Category: Flash Fiction

Posted in Fiction, Flash Fiction

The Runaway

Posted on by R.M. Carlson

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She sat huddled in a booth in the back of the diner. Clutching her backpack against her chest. That man had tried to sit down beside her. She’d told him she was only 15 years old. He finally left. Jeff, her boyfriend, would be here in a minute. Why make her come here, alone? He was late. He knew she’d walked miles from home to meet him here.

They were going to run away. Their parents wouldn’t let them be together. Jeff said he’d take care of the money.

He appeared beside her.

“Come on,” Jeff said. “I’m taking you home.”

 

100 words

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This post part of Friday Fictioneers

Posted in Challenges, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horses

She Ran Calling Wildfire

Posted on by R.M. Carlson

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It was early morning when I went to the barn to saddle him. It had been a year since the barn fire. We had pulled him out of that fire but he had lost his left eye. It took almost a year before I could get on his back again. His body was healed, that big, dark body, but I didn’t think his mind would ever be. Other horses always had to be on his right, else he was scared.

We went for a ride with Robert along the beach. Wildfire loved the beach. For the first time since the fire, he stretched his neck out and ran like the wind coming in off the ocean. The ocean was healing his soul….and mine.

124 words

#amwriting #amblogging #writing #FFfAW #Challenges #flashfiction #fiction

*This post part of the #FFfAW Challenge – Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers

Photo Credit to Iain Kelly

Posted in Fiction, Flash Fiction

Falling

Posted on by R.M. Carlson

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She had always wanted to visit Iceland. As a photographer, she knew that some of the most amazing pictures could be taken there and she made her living selling her photos. She had been in Iceland for several days and had taken incredible pictures. She had a day trip planned to Gullfoss Falls today, an amazing waterfall.

The tour group arrived at The Falls. As they walked toward The Falls, she was mesmerized because you can’t see the edge. It looks like the Hvita River just vanishes into the earth. She just started snapping pictures. All she could think about was that she could sell these pictures in the U.S. She and some other members of the group got closer. They called to her not to get too close. She had to get this last shot. But she slipped and tumbled over the rocks into the canyon.

147 words

#amwriting #amblogging #writing #Iceland #flashfiction #fiction

Post in response to Challenge whatpegmansaw using Google Maps

Posted in Fiction, Flash Fiction

The Veteran and Christmas Spirit

Posted on by R.M. Carlson

 

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The old guy sitting in the diner was a Vietnam vet. He didn’t know what to do. His last buddy, also his roommate, died today. That meant his home was gone too.

He had been there for hours. The manager had noticed him. She walked over and asked if he needed anything.

“A place to stay. My friends are gone.”

She got him to tell his story. She saw their Christmas tree and asked him if he would like to stay in their back room.

“I’m a good cook,” he exclaimed, as his whole face lit up with a smile.

 

100 words

#amblogging #amwriting #writing #flashfiction #fiction

This post is in response to Friday Fictioneers

Photo credit to Roger Bultot

Posted in Flash Fiction

Gone

Posted on by R.M. Carlson

 

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They always looked smoky for a reason. There was always a haze that hung over and around them. The Great Smoky Mountains. As the man and the woman looked at from the ruins of what used to be their home, the haze now was real smoke. The remnants of the terrible fire that had swept their beautiful mountains a few days before and claimed their home.

The town below devastated. Their dog and pet pig gone. All their treasures gone. Thousands of acres of timber and wild animals gone. Everything they loved but each other.

“What now?” he asked, his face crumbling, as he looked at her.

She sighed as she looked with love at his aging face.

“Are you game for rebuilding and helping out here?” she asked. “We need to help put this place back together again.”

His face broke into a smile.

145 words

 

A tribute to the people, animals, and The Great Smoky Mountain National Park after the East Tennessee Fires. The cause – arson.

#amblogging #amwriting #writing #flashfiction #fiction

Photo Credit to Joy Pixley

Post for FFfAW Challenge.

Thanks, Priceless Joy!

Posted in Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horses

Wildfire and Rose

Posted on by R.M. Carlson

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“It’s going to be 19 degrees F. tonight and not more than 21 degrees tomorrow. We have to get the horses in,” Skip said.

“Especially Wildfire,” I replied. “His coat seems thin this year. He’s not out there with the other horses. I’m going to take Thunder and go to the back pastures to find him.”

“You can’t,” said Skip. “It’s so slick out there. What if Thunder slips?”

An hour later, Rose hadn’t returned. She would search for her beloved Wildfire until she found him. Suddenly, they heard a whinny. Wildfire was covered in snow by the door. So was Rose!

Photo credit Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

100 words

#amblogging #amwriting #writing #flashfiction #fiction

Post in response to #FridayFictioneers Challenge

Thanks, Rochelle!

 

Posted in Fiction, Flash Fiction, Writing

Christmas Miracle

Posted on by R.M. Carlson

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The street light glowed brightly at the end of the side street of the dying town. It was Christmas Eve but the homeless men who huddled around the barrel glowing with fire didn’t notice. They were focused on getting warm. It was a frigid winter’s night.

Most of the men didn’t have gloves and held their hands over the fire. Some would probably not survive the night. All would sleep close to the barrel or in nearby doorways. The small town didn’t have funds to help the homeless.

They were hungry but their hunger took second place to the cold. Out of the darkness, a shadow appeared. The shadow approached the men slowly. It was a young girl carrying large brown bags in both hands.

She sat the bags on the ground and walked away. The smell of hot food was  unmistakable. The men slowly walked toward the bags and smiled at their Christmas miracle.

155 words

#amwriting #amblogging #writing #flashfiction #fiction

Photo credit to @Maria@Doodles and Scribbles

Thanks, Priceless Joy!

Posted in environment, Flash Fiction

The Demise of Family Farming

Posted on by R.M. Carlson

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As Ronan trudged to the barn in the crunchy, frosty grass, he continued the train of thought he had all night. He had slept very little last night. Could he really make farming work in today’s world? He and Sherry, his wife of five years, had worked so hard to establish their 100-acre organic farm in the western part of Kentucky. The soil was rich and the conditions were just right to grow any number of crops. But the weather!

Ronan believed climate change was playing havoc with the weather in this area. What used to be lush and green when he grew up here was now starved for water. This past summer, Ronan had to irrigate his crops which cut deeply into the little profit he made.

Other young couples wanted to join him in organic farming but they saw no future in it. They wanted to grow their own food and have enough to sell and support their families.

Sherry was getting tired of having nothing. Everything was so expensive.

Ronan feared the pollution that caused climate change has killed all their dreams. He was thinking of shutting down the farm. Others were thinking of doing the same.

200 words

#amwriting #amblogging #writing #organicfarming

*This post in response to the the challenge from flashfictionfromthepracticalpractitioner

Posted in Fiction, Flash Fiction, romance

Desolation

Posted on by R.M. Carlson

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They unpacked their luggage in the room on the top floor of the old house. The view was magnificent as they looked out onto the flats. Magnificent but disturbing somehow.

“Do you like it?” he asked.

She thought about it and looked at his face. A face that she was just now seeing for the first time in so many years.

“Why did you bring me here,” she asked, “to this desolate place?”

“I need to be with my girl.”

“Let’s relax and enjoy the view. Just be together,” she replied.

He smiled. He didn’t smile much anymore.

 

98 words

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*This post in response to Friday Fictioneers

Photo Credit to Lucy Fridkin

Posted in Fantasy and Magic, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Uncategorized

The Firefly

Posted on by R.M. Carlson

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Petra, the pixie fairy flying ahead of the others, saw it first. The glow in the grass.

“Decla,” she called to another pixie. “Do you see that glow in the grass?”

The two fairies flew down and gently landed in the grass, near the glow. It was a diamond that appeared to be glowing green because of the surrounding grass. It appeared to be growing out of a stalk, upside down.

“We have to retrieve it, Decla,” Petra exclaimed. “Call the group.”

Down swooped the group, plucked the diamond, and they flew off with the group carrying it. It flickered as they carried it through the sky.

Down below a small girl thought it was a firefly. She hadn’t seen one in a long time. She made a wish that the firefly meant her Daddy would come home. As she turned, there stood her Daddy.

145 words

#amwriting #amblogging #writing #flashfiction #fiction

Photo credit to Jade Wong

Post in response to FFfAW – Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers