flash fiction – Page 3 – Story Catcher Publishing

FLASH FICTION TUESDAY: Trapped

May 21, 2019May 21, 2019Donna L

Sarah wasn’t sure when she first heard the light, scraping sound coming from inside the fireplace. Her husband had left for work, but Sarah could still feel her stomach tied up in knots from their breakfast conversation.

“Are you really so stupid you can’t tell the difference between a 3 minute egg or a 4 minute one?” Michael’s sarcasm hung in the air as Sarah simply stood by the stove, eyes downcast and praying it was only words he swung at her today.

The sound coming from the fireplace continued to float into the living room as Sarah absently cleaned photographs hanging above the mantel. Vacant smiles hiding the truth of how she really felt about this life Michael had carved out for her.

Trapped.

Sarah paused long enough to really listen to whatever was trapped behind the fireplace panel. Was it a butterfly? Maybe a bird? She could just make out the violent fluttering of wings as the creature beat against the walls holding it prisoner.

Sarah could have told it to stop wasting its energy. She’d found out the hard way that once trapped, all you could hope for is a day without bruises or a night without nightmares.

Lost in her musings, Sarah didn’t notice at first the deafening silence filling the room. Finally realizing her little visitor was quiet, she leaned in closer in search of some sign of life just as the front door slammed open. Michael was back and the last thing Sarah remembered thinking before the world went black was how happy she was her little friend was no longer trapped…

Now it’s your turn! Did the creature trapped in the fireplace break free? Did Sarah finally find her freedom as well? Add to the story or start one of your own on the comments below…

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

[wpvideo Zvs6WtXV]

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

donna

International best selling, award-winning author, Donna L Martin, has been writing since she was eight years old. She is a 4th Degree Black Belt in TaeKwonDo by day and a ‘ninja’ writer of children’s picture books, chapter books, young adult novels and inspirational essays by night. Donna is a BOOK NOOK REVIEWS host providing the latest book reviews on all genres of children’s books, and the host of WRITERLY WISDOM, a resource series for writers. Donna is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators and Children’s Book Insider. She is a lover of dark chocolate, going to the beach and adding to her growing book collection. Donna’s latest book, LUNADAR: Homeward Bound (a YA fantasy), is now available in eBook and print form from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books A Million, and other online retailers.

FLASH FICTION TUESDAY: Who’s Your Daddy?

May 14, 2019May 14, 2019Donna L

Jasmine felt her lungs expand as she took what felt like the first full breath she’d taken since walking into the strange room. Taking a moment to make a sweeping glance around the room once again, Jasmine’s eyes stopped on the large stuffed head hanging over the fireplace dominating one end of the cavernous room. Large tusks curved over the wild boar’s snout and almost reached the beady eyes staring back at her. A small clearing of the throat from the man sitting across the desk from her brought her attention back to the green eyes filled with concern staring back at her.

His deep voice held a slight southern accent as his words attempted to penetrate the fog clogging her brain and stilling her tongue.

“Miss Arnet, are you okay? Can I get you anything? Coffee? Tea? A glass of water, perhaps?”

Jasmine slowly shook her head, trying to clear the fog before attempting to speak.

“Could you repeat what you just said?” She was a bit surprised her voice still worked, seeing how every other part of her seemed to still be frozen in shock.

Mr. Green Eyes seemed to relax his guard a little bit, now that he’d captured her attention once more. “I said, would you like coffee, tea, or maybe a glass of water?”

Jasmine suddenly sat ram rod straight in the overstuffed chair which seemed slightly out of place with the rest of the furniture and said with a slight panic in her voice,

“No! I mean the part when you said my father might not be my real dad…”

Now it’s your turn! Who’s Mr. Green Eyes and why does he think Jasmine’s dad might not be her biological parent? Add to the story or start one of your own on the comments below…

********

[wpvideo Zvs6WtXV]

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

donna

HAPPY BOOK BIRTHDAY TO ME!!

May 8, 2019Donna L

I would usually share a short story on FLASH FICTION TUESDAY but today I wanted to share my latest book with all my readers!

Pawesome Friends

It was released on Monday, but it was such a hectic day yesterday I completely forgot to share the good news! Sharing my stories with the world lifts my spirits and hopefully, if I’m lucky, will in some way touch the spirits of my readers.

