onehundredwordstory

Thing, by Bruce Arbuckle

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…

The hairless creature slides slug-like towards him , oozing a fluorescent orange slime that stinks like the devil’s arsehole. The size of a very large angry dog, its gnashing teeth snap at the broom handle he’s using to keep it at bay as he backs away. The thing’s clearly furious or very hungry. Probably both. He curses Shelley under his breath. She must have left the portal ajar again. Feeling the metal handle bite his back, he reaches behind, opens the door and slips through. He locks the door. He’s off home. Shelley can deal with it on Monday morning.

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

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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

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Bruce Arbuckle (felt.buzz)

Buttocks, by Bruce Arbuckle

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…

She has that dream, again.

She walks down the asile, on Dad’s arm. Her friends and family turn as she approaches. She returns their smiles. Then, as she passes the smiles turn to titters, the twittering to giggles, the giggling to laughs. It is then she feels the draught. Her father stops and looks at her.

“Haven’t you forgotten something?” he asks, his eyes twinkling.

She looks down. Her dress has disappeared.

She’s butt naked.

She wakes. John, snoring gently beside her, is oblivious.

She wonders what it means.

Her dad would’ve laughed if she’d told him.

She misses him.

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

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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.

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

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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)

Crushed, by Bruce Arbuckle

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…

The rain falls in steel sheets of destruction. Joy stands on the porch watching it rip into the draught dry crops, crushing any hope she had. Holding on to the half empty bottle she fights back tears. There’s no coming back from this. All the money, time, effort … pummeled into nothing. The fields disappear under red brown water. For months she’d managed to keep her farm afloat despite the draught, the famine. And now… it’s drowning. Last night she’d celebrated when the weatherman announced rain. She lifts the bottle to her lips. Tonight she’ll mourn the death of her dreams.

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

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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)

Pain, by Bruce Arbuckle

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He hobbles along the pavement as quickly as he can, but it’s not fast enough for the tutting young woman behind him. He shuffles to one side, she powers past. He throws her a smile that isn’t returned. She only saw him when he blocked her path. He remembers he used to walk like that, bounding from one place to another without thinking about it. His feet hurt so much now he has to plan his journeys carefully, make sure he leaves plenty of time to get there and back, preferably via a public bench or, even better, a cafe.

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

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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)

Dirty Harry, by Bruce Arbuckle

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…

I sit on your bed, your pinky grey toy elephant, Harry, clasped in my hands. It’s grimy and smells, but today I’m not complaining. I wish I could tease you about it. Or maybe, just for once, not. Mum wanted to wash it, but I said it upset you when it was cleaned. She nodded, turning away so I wouldn’t see her tears. She’s calling up the stairs, now. Time to go, she says. You seem too small for that big black car. The gentle kind-faced man takes Harry, placing him carefully onto your coffin. Mum squeezes my hand.

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

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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)

Safari, by Bruce Arbuckle

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…

We hunt for fun. The flesh farms produce everything we need, and wild meat isn’t very tasty. It’s rare we bag one young and juicy enough to eat. But we’re predators: we enjoy the thrill of the kill.   

We prefer to hunt at night, but our prey are diurnal so we head out before dusk, to catch them before they head back to their mountain lairs.

We find a pack of the two legged creatures on the prairie. They are armed with their fire sticks but the weapons are no match for our exoskeleta. We overwhelm and tear them apart.

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

…

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)

Consumer, by Bruce Arbuckle

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He consumes news like junk food: gorging himself, hour after hour, stuffing it in without having time to process it. He feels bloated but he can’t stop. The information that once nourished his mind is now threatening his health. He begins to look grey and washed out like the tired old pair of underpsnts and the once white vest he always wears. His friends stop calling. He barely leaves the house, ordering food and drink in. The neighbours complain about the smell, and the  rats attracted by the half eaten food left in ripped bin bags in the shared hall.

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

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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)

Journey, a 100-word story by Bruce Arbuckle

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Gladys has noticed a trend amongst her friends to relinquish pastimes they previously enjoyed and take up unpleasant activities they used to scorn.

These pursuits  are no longer described as hobbies but as “journeys”.

She sits in the pub waiting for three friends to finish their spinning class (apparently, part of a “wellness journey”).

Sipping a gin and tonic she wonders if she is missing out.

Perhaps she should go on a journey.

When her friends arrive, looking flushed and exhausted, they each order sparkling water and something called a Buddha Bowl.

Gladys decides she is happy where she is.

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

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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 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)