Last Ten FLASHSHOTS

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LAST TEN FLASHSHOTS

GINGER DREAD
By Matt Larsen

"Tales of my demise are exaggerated," Gingerbread said, crawling into Fox's spare den. "But not much. Help."

Fox squinted. "What happened? You ran, ran, ran..."

"...as fast as I could, yeah? Nike gave me contracts, money by the boatload. So I gambled and lost big. Enforcers took my legs. I tried to win them back. They want the rest." Syrupy tears welled up. "Please hide me."

"Where?"

"Your mouth!" Gingerbread exclaimed. Then, clambering past Fox's canines, he remembered, "Did you ever work collections?"

"Yes," Fox said, snapping his jaws, "and in the end we always get our dough."
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Matt Larsen is a writer and performer whose work has been published previously in Flashshot, Sonar 4, Golden Visions, Static Movement and With Painted Words. He can be seen on stage with improv juggernaut International Stinger. His most recent work, his daughter Simone, arrived November of 2009 and can be seen in limited edition in the Chicago area.
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© 2010 Matt Larsen

Dark Worlds #1-4 now on sale http://www.lulu.com/ragemachinebooks featuring J. F. Gonzalez, Justin Gustainis, Joshua Reynolds, Joel Jenkins, Derrick Ferguson, Ken Goldman, C. J. Burch and Jack Mackenzie.

DEAD ASLEEP
By Alyssa Baumann

“When I count to ten, you’ll be dead. One one-thousand, two one-thousand…” Sarah recalled the chilling words of her attacker just before escaping his grip. She had never seen his face. Now, with the help of a professional, her bachelor neighbor who’d been trying to get her attention for the last year, she was going to undergo hypnosis to fill in the gaps of that terrifying night.

Sarah lay comfortably on the couch of her neighbor’s basement office. “When I count to ten, you’ll be dead asleep,” he said. Then he began sinisterly, “One one-thousand, two one-thousand…”
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Alyssa Baumann makes her home in Cave Creek, AZ where she lives with her husband, son and two dogs. She enjoys writing shorts when she’s not working on her series of young adult mysteries.
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© 2010 Alyssa Baumann

KINGS OF THE NIGHT a free webzine of Sword & Sorcery fiction, featuring a new story "Beginnings" by Eric S. Brown. http://www.gwthomas.org/kingsofthenight.htm

IN THE DOCK
By G. W. Thomas

Digsby had carried the nickname of Thicksby since public school.

He sat before the judge explaining why he had sat by and allowed a man to die, namely his boss, the research scientist, Dr. Clifford Barnett, who had worked exclusively with snake venom cures on cancer.

“He was always such a kind man, giving me a job when nobody else would,” said Digsby. “He even asked to hear about my trip to Sidmouth last year. His last words were, ‘Anecdote’. I obliged him, though he was dead before I got to the really good part.”
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G. W. Thomas lives in British Columbia. No, don’t ask him about the Olympics.
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© 2010 G. W. Thomas

Coming soon! SWORDS OF FIRE, a Heroic Fantasy anthology featuring novellas by C. J. Burch, David A. Hardy, Jack Mackenzie, G. W. Thomas and illustrations and cover by M. D. Jackson. http://www.gwthomas.org/comingsoon.htm

PUBLIC MARKET
By James C. Clar

“Meat’s always better fresh,” Poppa pronounced as we walked through the public market located out near the wall of the pressure dome.

“I know it’s a bit overwhelming. Remember, our ancestors hunted their food. The least we can do is learn how to butcher and prepare it.”

I stopped next to a cage with a level five force-field.

“Those are too expensive.” Poppa ran his serrated tongue over his teeth. “I’m told they’re very tasty. They’re shipped from that newly colonized planet. They appear too intelligent to eat.”

The animal in the cage, a bipedal primate, looked up and winked.
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James C. Clar’s work has been published in print as well as on the Internet. Recently, he has placed short fiction in the Taj Mahal Review, Thrillers, Killers ‘n’ Chillers, Apollo’s Lyre, Antipodean SF, Golden Visions Magazine, Static Movement, The New Flesh, Shine: A Journal of Flash and Word Catalyst Magazine.
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© 2010 James C. Clar

KINGS OF THE NIGHT a free webzine of Sword & Sorcery fiction, featuring a new story "Beginnings" by Eric S. Brown. http://www.gwthomas.org/kingsofthenight.htm

THE BELL TOLLED
By Pavelle Wesser

The bells tolled mercilessly as she sat in the church tower waiting to be hanged. She stared through a crack in the stone wall at the villagers milling about below. She closed her eyes and concentrated on one word:

Escape.