This latest book is an anthology about various pet stories and includes a funny story about my sweet Tommy boy who was the light of my life for eighteen years…

Tommy

*********

[wpvideo Zvs6WtXV]

*********

donna

FLASH FICTION TUESDAY: Love Train

April 30, 2019May 6, 2019Donna L

love train

My town is small and dusty. Some of the streets muddy my pants whenever it rains. The tar on other streets colors my bare feet during the summer. There is nothing much to do around here most days.

Except for Saturdays.

On Saturday, the love train comes through town, with its clickety-clacking wheels and cheery toot-toot of its whistle as it slowly crosses Berry Junction before disappearing around the next bend.

Sneaking away from chores, I sit on the hill near the crossroads, biting into the sweet apple I snatch from Mr. Cramer’s yard, and watch the happy faces pass me by.

And for a moment I get to dream.

Maybe today’s smiling faces will make memories at the beach, drawing sand angels and hunting for seashells hidden among the waves.

Or maybe those happy faces are going to grandma’s house for the holidays. Gifts peeking out from under seats as they sing Christmas carols to pass the time.

But one Saturday last fall everything was different.

The love train was different.

The happy clickety-clacking wheels were silent. Instead, I heard the slow thumping of steel hitting rails as it cautiously approached the junction. Even the faces looked sad, all framed in black as a flutter of white wiped at a few tear-stained cheeks.

A long, mournful whistle blew and I was surprised to see the love train slowly stop in front of me. Before, It always passed me by on its journey to some happier place.

What made it stop today?

Why the tears?

Why all the black?

I stared in confusion as several large boxes covered in flags were lifted down from inside, watched over by someone in a dark uniform and white gloves.

Suddenly my cousin called out to me, running up the hill to fetch me home. One more glance at my love train and I followed him back to more sad faces shrouded in black and bits of white.

It isn’t until much later when I finally make it back to Berry’s Junction. I don’t go by Mr. Cramer’s yard today. It’s been ten years since Momma’s brother came home for a visit. Now I stop to brush the snow from my uncle’s grave before climbing the hill. Silently I watch long puffs of smoke cling to bare branches as the love train rolls closer.

The return of the happy clickety-clacking and cheery toot-toot almost makes me smile.

No stops today and for the first time in weeks, I begin to dream again.

I think love fills that train, carrying some to faraway places and new adventures.

But, sometimes, like one day last fall, I think the train simply brought a loved one home.

***********

[wpvideo Zvs6WtXV]

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

donna

FLASH BACK TUESDAY: Who Stole My Eggs?

April 23, 2019April 23, 2019Donna L

Pete pushed the door closed with his foot before setting down the rest of his things on the floor by his bed.

Man, was he tired.

The next time he ran into Nick, he’d have a thing or two to share with the old guy. Every year after the holidays, they met for dinner to swap tales and try to outdo each other’s horror stories.

Last year Nick had won with his closer encounter of the grandmotherly kind. This year Pete was sure he would come out the clear winner with his battle of the bulldog story.

Quickly pulling on his pj’s and bunny slippers (a gift from his mother he didn’t have the heart to refuse), Pete could feel his stomach rumbling with hunger. He was so busy making his rounds last night, he’d forgotten to eat. Not matter, he knew exactly what he would have for breakfast before hitting the hay. Humans weren’t the only ones who waited all year for a tasty Easter egg.

Hopping over to the basket he had filled just last night before hiding the others around the neighborhood, Pete stopped short and stared in shock. Grass was strewn all over the floor where the basket lay broken.

His eggs were gone.

The first batch each Spring was always a little bit more special than the others, so why shouldn’t the Easter Bunny have first choice? But who would do such a dastardly deed? And to the number one rabbit in the land? He couldn’t wait to share this mystery with Nick. Pete was sure to take home the prize this year…

Okay, it’s your turn! Put your creative cap on and continue my story or start one of your own in the comments below…

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

[wpvideo Zvs6WtXV]

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

donna

FLASH FICTION TUESDAY: Redemption Road

April 16, 2019April 16, 2019Donna L

Marcus stared out the window over the plane’s wing. Puffs of clouds floated by and reminded him of the cotton candy Lydia loved to eat every time the circus came to town. Had it been only eight months since she went missing?

Try as he might, Marcus couldn’t stop their last meeting from running through his mind. Spring break had just started and Lydia wanted to catch a plane to the coast. He could even hear her voice floating on the wind racing over the wings hanging outside his window.

