fridayflashfiction

Countdown, by Bruce Arbuckle

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…

“Your Air Allowance has been exceeded,” the Landlord says in her sickly sweet voice. “Please purchase more tokens or vacate this dwelling within fifteen minutes.” The holographic image flickers and vanishes, before the cup, flying from my hand, passes through the air, smashing against the wall. My implant buzzes twice. I’m presented with a clock counting down to when the oxygen will shut off, and the doors locked, and a notification of a fine for damage to the wall. “It’s barely scratched!” I shout. I have no funds for tokens, or anything else, for that matter. I pack and leave.

…

A 100 word story written by Bruce Arbuckle, inspired by the random word prompt “exceed”

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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)

Eyebrow, by Bruce Arbuckle

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…

His eyebrow, squirming above his left eye, is a biobot. In addition to measuring his vitals life signs, its filaments sample air quality – such as it is – and record our interaction. I look around. The other one will be snooping around somewhere.

“Lost it,” his voice is sad. “It scuttled off this morning. I look ridiculous, don’t I?”

Not knowing what to say, I simply nod.

“My sister bought them. Said they’d keep me company.”

Keep track of you, more like.

“Never heard of a runaway biobot,” I say.

“Everyone leaves me eventually.”

Plotting my escape, I avoid his gaze.

…

A 100 word story written by Bruce Arbuckle, inspired by the random word prompt “eyebrow”

…

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 Old Miner, by Bruce Arbuckle

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The old miner sits next to me. He smiles in the near darkness, his face translucent in the fading torchlight. I try to ignore him. He’s not part of my time. He’s not real.

“They’re coming back for me,” I say.

The old miner smiles and nods. He’s heard it all before. He probably even said it once.

My shattered legs don’t hurt. Is that a good sign? Pain is a part of life.

Waiting to be rescued, at the bottom of the shaft, dust and chunks of crumbling rock spill onto my face.

The old miner holds my hand.

…

A 100 word story written by Bruce Arbuckle, inspired by the random word prompt “miner”

…

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)

Fogged, by Bruce Arbuckle

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The mist swirling around her feet begins to brown and thicken. Better get home before it gets too sticky. 

Her neighbour had been glued to his lawn the week before last when he went to fetch the newspaper. He had been stuck there for hours, poor soul. When he was eventually released his mind had been completely Fogged. His wife couldn’t cope with him at home. The grey collection van had come for him yesterday. 

No one knew what caused the syrupy brume to appear. Or perhaps they did. Easy access to information died with the internet, television and radio.

…

A 100 word story written by Bruce Arbuckle, inspired by the random word prompt “mist”

…

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)

Helicopter, by Bruce Arbuckle

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We had another big fight last night.

I wasn’t happy because my sister saw him at the playground staring at his phone the whole time, instead of watching the kids.

“Lisa’s a nosy cow!” he said. “And you’re a helicopter mum. Hovering over them, never giving them space to play. Wrapping them in cotton wool. You’re smothering them,” he said. “I’m going out.”

He slammed the door and the vase on the mantelpiece fell off.

“Are you crying, Mummy?” Gemma asked as I picked up pottery shards out of the carpet.

“No,” I said.

I don’t think she believed me.

…

A 100 word story written by Bruce Arbuckle, inspired by the random word prompt “helicopter”.

…

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

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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”

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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

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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