Flash Fiction = 90 minutes from reveal of the theme word (“flood”) until the story must be posted at AW.   This one rang in at 52 minutes but I admit that I don’t spend a lot of time editing so bear with the occasional punctuation and grammar gaffes.  I’ve cleaned it up from the AW version to make the story clearer.  From the comments I got, I could tell I was too cryptic in the original version.

This one’s a little sad.  Sorry.  😦

***************

“Hey Simon, it’s me, Elena. I thought I’d come talk to you about something.”

I looked up. The New Mexican sun beat down on me as I stood at the edge of the Rio Grande in the bosque. Around me, cottonwoods shed fluffy wisps of foliage that floated to the ground like summer snow. I wiped my brow with the hem of my shirt, adding more dingy streaks to the ones I’d created walking to this spot.

“I have some news. I’m getting married. I know I swore I’d never marry anyone but you so please don’t be angry with me. It’s just that…well, you know it’s been impossible between us for some time now and I feel like maybe I need to move on.” Continue reading →

AW Flash Fiction = 90 minutes from the reveal of the theme word, “punch”, until the short must be posted online at AW.  This one’s a little light in the loafers but devilishly fun.

*********

“Hey, Laina,” Bob called out as she passed by his open door.

Sighing, Laina stopped and braced herself for what would most likely be a typical Bob conversation. She turned and stepped into his doorway, unwilling to move further into his sycophantic lair. Bob was her biggest rival, not because he merited the status but because he knew how to brown-nose better. Laina would have respected her bosses more if they’d been able to see past their own egos, egos that bloated up like ticks on the blood of Bob’s obsequiousness.

“Hey, Bob. What’s up?” she asked with false cheeriness. She was pretty sure she knew what he wanted.

“How did the Rogers account meeting go?”

Yep, got it in one. “Oh fine. They liked our campaign and ordered a couple more print ads. So, you know, I better go get busy on it. See ya.” Laina turned to leave.

“Oh wait! Laina!” Bob chased her down the hallway and walked beside her. “Hey, I’ve been added to the team and I wanted to talk to you about the ad for the sports drink.” Continue reading →