“Come with me, Marcus. We could have such fun, you and I, ” Lydia teased him.

“Why would I want to spend my spring break shaking sand from my shoes and dodging air headed dames looking to pick up some rich dude?” Marcus argued.

Lydia threw her arms around his waist and pressed her body closer to his. “You could always give me your ring. That way every girl there will know you’re taken.”

She’d been hinting for the past several weeks she wanted to take their relationship to the next level, but Marcus never took the bait. As much as he loved Lydia, he just wasn’t sure he was ready to settle down.

Now he’d never know.

Lydia went to the coast on her own and vanished without a trace. The police at the time did whatever police do, but with so many college kids coming in for Spring Break, it was like finding a needle in a haystack.

The touch of the flight attendant’s hand on his shoulder startled Marcus back to the present. Turning to look at her, he had to really concentrate to hear her voice over Lydia’s.

“Would you like something to drink, sir?”

Impatiently dismissing her with a wave of his hand, Marcus turned back to the window, desperately trying to hold on to Lydia’s voice, but it was gone. Nothing seemed to matter any more after Lydia disappeared. Finally, Marcus decided to go after her. Maybe he would stumble over something the police missed. Maybe he’d get a chance to tell Lydia how he really felt about her.

It was no longer about a little fun in the sun.

It was about redemption…

Okay, it’s your turn! Put your creative cap on and continue my story or start one of your own in the comments below…

*********

[wpvideo Zvs6WtXV]

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

donna

FLASH FICTION TUESDAY: Some Bunny Loves You

April 9, 2019April 8, 2019Donna L

Katie felt the edges of that familiar dream drifting away as she opened her eyes to bright sunlight filtering through the closed curtains. It always began the same. Sam walking in from a hard day in the fields, smelling of sweat and outdoors. Katie reaching out to give him a kiss but his image just disappears, leaving her cold and crying.

She lay in bed for a moment longer and wished she could follow Sam to where he hid during the daylight hours. What she wouldn’t give to have one more moment to look into those grey eyes. One more moment to fill herself up with his scent. To snuggle her cheek against his flannel shirt right next to the steady drumming of a heart that had loved her since they were in middle school.

But Sam took that love with him when he died, leaving a razor sharp hole in the middle of her soul where her heart once was. Six months gone by and Katie still had a hard time dragging herself out of bed. The sharp sound of the doorbell startled her out of her gloomy thoughts and Katie quickly threw on some old sweats before running downstairs.

Moments later she was setting a large cardboard box on the bed. Staring at it in shock for a moment, Katie slowly reached out a trembling hand to grasp the envelope with her name written out in Sam’s bold handwriting.

How is this possible?

The bunny on the front of the Easter card made her smile, even as silent tears began to role down her face. Sam lived for springtime on the farm. His deep timbered voice drifted through her mind as she read his words written inside…

“Hello Babe,

By the time you get this card, I’ll be waiting on the other side for you. You know I would have stayed if I could, but I thought this little guy would help you through our first spring apart. Never forget, sweetheart, that some bunny loves you!

Sam”

Peeking inside, she couldn’t help but smile through the tears as she gently removed the small bundle of fur. Twitching whiskers nuzzled her neck as she cuddled the rabbit closer to her. It smelled of springtime…Sam’s favorite time of the year. Taking a deep breath, Katie carried her gift to the window and pulled back the curtains. She could just make out a splattering of violets peeking through the green of the front yard. No one ever said losing a loved one would be easy, but Sam’s last gift of love gave her something to hold onto until they met again…

**********

[wpvideo Zvs6WtXV]

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

donna

FLASH FICTION TUESDAY: The Storyteller

March 26, 2019March 25, 2019Donna L

The crackling sound of the fire filled the silence as they waited in anticipation for the evening’s story. Dry leaves crunched under shuffling feet as the last few hurriedly found a seat near the storyteller and squeezed in as close to him as they could get.

Slowly, as if every move caused him great pain, the storyteller gently lowered himself onto the sacred stone and gestured for their attention. He needn’t have worried. Every set of eyes were trained on him and every breath hushed as they waited for him to speak.

“What story shall I tell you tonight?” the storyteller half whispered into the dark. “Shall I tell you once again of how we began?”

