The Stranger Within – 100 Word Wednesday Week

October 4, 2019October 4, 2019 / JoHawkTheWriter / 17 Comments

Title: The Stranger Within
Source: 100 Word Wednesday: Week 140
Word count: 100 words
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Tilly stood at the pool’s edge, acutely aware that she didn’t belong there. The rippling water displayed a distorted image of a familiar stranger in a wedding gown. She searched the flowing reflection, ever-changing it offered multiple perspectives.

Beyond the pool deck, they had erected a white tent where everyone waited. Suspended, her future felt eager for her arrival. But she lingered here, contemplating the divergence, she felt the despair heavy in her heart.

The blacktopped parking lot lay behind her, a seductive alternative offering her another way.

Black and white had never been so grey. Breathing deeply, she jumped.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Masking Reality – Thursday Threads

October 4, 2019October 3, 2019 / JoHawkTheWriter / 6 Comments

filled white disposable cup on table

Photo by Fengyou Wan on Unsplash

Concentrate on the happy things they said.

But I don’t have happy things.

Nothing major. Something small that makes you smile. They bored me.

Jeremy was much more pragmatic. He was still a pain in my ass, and entirely too optimistic, for his own good. But there were the occasions when he was tired, or distracted, and I caught an edge of cynicism in his tone. I could work on him.

In the cafeteria, they served a strong, black, bitter coffee in thin, brown paper cups. Most drowned it with packets of sweetener and milk, disguising its true nature. That was the problem, we are all hiding the truth. I sipped, repressing my grimace.

I didn’t have to wait long, Jeremy, with his armload of green files and sporting his usual white coat soon joined me at my table.

“How are we this morning?”

“We are happy.”

“Is that so?” Jeremy lifted an eyebrow, “And why is that?”

I raised the flimsy coffee cup, my silent toast to my worthy adversary. I took a sip.

“I see,” he said, retrieving a cheap, disposable ballpoint from his jacket pocket. “And the new medication?”

I shrugged.

He flipped open my chart and began taking notes. I waited. When he looked at me, I regaled him with the fruit of my practice and smiled.

“How is it we are so happy today?”

“It’s easy. I block out the screams.”

Jeremy patted my hand.

“Sounds like we are making progress.”

Jeremy had no idea.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Choosing Action – 3 Line Tales

October 3, 2019October 3, 2019 / JoHawkTheWriter / 3 Comments

From Sonya’s 3LineTales at Only100Words.
You can find the original prompt here. Thank you, Sonya

three line tales, week 192: a rainbow over a plaza Photo by Sara Riaño via Unsplash

Rosie heard the sayings, listened to the famous, sappy song, and she believed the pot of gold existed at the rainbow’s end.

It wasn’t a secret, no one contested the facts, but when a rainbow appeared, they stood motionless, staring, stuck with wonder, afraid to act.

The minute the colors splashed across the sky, Rosie chose an end and ran headlong towards her goal.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Hollow Victory – Friday Fictioneers

October 3, 2019 / JoHawkTheWriter / 29 Comments

Title: Hollow Victory
Source: Friday Fictioneers sponsored by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple
Word count: 100 words

PHOTO PROMPT © Dale Rogerson

Ginny balanced the Louisville Slugger against her leg and sighed, realizing she had earned her fifteen minutes of fame. Her friends would slap her back. They would call her the bomb.

She had grown tired of hanging her head, ducking questions and running scared. The trash talk time had ended, and the time for action had arrived. She stepped up to the plate, dug in, and swung for the fences.

The police, so slow to protect her, were quick to arrest her, but her file proved it was self-defense. No matter what they said, it didn’t feel like a victory.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

An Event – FFfPP

October 1, 2019 / JoHawkTheWriter / 3 Comments

Title: An Event
Source: FLASH FICTION FOR THE PURPOSEFUL PRACTITIONER- 2017 WEEK #39
Word count: 200 words

https://morguefile.com/creative/GaborfromHungary/41/all _DSC9724

Rachel checked the time. She was sure their text had said eleven, but the sidewalk café was deserted. Her compulsion ensured she was always early. But she expected someone would be here, setting up maybe? There were no life signs.

She sighed, digging her phone from her purse, and squinted at the screen. It was blank. She glanced around the empty street and looked skyward. She shifted, positioning her body to shield the sun’s glare. No bars. No connections, and when she tried to access her texts, nothing displayed.

Her gut twisted, but she pushed it aside, refusing to acknowledge it. She sat in a chair, resigned to waiting. They would arrive soon. The minutes ticked, the wind blew, and clouds scudded across the sky. Shivering, she waited for the shadow to pass.

“How are you alive?” A respirator’s hiss obscured a man’s voice. The black-uniformed figure emerged from the dark craft hovering behind him.

