Last week was an off week for me and my flash fiction tales. I didn’t even win an honorable mention, although I was feeling under the weather, and each challenge offers 10-25 other amazing stories by unbelievably incredible authors. This week is looking more promising, but as for last week, here are my tales!
Wakefield Mahon’s #MotivationMonday (1/16/2012): http://www.wakefieldmahon.com/4/post/2012/01/i-have-a-dream.html
Prompts: Start with “We just wanted to be free.”
“We just wanted to be free. Free from the hatred. Free from the disparaging looks we received when we went shopping or to the park. Yes, we know we are different from the majority of Americans. Most of us do not have white skin. Many of us do not speak English as well as those born here. We dress a little differently than the majority. Some of our foods can’t be purchased at a local supermarket.
Most of us, probably close to 99%, do not condone terrorism. We are no different than the Protestants and Catholics living in Ireland, where factions within those religions detonated bombs and killed in the name of God. We want to live peaceful lives and be productive and integral parts of our communities. Our goal is not to disrupt the United State government or change the way Americans think or believe. We are not looking to convert you, and we do not look down upon you for not embracing our tenets and beliefs.
I write this now, as a Muslim-American, because for over ten years now we have been victimized by the actions of a few. For over ten years we have been unable to travel and gather in our communities without the scrutiny of the United States or local government. And, just like in this case, we have been discriminated against in the workforce.
Yes, I wished to practice Salah in my office with my door closed at noon and during the afternoon as my religion commands. I did not interfere with anyone else’s work, nor did I ever cause any undue hardships for the organization. Not only was I made to feel as if I were wrong for requesting to do this, but I believe I was also passed over on numerous occasions for supervisory jobs based on my religion. As such, I am resigning from my position, and I have obtained a lawyer and filed a complaint with the Equal Opportunity Commission regarding the hiring and employment practices of this organization.
Sincerely,
Yusuf Al Farran”
Patrick Wilmore, CEO of Applied Logistics International, Inc., closed his eyes tightly and slammed the letter down on his desk. His migraine was coming back, full-force, and this was the last thing he needed. Whoever this Yusuf Al Farran character was, he was in for a fight. Nobody questioned Patrick Wilmore’s authority, especially some raghead, Koran-spouting, Muslim.
400 words
@rastrohman
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Cara Michael’s #MenageMonday (1/16/2012): http://www.caramichaels.com/defiantlyliterate/2012/01/16/menage-monday-challenge-week-17/
Prompts: A statue of Jesus, “blessed are ___”, and a scenario of which an angel is talking to a ghost.
The angel pointed to the statue in front of them and remarked, “He was in the same position you are in now, Mr. Morris.”
The revenant glanced over at the replica of Jesus, his hands open as if forgiving his followers. “Blessed are those who believe in him.”
“You will have an important job as well.”
He scoffed. “I am no Jesus.”
“And He is not asking you to be. You are simply a spirit, left on this earth to accomplish a task before you enter the gates of His kingdom. Jesus, being His son, was resurrected to complete his work. That will not be your fate, but you do have something you must do.
“And that is?”
“You must take the lives of men and lead them to their eternal destinations.”
“Wait, what? You’re saying I’m to be like, what, the Grim Reaper?”
“Yes. A hundred million souls and your work will be finished. Just like the one who preceded you.”
“But what did I do to deserve this?”
“Nothing, Mr. Morris. Believe me, it’s not that bad of a job. You could have been asked to haunt a schizophrenic or become best friends with a pre-pubescent girl.”
199 words
@rastrohman
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Stevie McCoy’s #TuesdayTales (1/17/2012):
http://glitterword.wordpress.com/2012/01/17/tuesdaytales-24-pulchritudinous/
Prompts: “Pulchritudinous” and a picture of dresses hanging in trees in a swamp with a dreary background.
“You know how to catch ghosts, don’t you?”
The withered old lady stared at the young boy, her cataract-afflicted eyes simultaneously beckoning and frightening.
“You talk to the trees. They are Mother Nature’s pulchritudinous children, natural, of the Earth, meant to cast out the supernatural.”
“Pulchritudinous?”
“Beautiful, son. They keep evil at bay.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“You should! Look over yonder.”
Her decrepit finger pointed to the swamp. At first the boy was spooked, but then he knew better.
Scoffing, he said, “Grandma, those are just your undergarments.”
“Aye, be a good lad and fetch them for me.”
100 words
@rastrohman
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I skipped Siobhan Muir’s #ThursThreads this week due to Adam and I contracting strep throat (early outs, doctor visits, picking up prescriptions, etc.)
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Jen DeSantis’s #FridayPictureShow (1/20/2012):
http://jendauthor.wordpress.com/2012/01/20/the-fridaypictureshow-week-11/
Prompts: A picture of a tray holding seventeen old-fashioned keys.
“You all have a decision. Seventeen keys for seventeen heirs. One for each box in front of you all, but make your decisions wisely, as Eldridge had a bizarre and sometimes heinous sense of humor.”
Fifteen greedy hedonists chose, but Wesley and Gretta, the two teenagers, stood back, watching, frowning.
Simultaneously the keys turned, each person instantly being sprayed with a noxious mist, causing them to retch and fall over dead.
“How did you know?”
“It’s chlorine gas. Seventeen is chlorine’s atomic number. And the odor of pepper and pineapple, unmistakable.”
“Uncle Eldridge was pure evil.”
“Or a mad genius.”
100 words
@rastrohman
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