Nanofiction, Twitter Fiction, Microfiction, Tiny Tales
Short stories written in up to 140 characters One Dozen Publishing Opportunities for Twitter Fiction Writers
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Changing Times She passed her Barbie doll on to her daughter to dress as she had done, but the girl drew on the doll's shoulder; a tattoo to modernise her. Misread He sent her romantic love poems and waited in vain for a response. He wrote in free verse but she loved rhyme and thought him undisciplined. Ridiculous Rebellion Police interviewed him about a crime he didn't commit. Innocent but a fool he spat in an officer's face and spent the night in jail anyway. Reversal of Fortune He measured his catch. The fish was not under size but it looked at him, its lips sucking for water. Overcome with pity he threw it back. Winter Supper Frost, coats like sugar, crunches like toffee shards. The dessert in winter's supper, it is anticipated but only enjoyed in moderation. Counting the Days He was photosensitive and only went out in the dark. He marked the days to the winter solstice, his favourite night, with anticipation. Peace March They marched for peace, waved banners and started a riot. He watched from a distance, shook his head and said, "They just don't get it." Special Day He was born on Christmas day. "Poor thing," they said, "less presents." He didn't care; he shared his birthday with someone amazing. An Overwhelming Gift For Christmas, they gave their toddler a walking, talking robot with flashing lights. Frightened by it, he hid in the box it came in. Family Christmas His family wanted Xmas at their place, her family at theirs. On Xmas eve they packed their bags and flew off to an undisclosed destination. Animal Rhymes He got detention for his awful poem. “Larry Lizard spat and swore, snuck up on koala and pooed on his paw.” His mother giggled to herself. A Change in Standards He inspected the shirts she ironed for him, accepted nothing short of perfection. After she left him, he wore them crumpled. Right Back at You His mother thought it cute he played with butterflies, but he was pulling off their wings. Afterwards he fell and broke both his arms. ‘Til Death Us Do Part Her pained eyes watched raindrops trickling away down the window. He sat at her bed holding her hand, “Not long now,” his whispered promise. Instinct Awry Three sparrow’s eggs lay shattered on the pavement and beside them a sparrow stands and stares. She doesn’t know she should abandon them. Realised Dream All his life he dreamed of driving trains but the electric ones were uninteresting. He works for the museum now, on coal fired trains.
When She Grows Up She says she wants to be a hairdresser, drags her five year old candy coated hands through her mother’s hair. Ah, the things we do for love! An Apple A Day His mother said, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” The doctor wondered who kept leaving apples on his doorstep. Too Angry They want to bed not speaking. Too angry to talk to him, she reached over, furtively caressing him while he slept. Cause and Effect He wore a clown nose for a charity day, silliness for a cause. When he looked in the mirror he liked it so much he was sad to take it off. Like a Fish People said he drank like a fish but they were wrong. He couldn’t stand water, whisky was his lifeblood. Mixed Emotions He angered his teacher with his awful poem-Tiny Teddy was a turd, he barfed his tea and flipped the bird. His mother struggled not to laugh. Discovery Mostly losing her memory sucked but when she reread the complete works of Charles Dickens it was as if she had discovered a whole new world. Shades of Joy She dressed in all he shades of the rainbow. The sniggered at her and she felt sorry for them for they did not know the joy of colour. Mystery Box At an auction they bought a box of stuff and spent a melancholy evening reading the one hundred year old love letters of complete strangers. Wishful Thinking “I’ll invent a device, patent it and get rich,” he told her. Trouble was he was a thinker not a doer so he was famous only in his own mind. Open Book “My life is an open book,” he said. She tried to think of it as a valuable tome but instead she pictured the bargain table, three books-$5. Lost Dog Her dog was lost. She placed reward posters everywhere but as the days passed she began to forget the feel of his licks on her hand. Pure of Heart He went out Sundays. Thinking him a cheat she followed him. Watching him place flowers at his mother’s grave she loved him more than ever. Layered She had her pink top over her blue over her green; too many clothes. Her Dad savours the moment. Soon she’ll be grown and wear too little. Nip in the Air The sun shone in a clear sky but it was only just spring, the air was cold. She crossed her feet and wished she’d worn her woollen socks. Chance Meeting The airport was closed, planes cancelled, her holiday ruined; his too. They waited together, and a year later, honeymooned on a boat cruise. Childhood Revisited She took her girls to every Disney film that showed. Her friends said she was too good to them, but she was the one who loved the cartoons. Wilting Away She sold her back yard to a developer who built where her garden used to be. They paid well, but her flowers gone, she too wilted and died. Monsters When she was little she feared the monsters hiding under her bed. Now she is grown she fears the monsters hiding amongst us every day. Lacklustre “I’ll wash the windows tomorrow,” he promised again. She stared at the filthy panes and sighed; each was as lacklustre as their marriage. Good Job He was painting her house, singing while he worked. She sang along, made him tea and cake. Now he paints the house they bought together. Narrow Escape She left him at the altar. He hadn’t expected that. His friends took him to drown his sorrows but he raised his glass to toast his freedom. Game’s Up He hurt his right foot. He moaned and limped around to elicit her sympathy. He got none; sometimes he forgot and limped on his left foot. Free Thought “No Pa, you’re making it up,” she says.”What makes you think that?” “My brain.” We laugh, happy that even at five she thinks independently. Heaven Bound She said she was an angel. They said she was mad. She jumped from a cliff into misted cloud and when no body was found, left them wondering. The Listener She told stories to her comatose son. “Why,” they said, “he can’t hear you”. Years later she heard him tell those stories to his own son. Angel of Mine She sang like an angel. Her beauty was beyond compare. He held her hand, proud to show the world she was his. “I love you Daddy,” she said. Solace A battered wife, sleeping like a baby at night, living a nightmare by day, she chose sleep. He grieved for his loss but not for her. Incomplete She found him traumatised in his lounge chair. By his feet a newspaper lay open at a crossword puzzle with only one missing word. Perception He painted pictures of women, well rounded, amply proportioned. His lady was slim; seeing his paintings she felt rejected and left him. Dark Day Papa died today. She ran outside shaking her fist at the shining sun and calling for the birds to silence their song. How dare they; today. Communication Breakdown “Come with me and I will make your dreams come true,” he promised. She should have told him she wasn’t dreaming of housework. Connections He was an engineer. Building bridges was his favourite part of the job; it made him feel connected. Run Down His personal trainer pushed him to his limit, pushed him until he was ready to drop. He pushed his personal trainer in front of a car. Undecided Wrapped in warm embrace she seductively whispered in his ear, “I think I love you”. He wondered when she’d be sure. Questionable “Trust me,” he said. Wondering why he needed to mention it at all, she became wary of everything he said and did. Tuned Out “Remember the ‘Purple People Eater’,” he said. He loved old songs, but she had never heard it and thinking him insane, had him committed. At Odds Every day he jogged and every day she walked her dog. He smiled warmly as he passed. She screwed her nose up at the scent of his sweat. Grandma’s Garden Grandma loved daffodils and jonquils, snowdrops and bluebells. I planted them too and Grandma’s spirit lives in with the flowers. Time Lines He was an archaeologist. Carbon dating relics was his favourite part of the job; it made him feel extraordinarily young. Resignation Thrown out, he stood forlorn, rain-soaked, his belongings at his feet. He didn’t know what he’d done but this time it must be bad. Turtled Out Fearing the world, he wanted to hide from it. She knitted a turtle neck jumper and happily secure, he drew his head into it and suffocated. The Proposal “Marry me,” he said. “I’ve only known you four weeks,” she said. “Choose an engagement ring,” he replied. “With a bezel setting,” she said. Out of Sight He regretted the removal of cataracts from his eyes, for the world had turned ugly and he didn’t like what he saw. Eternal Secret He sent her emails; love notes from a secret admirer. When a virus attacked her computer, he was doomed to keep his secret forever. Solidarity A boy and his dog, having trampled the garden in play, responded to an angry chastisement by nervously farting in unison. Whetted Anticipation Longing for the courage to say hello, he prayed for rain so he might share his umbrella; stand close enough to feel the warmth of her body. Fading Away She watches as morning sky, her youth, painted the pretty pinks and reds of nature’s pallet, is rain washed Dorian gray, her twilight years. Delicious Deceit “I didn’t take it!” her child protests through crumb coated lips, his chocolate iced fingers crumpling a cupcake paper behind his back. Broken Promise “Tomorrow will be better,” he promises. Her comatose mind hearing, screams inwardly, “Liar!” He signs the forms to turn off life support. Spark of Regret Jogging in the bush he’d seen a shard of glass in the dry grass. Watching the billowing smoke from the fire, he wished he’d picked it up. Soul Magic Grandma says she saw fairies in her room last night. Mum says she’s senile but when I look, I can see magic in her age-wise eyes. Timed Out When he died she went to stop the clock for time of death. His ghost having stilled it already snatched her breath away as it passed. Lost for Words After his wife left him, believing happiness gone from the world forever, he took his Oxford dictionary and blacked out every joyful word. What Now? He stands with St Peter at the perfect Pearly Gates, feeling useless; his life spent polishing the brass door fittings of a luxury hotel. | My Published Twitter Fiction Click the title to read the story A Change in Standards / A Space to Fill / Analogy / Anxious Wait / Best Laid Plans / Breaking In / Broken Promise / Brothers in Arms / Contradiction / Counting the Days / Defiant Resolve / For the Love of a Child / Hanging On / Hopeless / In Her Scarlet Gown With Six Inch Heels / Labour of Love / Memories / Mightier than the Sword / Mystery Box / Oops! / New Day / Paris in the Spring / Parting Sorrow / Peace March / Reality TV / Ridiculous Rebellion / Regrets / Salt in the Wounds / She Got Him Underpants / The Beginning / The Real Thing / The Search / Thou Shalt not Covet / Tiny Tonic / Too Angry / Visibly Disapointed / Wanted - Worms / What's In A Name / Widely Misunderstood Brothers in Arms The opposing armies took refuge in the same town until the storm ended. Befriended and with no one to fight they returned to their families. Going Green Aiming to outdo a friend's fancy dress party, he held his own. The theme was green. "Go as envy," his wife said, "you won't need a costume." Defiant Resolve He typed opinions, they took his laptop. He penned opinions, they took his paper. In prison he wrote in blood; defying them to take him.
Pre-emptive Strike He threatened to kill his wife time and again. He aimed to keep her frightened. She became so afraid for her life, she shot him first. Gift of Friendship Penny was five and she got two dolls for Christmas. Her friend, whose father was out of work, got nothing. Penny gave her one of the dolls. The Best Decorations He wanted lights around the Christmas tree, she, tinsel. Their son made paper chains at school. Joyously they wound them around together. Christmas Spirit He said there were no bonuses this year. Upset, his wife cooked them mince pies. Made with Christmas spirit, they were delicious. Pet Peace His cat disappeared. His dog ran away. He got a horse, a big horse. They had issues. Now they share a cautious respect for each other. Kiss It Better After he tended to her grazed knee, she cried still, “Kiss it better Daddy.” It took three days to get the mercurochrome off his lips. Country Air He thought farting was funny. She left me for the fresh air of a farm. The cows farted but that was OK, they were meant to be animals. Beloved Pet His daughter’s pet passed away unexpectedly. He found his little girl behind the shed, cradling the dead animal in her arms and weeping. Patience His son could not play football or cricket or baseball. The boy was clumsy but he loved him still knowing in time he would find his passion. Fond Memories They grew old together and could not remember their youth. “Do you think we were happy,” she asked. “Let’s just say we were,” he replied. Come Back He liked that he could make his mum cry but when she went away leaving him alone with dad, he stood at the window watching for her return. Tit for Tat He turned up his TV then she turned up hers. Then he, then she again until the sound was deafening and they both gave up and went outside. Critic “Look Mummy I can count,” he said holding one hand up with the other. “Watch; one, two, six, three.” Mum claps but Dad says, “That’s wrong”. For the Love of a Child He had only one kidney left when his daughter needed a transplant. He shot himself at the hospital, a note in his hand read, “Take it now!” Fleas If you lay down with dogs and get up with fleas, he wonders, does the dog still have fleas or does he walk away, liberated from infestation? Clandestine The last one to see the government agent had disappeared; so it seemed had the government agent. Maybe they were the same person, maybe not. Wanted – Worms Her young son collected worms in a cup and hid them under his bed. By night his worms were missing and he was afraid to go to sleep. Visual Impact She gave her son a puppy. It rolled on its back for a tummy rub. He was very excited until it peed in his eye. He never looked at it again. Putting In “Two four six eight, who do we appreciate?” It wasn’t her so she left the room, wanting accolades but never making the effort to earn them. Devotion Her child was naughty and when he was sick he vomited on her. But she loved him; she couldn’t resist sneaking cuddles while he slept. Angry His workmates and friends avoided him, begged him to take anger management classes. He rang to book but was abusive so they hung up on him. Pschyco –Maybe He avoided cracks in the pavement. He wasn’t psycho, he just liked the look on people’s faces when they thought he was. Literary Genius “The modern world is devoid of great authors,” he said. It would be their last date. He was a fool, who ever hadn’t heard of Dr.Seuss. Perspective She read two novels at a time, swapping between them. He said she lacked focus, she said he lacked versatility. Karma When he was apprenticed they sent him for striped paint, laughed at his naivety. Now he was foreman they prayed he had a sense of humour. Home Sick She planted English box, tirelessly tended and watered it, but in the dry Australian landscape, even that did not make her feel at home. Ponderance Wanting to impress her with his intelligence he said, “Did you know,” but then he hesitated to think and in doing so, appeared thoughtless. Distracted “Did you know,” he said, “you can make sauce from squid ink?” Then his mother knew he’d been surfing the net instead of doing his homework. Buzz Buzz A light, nearly spent, buzzed incessantly, driving her mad. She smashed it from the ceiling with a broom and a dozen dead flies fell on her. Surprise Package Her young son was dangerously curious. He opened boxes, drawers, everything. She bought a jack-in-the-box. After that he was more careful. Private Moment “What are you doing Mum?” “I’m on the toilet.” “Can I come in?” “No.” “But I won’t look!” She closed her eyes and tried to remember privacy. Let Down It was the grand final, the game of the year. It was a draw. Dumfounded fans silently left the ground, united in their disappointment. Olympic Gold He won an Olympic gold medal but when he got home it was the medal his young son drew in crayon that he gave pride of place on his wall. Unenlightened Their Christmas lights were a sight to behold and people came from miles to see them. They had traded their privacy for a huge power bill. The Carousel She looked away from the carousel for a moment and her son was gone. Now each week she watches the horses go around and imagines him there. Shadows "Someone's following me!" She was afraid of her own shadow, but then she learnt shadows can only exist in sunshine and she welcomed them. Images She loved the chocolates he gave her but felt guilty eating them so he bought her a trick mirror. Now she would always look slim. Automaton He hated people. He bought a robot dog, but his robot vacuum kept knocking it over. Its feet waived meaninglessly in mid air. Stupid dog! Sudoku He sat transfixed at his Sudoku puzzle. In the bottom right hand box were two 4’s. His mind was lost in an infinite loop – 4.4.4.4.. Day’s Ends He loved first light in the morning, sunshine and birdsong, and moonlight and mist at night. It was the bit in the middle he didn’t care for. Grown Up She nursed him as a baby, tended grazed knees as he grew, guided him as a teen, but when his wife left him all she could do was weep. The Search He walked the streets showing her photo. At every corner he imagined her voice calling, “Daddy”. At every turn he shed another tear. The Real Thing In their electronic games they were warriors, fearless, strong and battle worn. When war was declared, frightened and vulnerable, they wept. Dream Holiday “Let’s plan our dream holiday,” she said. He collected brochures of Africa, safaris and tents; she of hot spas and cherry blossoms. Ominous “When I grow up,” he said, viciously ripping the head off a doll, “I’ll be an astronaut, because in space no-one can hear them scream”. Gorgeous Like a peeping tom, he watched her shadowed movements through the opaque shower door. Even in silhouette his lady was exquisite.
Disappointed “I am who I am,” he said. “I know,” she replied, “do you wish you were someone else too?” Garden Tour She bought sheets and pillow cases covered in flowers and in her dreams she strolled through the world’s most beautiful gardens. Simple Pleasure He sat on a toy horse at the shop, laughing, yelling “Giddy up.” One day his imagination won’t run the horse, she will have to put in coins. Contradiction Shopping day. Yuk! Lists, trolleys, check-out queues. Shopping day. Yay! Coffee and cakes, gossip with the girls, TV magazine. Sad Silence “Marry me,” he proposed on bended knee. Not wanting to kick a man while he was down, she remained silent. Misunderstanding He dreamt of flying. His parents dreamt he’d be a pilot. When he jumped from a cliff to soar like a bird, understanding at last, they wept. What’s in a Name? He signed up to serve his country. She was not enthusiastic. She sent him a ‘Dear John’ letter. He ignored it; his name was Aaron. The Hatchet “I’m sorry,” he said, “let’s bury the hatchet.” The vision that conjured in her mind was disturbingly satisfying. Growing Up At one he walked and talked, at two he raged, at three he learnt computer games, but by four he was a real boy and farting was his forte. Truth Triumphant He was her manager, a sexual predator. It was his word against hers. He prevailed so she sent a list of his true assets to his ex-wife. Empty Nest Their children having left home, they sat side by side in their lounge, silently wondering if they had ever had anything else to share. Hopeless The do-gooders offered her detox. “It doesn’t work,” she said. Then she shot up, lay down in a puddle and dreamed she was at the beach. Baby Steps His four-year-old daughter danced her clumsy, stumbling steps for him and his eyes beheld a prima ballerina. Goodbye He put the office furniture in the window with ‘For Sale’ signs on it and when he didn’t come in the next morning, they assumed he had quit. The Form of Fear He dreamt of walking beside her, but afraid to speak he walked behind instead. Afraid of him following her, she reported him as a stalker. Silent Death An ancient tree, witness to fifteen generations of man, its’ time spent, falls unnoticed, silent in the forest. No-one is there to hear. Happy Birthday “Happy Birthday!” He unwraps slippers and hankies. He will have to wait until Christmas for underpants and socks. Checking Out She left a note that read, “I am going missing.” They found her in her bedroom, mute and dazed. She never spoke again. |
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