One look at the faces crowded around the fire told him what he needed to know.

“I can see this is a story which must be told again so the old can remember it, and the young can learn to never forget it.

Many moons ago…on such a night not unlike this one…the great Creator came to us. He was known as the first of our kind. The first born with the ability to shapeshift.

The elders of his time feared his coming for it was foretold one such as he might bring with him the dark times. So they tried to end a life before it had a chance to begin. But the love of a mother was far greater than any threat to one born of her body.”

The storyteller paused to catch his breath. Feeling a faint stirring beginning deep within him, the storyteller paused a moment to savor the moon’s calling before forcing himself to turn back to the faces so patiently waiting.

His whispered voice reached out to caress the group as he continued, “A mother’s blood was the sacrifice given in order that the baby might live. And with her last breath, the Creator’s mother cursed the people of the village, swearing there would come a day when our race would rule this land. From that day forward, the elders swore to hunt down and kill the thing they now called a monster.”

“But what ever happened to the Creator?” One of the youngest in the group howled.

He could feel the calling rising stronger within him. It had been many moons since he felt it heat his blood.

Many moons since he ran through these woods to keep ahead of the hate chasing him. Ignorance of the unknown too often led some to strike out at him in fear. If only they had given him a chance to prove the prophecy wrong. If only they hadn’t torn the most treasured thing from his life so long ago.

If only things had been different.

Giving into the calling now beginning to race through his veins, the storyteller slowly stood up and looked up at the full moon peaking through the treetops before answering, “That, my young friend, is a story for another time. But for now, it’s time to hunt!”

Okay, it’s your turn! What do you think happened to their Creator? Put your creative cap on and continue my story or start one of your own in the comments below…

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

[simple-payment id=”804″]

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

donna

FLASH FICTION TUESDAY: Ruling The Roost

March 19, 2019March 17, 2019Donna L

mason1

I felt the late morning sun dragging me away from an enticing dream and into the world of the living. Slowly pushing aside the covers, I rolled over, hoping to dive back into my dream but something in my bed chased that possibility away. It took a moment to realize what that lump I’d almost laid on was…

Mason.

Ten pounds of wiggle and packed with the determination of a bulldog to stay in bed on a chilly Sunday morning. But I knew I was Queen of this house so I set out to show that mini dynamo who was boss.

I commanded him to get out of bed.

I threw back the covers to unearth his man cave.

I even tried to bribe him with treats.

Nothing.

I knew I could have forcibly removed him from his slumbering abode, but Mason was an old man in a little dog’s body. I really couldn’t blame him for wanting to snooze a little bit longer in a warm bed. But I had to be strong if I was going to retain my Queen title.

So we began an epic battle of wills.

I almost had him. I could feel his determination waiver. That was, until he turned those “puppy dog” eyes up to mine and I finally had to concede who was REALLY ruling the roost…

ruler

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

[simple-payment id=”804″]

***********

donna

FLASH FICTION TUESDAY: The Treasured Cross

March 12, 2019March 12, 2019Donna L

Blood.

Blood everywhere.

There was so much blood, Kat felt light headed just at the sight of it. She was too late. Mitch had sounded so excited when he called her earlier. Leaning her head against the cool glass of the window, Kat could almost feel the energy still pulsating in the room from their call.

“Kat! Did you hear what I said? I found it!” Mitch shouted into the receiver.

Kat was sure she couldn’t have heard correctly. “You found it? You mean you found the cross?”

Mitch’s voice nearly crackled over the phone line. “Yes! I found the cross. I found the book. Baby, we’ve got everything we need now to find the treasure! How soon can you get here?”

If only she hadn’t been on the other side of town. If only she’d gotten there five minutes earlier. But what could she have done to prevent all this blood? Kat slowly turned away from the window, reaching for the phone to dial 911, when she caught a flash of something shiny almost completely hidden by the body. Crouching closer to get a better view, she recognized the ornate gold engraving and small jewels embedded in the cross Mitch gave his life for. Lying next to it was a small black book, the edges soaked in blood.

Mitch might have lost his life searching for the treasure, but Kat was going to make sure he didn’t die in vain. There was nothing she could do for him now, but maybe…just maybe…he could do something for their unborn baby…

Okay, it’s your turn! Put your creative cap on and continue my story or start one of your own in the comments below…

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

[simple-payment id=”804″]

***********

donna