The best of very very short fiction. 55 words or 50 words, both are acceptable, I prefer to keep word count exact, others
insist on “or Less.”
The Tragic Tweet
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Out the door too fast, only just caught BBC World Service by the edge.
Presenter Catherine Campbell-Collins (her accent so crisp and clipped it hurt),
briskly dispatched the days first headlines.
“Twister leaves twelve dead in Oklahoma, more to follow.”
My somewhat inattentive and dyslexic self thought she said “Twitter.”
On the train I sadly shook my head and though, “Too bad for sure, a terrible thing.
But only a matter of time really, before that social networking shit was gonna catch up with people.”
by-Doug Mathewson
Filed Under 55 Words / 50 WordsSieve Analysis
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Deep within the Mall’s Barnes & Noble Box, in the corner dubbed Starbuck’s, panning through the droning monologue you think is conversation, I caught your phrase “could never sleep with him, not with teeth like those.” By the time I could conjure up a vampire joke, our conversation has moved on.
by-Doug Mathewson
Filed Under 55 Words / 50 WordsWho Has Time
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Agitated and percolating with impatience I waited as he rang-up my dollar books one by one. “Why can’t he just multiply” I fumed. Placing my receipt and complimentary
book-mark in the top volume, he shook his head and conversationally added, “short stories, now who has time for those?:
by-Doug Mathewson
Filed Under 55 Words / 50 WordsKaraoke in 50 Words
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Your sister and her friends were so drunk and loud,
we were all told to leave the Karaoke bar. Adamantly you insisting on doing a song before we left, and sang “What’s New Pussy Cat” from the small and shabby stage. You were horrible, and I never loved you more.
by-Doug Mathewson
Filed Under 55 Words / 50 WordsSt. John
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Honestly this is true. Whenever I heard the acronym “WWJD?” I thought it referred to John Lennon , I had no idea the “J” was Christ. I’ve taken this measure seriously, always trying to do what’s right, leading a life that would meet with John’s approval. But now I know, and it won’t change a thing.
by-Doug Mathewson
Filed Under 55 Words / 50 WordsSafe Harbor
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In Under Milk Wood Old Captain Cat in his delirium calls out, “Let me shipwreck in your thighs”.
For me, at age fifteen, it carried such a sensual weight and power.
As a grown man it struck me as both selfish and arrogant.
These days I find it speaks of redemption and a loving forgiveness.
by – Doug Mathewson
Filed Under 55 Words / 50 WordsSpinning Bricks
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As an art director her reputation was harsh. All previous locations for filming she had declined. I explained: “abandoned three story brick city newspaper building with hauntingly layered – deeply textured – retro – black and white Superman vibe”.
She was excited, perhaps thinking back to the man of steel. I was excited too, thinking about my check.
by – Doug Mathewson
Filed Under 55 Words / 50 WordsHazy About Hazels
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So this guy was named Philbert or something, I said
That Filbert, what a nut! You exclaimed
Who’s Philbert? Your moron boy friend asked
No no, it’s just a joke! You said
Your idiot boyfriend didn’t believe you. I saw
He squirmed and simmered uncomfortably,
you mentioning another man. You enjoyed it, I shook my head
by – Doug Mathewson
Filed Under 55 Words / 50 WordsHow Things Were
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Family called us difficult children. School and the neighbors called us worse.
“Your Mothers nerves can’t take it “ Dad would angrily yell. Late at night, I would squirt lighter fluid on our boots, my sister would strike the match, and we would run screaming through the house. Stunts like these just made our folks nuts.
by – Doug Mathewson
Filed Under 55 Words / 50 WordsVeeranjane
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Doing Pet Psychic Radio is ok. It’s easy to do. “On security tapes, Chelmsford looks so sad.” “Tomato peed down the a/c vent again!” Easy, till Veeranjane.
You’re no house cat! With a head full of star charts, and your augmented military biotech body!
“To explain”, he purred, “would certainly exceed your 55 words”.
by – Doug Mathewson
Filed Under 55 Words / 50 Words