“I’m waiting for my friends,” Rachel’s heart pounded in her chest.

“They’re not coming.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Come with me.”

“Why? What’s happened?”

“There’s been an event. No one survived.”

“But, I’m here.”

“That’s why you must come with me,” he said, extending his hand.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

The Devil’s Playground – #MenageMonday

October 1, 2019September 30, 2019 / JoHawkTheWriter / 3 Comments

Source: Dreamstime

Friday night regulars, they met to drink, play cards and see how much of each other’s payday they could steal.

“Does it help?” Malachi asked flipping a card toward Tyrone.

Tyrone’s gnarled finger directed it to rest on top of his other cards. He sighed.

“Naw man. Ain’t nothing helpin my luck, tonight,” he pushed back his chair and took the last drag off his cigarette as it burned into the filter.

“Hey, you leavin?”

Tyrone stubbed out the butt and fished a handful of coins from his pocket.

“Reckon I gots me enough to git home.”

“Just me and you, Reggie,” Malachi said as he gathered the deck.

Smoke billowed around Reggie’s head, but he remained silent.

Tyrone and Willie watched the hand play out. Willie ordered another drink, and Tyrone sauntered to the wrought iron exit. Outside, the express pulled away. He considered making it stop. As he sat in darkness, it began to rain, and the gutter became a rushing river. Wind howled and lightening flashed in the sky.

“Brother looks like misery done shit on your parade.” A red Cadillac rolled up on the curb.

“Ain’t as bad as all that,” Tyrone said.

Reggie leaned across the Cadillac’s seat.

“Hey, O Mighty Prince of Darkness. H’bout you hop in and we’ll truck your ass home where it belongs? All Hell’s bustin lose, and your subjects be needin your dark hand.”

Tyrone puffed on another glowing cigarette.

“Like I was sayin, ain’t as bad as all that.”

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Remembering My Forgotten Man – Flash Fiction Challenge

September 29, 2019 / JoHawkTheWriter / 17 Comments

Title: Remembering My Forgotten Man
Source: Flash Fiction Challenge
Prompt: Write a story about someone unremembered.
Word count: 99 words

old photos in brown wooden chest Photo by Roman Kraft on Unsplash

The best pieces were auctioned first. The hammer fell, the winning bidders paid, and scurried home clutching their new, old treasures. I stayed to the bitter end, bidding on lots no one else wanted. My prizes cost me a dollar, and the auctioneer tossed in other unsold items.

At home, I uncovered an antique trove. Pictures of a long-forgotten gentleman. My finger outlined his sepia-toned face, and I wondered about his life. Was he a good man? A brute? A devoted son? A cruel father? Whatever happened, the photos chronicled his lost legacy, unremembered, in my bargain auction finds.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

The Price of Survival – 100 Word Wednesday

September 29, 2019 / JoHawkTheWriter / 6 Comments

Title: The Price of Survival
Source: 100 Word Wednesday: Week 139
Word count: 100 words

Image by Cyranny

It wasn’t glamorous, but desperate humans took any job to help pay for survival. Trey learned early when the day boss paid cash, he wasn’t paying you to ask questions. Today’s assignment promised a hefty bonus upon successful completion of eight hours spent sitting in a black panel van. His instructions were to call to report any changes.

Trey watched a deserted alleyway, struggling to stay awake. A low-frequency hum made him twist in his seat as he tried to locate the source. It grew louder and shook the truck. Too late, he realized the alien abduction stories were true.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Hitting Restart – 3 Line Tales

September 28, 2019 / JoHawkTheWriter / 3 Comments

From Sonya’s 3LineTales at Only100Words.
You can find the original prompt here. Thank you, Sonya

four boys playing football in a lush green meadow photo by Robert Collins via Unsplash

Oppressed by smoke-filled lounges, pressured by incessant demands, and depressed by his dismal gray life, he sings of halcyon days when opportunities lay before him.

He clutches a faded photo, reliving wrong turns, what could have been, and love lost along the way.

After a lifetime spent running away, he croons, promising with the new dawn, a reborn man will stand tall to honor his legacy.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Less Than Expected – Weekend Writing Prompt

September 28, 2019 / JoHawkTheWriter / 9 Comments

Title: Less Than Expected
Source: Weekend Writing Prompt #125 – Ultimatum
Objective: Write a poem or piece of prose in exactly 62 words

Photo by Luigi Boccardo on Unsplash

Teresa lived in happiness, cultivated friends and fun until her father issued his ultimatum.

Straighten up, fly right, life is a serious business, he said. Walk the narrow path, focus on your goals, success lies in reaching your destination.

She complied, eliminating distractions until she sat alone, heartbroken in her hollow golden paradise and wept for the life, she might have known.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer