Tend to Your Knittin’

Tend to Your Knittin’  Prompt found at Rochelle’s.

 

By Scott L Vannatter – 100 words           PHOTO PROMPT © Björn Rudberg  

 

“Look!” shouted Mary, thoroughly enthralled with her purchase.  She put the knitted top piece on her head tossing the other at Gerard.  Gerard was nonplussed.

“Lord, M! Do I have to?”

“Yep! Let’s go!”

As the week progressed, the couple saw hundreds of people wearing, basically, the same headgear.   Mary was depressed; Gerard felt better.

Mary threw hers to the wet ground in despair.  A few moments later, the hat and all other hats around her exploded, killing all who were wearing them, including poor Gerard.

A metallic voice sounded all through the region.  “Cleanup commencing!” Robots with brooms appeared.

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More Stories found: This Week’s Stories.

 

A Ghost of a Chance – Flash Fiction 150 Word Max

“It’s a ghost town, Carol. You know, nothng living, just ghosts hanging about.” Jack snorted just a bit as they approached the vacant, unused buildings that used to make up Tindertown.

“I know that, but I don’t want to stop there!” She didn’t shreik but he thought she might.

He accelerated just a bit coming round the corner to the town. A figure stepped out in front of the vehicle and Jack managed to swing the car to the left, but not enough to miss the person.

“Jack!”

He hit the brake, looking in the mirror at … nothing.

“I must have been seeing things,” he said trying not to let his shivers show.

“No,” said Carol, “you weren’t.”

Jack followed her eyes, using the mirror to see the pasty-white translucent figure sitting in the back seat…smiling.

Neither Jack nor Carol saw the oncoming semi until it was too late.

Word Count – 150 Words

The Vigil (Coincidentally, My 1,000th Post)

As a fiction writer, sometimes, I have difficult tasks.  As, primarily, a horror writer, those tasks can become very uncomfortable.  I almost didn’t send this story, but the writer in me got the best of me.  It touches on some hard, difficult spots.  I realized that that’s what horror should do.  It should leave you feeling raw and exposed, scared and nervous.  Please understand as you read.  Scott

The Vigil

By Scott L Vannatter for Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers

People of all ages had come to the memorial, candle in hand.  The 7 who had been shot at the mall were neighbors, friends, even family in the small Indiana town.  Something this horrendous had never happened to most of these individuals and they were scared, sad, and horrified.  The sheriff and several deputies stood around watching the crowd.  Even during this event, looters and pickpockets could happen.  So close to a holiday made things even worse, if that was possible.

He had paid his respects earlier.  His duties had pulled him long before he had spoken to many and gotten to know them better.  He didn’t expect friendship, but knowledge helped all the same.  A tear ran down his cheek, but it wasn’t really sadness, more of a reverence or prayer.  From the courthouse tower he loaded the first magazine and clicked it into place.  So many here.  He might just outdo Vegas yet.

word count: 155

My story was inspired by this week’s picture which has kindly been provided by Elaine Farrington Johnson. 

Flash Friday – Friendship – Saying Goodbye PG13

Rebekah Postupak hosts Flash Friday, 140-160 word stories based on a word (Friendship) and a photo prompt (Below).   After reading my story following the picture, please click > HERE < for the rest of the entries.  Enjoy!!!

Source: “Rose Biodo, Philadelphia, 10 years old. Working 3 summers, minds baby and carries berries, two pecks at a time.” Photo by Lewis Hine, National Archives public domain. Share this:

I remember it as if it were yesterday.  The beautiful ten-year-old girl, Rose (Rosalina to me), marching her berries (always two pecks at a time) up for payment.  This being done on the hot sand (barefooted, of course), in a dress and kerchief, all the while making sure the little one, Saliette, was well.

We grew together, my immigrant background and book-hungry thirst for knowledge always at odds with each other during picking season, and fell madly in love.  This love surviving the bone-breaking stress of never knowing at the end of a field when we would see each other again.  But, a soul kiss, given at eight, kept our hearts and minds pure.  I do wish my body had done the same.

Now, two marriages and five children later, I have traveled six states, in a car of my own at last, to see my Rosalina.

I put my withering hand on hers, at least it was an open casket, and cry.

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Namaste,

Scott

Flash Friday – Burning for the Bell

Rebekah Postupak hosts Flash Friday in which 140-150 words stories are created by us based on a picture prompt and a word.  The word to go along with the picture below is to “include a fire.”  Click >HERE< for the rest after reading mine below.  Enjoy!!!

Bell Tower of Guadalest, Costa Blanca, Spain. CC photo by Anguskirk.

Burning for the Bell

By Scott L Vannatter – 160 Words

Johannes made the trip up the long, wooded ladders the top of the Bell Tower overlooking the “Forest of Wonder.” He pulled his small, unpadded stool near the window having the broadest view of the green landscape below and took out his knife. He began peeling the potatoes, apple, and pear that, along with a small crust of bread, would be his afternoon meal. This was his second year as Keeper of the Watch. His job was simple: he was to look out for raiders and other enemies who might seek to overthrow nearby Kochordan by moving stealthily through the forest. This had never happened; the job had been easy.

Johannes began eating his apple. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw movement. He looked up and saw the cause: smoke was rising up from the center of the forest. He lost no time sounding the large alarm bell to warn of this attack from a different enemy.

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Namaste,

Scott