fiction

Two of my 100-word stories published on FridayFlashFiction today

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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

“bark” : a 100-word story

BruceLeave a comment

Grandma had to be locked in the coal shed last night.

The vicar was over for tea and we – dressed in our Sunday best  even though it was Tuesday – were under strict instructions not to embarrass Mum.

Just after the cream cakes were served Grandma started growling.

I thought it was a joke, at first – even though Grandma never makes jokes – but then she started barking and baring her teeth.

The vicar pretended not to notice, until Grandma bit him on the arm.

Mum had to drag her off the poor man.

He needed ten stitches and a rabies shot.

…

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

“Conversations Over Coffee: Ian’s Wife”, a 100-word story

BruceLeave a comment

“I just feel with Jeff I can be myself, you know? With Ian-“

“Your husband…”

“Yes. Ian my husband… Are you judging me?”

“Of course, sweetie. What else are best friends for?”

“You never liked Ian, anyway.”

“I’m warming to him, now he’s the injured party. Carry on.”

“With Ian I always feel I’m playing a role: partner, counselor, mother even sometimes.”

“And now: an unfaithful wife.”

“You are judging me!”

“What do you expect? You know what I went through when George left me for that woman.”

“It’s not the same.”

“Perhaps not. But it’s not that different, either.”

…

Find me (as HumpbuckleTales) on Mastodon

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

Find my 100 word tales right here

“No Coincidence” : a 100-word story

BruceLeave a comment

A 100 word story written using the prompt “Coincidence”

Jack being here is no coincidence.

Meg ducks into a doorway. Feeling like a PI from a second-rate TV show, she pretends to rummage in her handbag.

He’s talking on his phone. He passes, apparently without clocking her.

“It’s done,” she hears him say.

She waits for him to disappear around the corner before running across the road.

She pushes the open door with her foot and enters.

The metallic odour of blood hits her before she sees the body.

She turns, bumping into Jack. He pushes her inside, his gun cold against her skin.

“Goodbye, Meg,” he says.

…

Find me (as HumpbuckleTales) on Mastodon

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

Find my 100 word tales right here

“Sucker!” A 100-word story

BruceLeave a comment

“Swop yer,” Brendon said.

Suspicious of my rival, I suppressed the impulse to snatch the one football card required to complete my collection. from his outstretched hand.

“What for?”

“That,” he pointed at the small plastic dog hanging from my satchel.

“Really?” I almost threw him the toy I’d hooked out of the cereal box this morning and grabbed my prize, gloating inwardly at his stupidity.

He skipped across the playground.

Becky squealed with excitement, hugging and kissing Brendon after he dropped the dog into her palm.

I could read his smug smirk over Becky’s shoulder:

“Who’s the sucker, now?”

…

Find me (as HumpbuckleTales) on Mastodon

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

Find my 100 word tales right here

Mystery Man: A 100 word story

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First published as a reply to the #FlashFictionFriday on Mastodon The prompt was the first line: “it’s like something out of a bad comic book”

Mystery Man

It’s like something out of a bad comic book, he thought.

Not that he’d know.

William didn’t read comics. He thought they were for kids. Even as a child he’d thought they were childish.

His friend Simon had a collection. He devoured anything with a superhero in it.

William thought they looked ridiculous and the “powers” were just so unrealistic.

It was ironic, he thought looking down at the street far below, that he’d been rescued from a burning building by this faintly-familiar masked man.

Not to mention the physics-defying flying thing.

He couldn’t wait to tell Simon.

…

Find me (as HumpbuckleTales) on Mastodon

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

Find my 100 word tales right here

Author Reading of The Still Blood-Soaked Path

BruceLeave a comment

 

The SteemFiction book Dead Silence  has a murder-themed story written especially for the book by me!

You can listen to me read the first 900 or so words of the 9000 word story on SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/feltbuzz/author-reading-first-900-words-the-still-blood-soaked-path-by-bruce-arbuckle

Or you can watch me read it on YouTube: