microfiction

Preoccupation, by Bruce Arbuckle

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“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”

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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)

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

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…

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

“Bones”

BruceLeave a comment

Hooper sighs as another local hard man, all muscles, scars and attitude, strides up the town hall steps. 

Not long ago this man would have occupied a stool in one of the seedier taverns, or a bench in the drunk tank stinking of booze and other people’s blood. 

More likely the former followed a few hours later by the latter.

He nods at the sheriff, who reluctantly hands the man a rifle. 

“Good luck.” 

“I won’t need it.” 

Hooper watches the man leave, holding his weapon like a club. 

Hooper sighs again. 

They’ll be scraping up his bones tomorrow morning. 

…

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

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

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“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

“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