Month: March 2023

Care, by Bruce Arbuckle

BruceLeave a comment

I dread my last call on a Thursday. Grumpy Mr Tibbs is always rude and borderline offensive.

And I’m late no matter what I do.

“Watch broken, again,” he’ll grunt, shuffling away from the door. “Or can’t you lot tell the time?”

I’ll apologise, smiling. No point in telling him I’m not allocated enough time to do my job or to get from one client to another.

Today, he’s different.

He’s been crying and when I ask what’s wrong he bursts into tears and falls into my arms.

We’re not supposed to hug clients.

If he doesn’t tell, I won’t.

…

Find me (as HumpbuckleTales) on Mastodon

My drabbles (100-word stories) are always published first on Hive: https://peakd.com/@drabble.club

Read my daily 50 word stories in Humpbuckle Tales or on Hive or on Facebook

Find my 100 word tales right here

Keep on drabblin’!

Bruce Arbuckle (felt.buzz)

Made To Order, by Bruce Arbuckle

BruceLeave a comment

Sitting in the waiting room, he watches his parents fuss over her.

He was created for this moment.

“You know sister is unwell?” the conversation always began. How could he not know? It’s his story as much as hers. “One day you’ll save her life. You’re our little hero.”

Once proud of his mission to prevent his sibling’s premature death, he now feels like a commodity. A spare part. Custom made to fix his sister’s genetic condition.

He wants to escape. Run out the door and never look back.

But when the doctor calls his name he stands up smiling.

…

Written by Bruce Arbuckle, using a random word prompt “genetic”

…

Find me (as HumpbuckleTales) on Mastodon

My drabbles (100-word stories) are always published first on Hive: https://peakd.com/@drabble.club

Read my daily 50 word stories in Humpbuckle Tales or on Hive or on Facebook

Find my 100 word tales right here

Keep on drabblin’!

Bruce Arbuckle (felt.buzz)

Ruin Upon Us All, by Bruce Arbuckle

BruceLeave a comment

They were too far away to see but Krike could sense their approach .

Of the many foolish decisions the King had made, of late, the kidnapping of the young princess had topped them all.

The King’s only apparent talent was his ability to find advisors more stupid than he was. 

“He will bring war and ruin upon us all!”

Treason was no longer whispered in dark corridors, it was openly discussed.

There came a time, when one had to choose where your loyalty lay: with your king or your people.

Krike lit the signal beacon and unlocked the city gates.

…

Written by Bruce Arbuckle using a random word prompt “far”

…

Find me (as HumpbuckleTales) on Mastodon

My drabbles (100-word stories) are always published first on Hive: https://peakd.com/@drabble.club

Read my daily 50 word stories in Humpbuckle Tales or on Hive or on Facebook

Find my 100 word tales right here

Keep on drabblin’!

Bruce Arbuckle (felt.buzz)

Grow, by Bruce Arbuckle

BruceLeave a comment

…

He wakes shivering, pulling at covers. Abigail – duvet thief – has bed-burritoed herself again.

The stairs shout excited greetings as he descends. The kettle gurgles. He searches for the moon hiding behind silvered clouds.

A bright something streaks through the sky and – with a thick thud heard through the double-glazing – lands in the garden.

A meteorite!

Outside, his torch sweeps the grass. There! A large crater. He reaches in and – hot! – withdraws quickly.

The odd-shaped  wound tingles.

He’ll dig it up in the morning.

Back in bed, his hand throbs as the growing hole-thing approaches the house.

…

Find me (as HumpbuckleTales) on Mastodon

My drabbles (100-word stories) are always published first on Hive: https://peakd.com/@drabble.club

Read my daily 50 word stories in Humpbuckle Tales or on Hive or on Facebook

Find my 100 word tales right here

Keep on drabblin’!

Bruce Arbuckle (felt.buzz)

Preoccupation, by Bruce Arbuckle

BruceLeave a comment

“No termites,” the exterminator says. “Maybe a spot of woodworm. Nothing serious.”

“My wife thinks I’m imagining it, but I can hear them in the walls,” I say. “They keep me awake eating my house.”

“No vermin, no insects. Nothing.”

I send him away with a flea in his ear. Not that he’ll be able to find it.

I do my own research.

Maggie leaves me.

I use noxious chemicals but my sleepless nights are still soundtracked by chewing bugs.

I won’t let these vile creatures destroy my home.

I pour petrol all over the house and strike a match.

…

A 100 word story (a drabble) written using a random word prompt “preoccupation”

…

Find me (as HumpbuckleTales) on Mastodon

My drabbles (100-word stories) are always published first on Hive: https://peakd.com/@drabble.club

Read my daily 50 word stories in Humpbuckle Tales or on Hive or on Facebook

Find my 100 word tales right here

Keep on drabblin’!

Bruce Arbuckle (felt.buzz)

The Lights Go Out, by Bruce Arbuckle. A 100-word story.

BruceLeave a comment

…

Marie is sitting on the toilet when the lights go out for the last time.

Finishing what’s necessary she fumbles her way to the kitchen. Cursing as the sharp corner of the table bites her thigh, her fingers find the candles and lighter.

The wind up radio is in the drawer next to the revolver. The hiss of static where the emergency station should be tells her all she needs to know.

Rumours of the imminent fall of the Resistance have been circulating for months.

She’d stopped believing them.

Marie picks up the gun.

Sitting in the dark she waits.

…

My daily drabble was inspired by the random word prompt “feel”. One of the images that came to mind was feeling your way in the dark. The story grew from there.

…

Find me (as HumpbuckleTales) on Mastodon

My drabbles (100-word stories) are always published first on Hive: https://peakd.com/@drabble.club

Read my daily 50 word stories in Humpbuckle Tales or on Hive or on Facebook

Find my 100 word tales right here

Keep on drabblin’!

Bruce Arbuckle (felt.buzz)

“snip” : a 100-word story by Bruce Arbuckle

BruceLeave a comment

This 100-word story was inspired by the random word prompt “automatic”

The arrival of the postal drone was greeted with an excited shriek from Mia and a groan from her husband.

“What have you bought now?” Herb worried about his approaching retirement.

In lieu of answering, Mia opened the box and pulled out what looked to Herb like a small robot.

“It’s a small robot,” she said, confirming his fears. Herb had learned to distrust Mia’s newfangled technological purchases. 

Mia flicked a switch. The machine whirred, beeped, flashed and hummed. 

“What’s it do?” Herb asked, alarmed by its multiplying protruding snipping blades. 

“It cuts hair.” 

“Not mine,” Herb said, backing away.

…

Find me (as HumpbuckleTales) on Mastodon

My drabbles (100-word stories) are always published first on Hive: https://peakd.com/@drabble.club

Read my daily 50 word stories in Humpbuckle Tales or on Hive or on Facebook

Find my 100 word tales right here

Keep on drabblin’!

Bruce Arbuckle (felt.buzz)

“wardobe”, by Bruce Arbuckle

BruceLeave a comment

A 100-word story written using a random word prompt : “wardrobe”

It stands at the bottom of the orchard, half-covered in fallen apple blossom.

“C.S. Lewis called,” Jip says. “He wants his wardrobe back.”

“Where’d it come from? Wasn’t there yesterday.”

“Fly-tipping,” Jip says. “Been dumped.”

Ange bites her lip.

“It’s too far from the road. Why would someone drag it here?”

Cautiously – “just case it’s home to a nest of angry squirrels” – Jip opens the door.

Empty.

Except for the small purple card, embossed with a golden question mark, that Jip pockets.

“I’ll shift it after lunch.”

But, returning later with the tractor, Jip can’t find it anywhere.

…

Find me (as HumpbuckleTales) on Mastodon

My drabbles (100-word stories) are always published first on Hive: https://peakd.com/@drabble.club

Read my daily 50 word stories in Humpbuckle Tales or on Hive or on Facebook

Find my 100 word tales right here

Keep on drabblin’!

Bruce Arbuckle (felt.buzz)

Two of my 100-word stories published on FridayFlashFiction today

BruceLeave a comment

I had two stories published on FridayFlashFiction today.

One, The Old Woman and the Sea, I wrote last Friday.

Read the rest of the story : https://www.fridayflashfiction.com/100-word-stories/the-old-woman-and-the-sea-by-bruce-arbuckle

The other, One Last Thing, I wrote this afternoon. I hadn’t expected it to be considered until next week

Read the rest of the story: https://www.fridayflashfiction.com/100-word-stories/one-last-thing-by-bruce-arbuckle

I also published two drabbles in response to a picture/words prompt in the MicroFiction group on facebook. One was written last week but was only authorised today The other was written this week (most of it on Thurday, finished today).

A great start to the weekend!

Keep on drabblin’!

Bruce (felt.buzz) Arbuckle

“trip” : a 100-word story by Bruce Arbuckle. Content warning : emotional abuse

BruceLeave a comment

It was supposed to be the trip of a lifetime.

She sniffs down tears, determined not to let him see her cry again. He feeds off misery: gaining strength as she feels weaker.

He has her money, phone and her passport. But through blurry eyes, she saw where he secreted them.

“I’m going out,” he says, grinning. “Can’t listen to your snivelling any longer.”

She waits – hears the key click in the lock, then his footsteps echoing down the hall – before ripping at the lining of his rucksack. 

Taking her things she climbs out the window and jumps to freedom.

…

Find me (as HumpbuckleTales) on Mastodon

My drabbles (100-word stories) are always published first on Hive: https://peakd.com/@drabble.club

Read my daily 50 word stories in Humpbuckle Tales or on Hive or on Facebook

Find my 100 word tales right here