”

“Yes, Dinner the cow.”

“What?”

“You said the cow was Dinner.”

He shook his head and laughed.

“Let’s go feed Dinner.”

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer