How much can you leave out, and still tell it all?

Here are four very short ‘Flash Fiction’ style short stories. All stories were penned within 10 minutes, at least 50% was done in under 5. (That makes 2 stories, if you know your math.) Although Flash Fiction (or micro-fiction, sudden fiction, or simply: short short story) officially is a story consisting of under a 1000 words, I made a sport of trying to make them exactly 100 words long. The word count never includes the title, btw. This did not work out with one of them: ‘The Return of the Rubber Shark’ is 109 words. I simply could NOT edit out any more text! ‘Dusty Dog’ was 100 straight after the first draft was completed. I did not change a single word. Enjoy.

The dusty dog

“Cool and dusty was the floor of the barn. This was a relief compared to the heat just outside, where chickens pecked at a withered leaf, half-hoping it was a bug. The dog lay there, watching clouds of dust rise up with every exhalation. In the barn, life was good for his old body.

When the wolf appeared in the entrance, his bulk eclipsed the sun, leaving a shining halo around his form. He looked like an angel. A hungry angel. Why should I bark? The old dog thought. I am too comfortable. The sheep will take care of themselves.” The End

Ice cream

“The girl stood in the shadow of the moving Ferris wheel. She felt as happy as the fairground organ’s merry tune. A top-heavy ice cream balanced in her hand. Her dress was a flourish of yellow and pink flowers. How she loved her grandmother for all that needlework!

Now they called to her, from up high – ‘Hi! Up here! Sabrina!” She had taken a first lick, and now was distracted. The Wheel would not wait for her indulgence.

She turned her head and began to wave. Now it fell. And all that pretty needlework would have to go home for a soak.” The End

The Return of the Rubber Shark

“He had thrown it out to sea long ago, to join its friends. To a boy of three, rubber and real are just the same. Then followed months of patience for its return, and unusual loyalty in toddler’s terms. Eventually, his family moved away from the coast, and he forgot.

Years passed before he wandered that beach again, kicking the flotsam with his old Army boots. Did it ever find a rubber shark wife and have rubber shark kids?

Now he had his own 3-year old; also a firm believer. What’s that? There, under that pile of sandy rope – one brittle and sun-bleached, salt-eaten rubbery friend. Their worlds were complete.” The End

The last letter

“I looked at my mother’s face, shrouded behind the thin gauze of lace. Her expression was strained. Roses on the altar behind her gave her black form the appearance of a Gothic Valentine’s card.

Cold, bony fingers struggled with the tight breast-pocket of the virgin-pressed suit. What remained of my father lay there.

“It must be in here somewhere!” She gasped. I looked toward the door anxiously.

This was the end of an era. The amendment clutched between her fingers at last, she uttered a shrill cry of satisfaction as the guests streamed in. Tell Midas release his horses.” The End

[Author: Amber Nowak]