As the bell tolled once, she began to vibrate.

As the bell tolled twice, she increased the frequency.

As the bell tolled thrice, she entered the space-time continuum.

Hallelujah, she thought, as the villagers cheered in the square below.

The noose swung from side to side like the pendulum of time, unaware that its next victim had eluded its grasp.
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Pavelle Wesser’s writing has appeared in various online publications such of horror and science fiction. Her interests include travelling, reading, writing fiction, taking care of her dogs and spending time with her family in New England.

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© 2010 Pavelle Wesser

Check out "The Writers Who Inspired Flash", http://www.gwthomas.org/inspiration.htm now updated to include James Thurber. -- GW

REAL AMERICAN SUPER STORE PART 2
By Lee Stan

"Yes, can you help me chose some bread?"

"Sure. What would you like? Up, Up and a Whey? Or the whole grain stuff, Faster Than a Speeding Bullet?"

"Can I get a hand out with all this?"

"Certainly sir. One of our service clerks will be glad to assist."

"It's the batmobile on the left."

"Closed at last."

"I wonder if they'll ever figure out we're over-charging them?"

"Don't sweat it kid. It's like the sign says: 'The American Way'."
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Lee Stan is the fantastic pseudonym of the mild-mannered Robert Smith who works in the post office.
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© 2010 Lee Stan

Dark Worlds #1-4 now on sale http://www.lulu.com/ragemachinebooks featuring J. F. Gonzalez, Justin Gustainis, Joshua Reynolds, Joel Jenkins, Derrick Ferguson, Ken Goldman, C. J. Burch and Jack Mackenzie.

REAL AMERICAN SUPER STORE PART 1
By Lee Stan

“Look! Capes are on sale!”

“Yes, but they’re the cheap ones. They fray like crazy when you hit Mach One. Go with these. They’re more expensive but they’re worth it.”

*

“Where can I find explosive devices?”

“Oh, you want the Super Villain section upstairs.”

*

“Yes, I’d like to return these.”

“Okay sir, what’s wrong with them?”

“Well, when I was saving New York from the Total Colossus the button flew open. Very embarrassing.”

“I see. But, sir, you see the green tag? These were a clearance item in our Kryptonite Sale. I can’t give you your money back.”
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Lee Stan is the fantastic pseudonym of the mild-mannered Robert Smith who works in the post office.
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© 2010 Lee Stan

Check out the new article on writing micro-fiction: "Sharpening the Blue Pencil" http://www.gwthomas.org/bluepencil.htm

LAST STAND
By Cathy Rogers

Standing at the top of the concrete stairs, Edna listened as Randy screamed. With sudden clarity, she knew a time was coming when she would give in to his pressure to let him back into her apartment just to end the torment.

After following her for months, the threatening phone calls and his humiliating appearances at work, she was numb. Looking into his eyes, she said, "Do you know how easy it is to believe a drunk stumbled and fell down a flight of stairs?"

Before he had time to react, she wound her foot around his ankle and yanked.
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When she is not working in her accounting and tax business, Cathy writes in the arid climate of the Arizona desert where she shares her home with her two Bichon Frises, Whitney and Sophie.
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© 2010 Cathy Rogers

New schedule of stories has been posted as well as "Sharpening the Blue Pencil", an article on writing micro-fiction. Both at http://www.gwthomas.org/flashshotindex.htm

THE FINGER
By Ethan Swage

"You'll never do it," Jack Petty said, lying prone outside the Principal Offerton's office with his best friend, Bobby Keen. "Pussy!"

"Shut up," Bobby said. "I'll do it."

He inched his head up and peered through the window.

"Is he alone?" Jack asked.

Bobby nodded.

"Then do it, before he sees us!"

Swallowing hard, Bobby flicked out his middle finger and pressed it against the window. A hand crashed through the glass, and dragged Bobby into the office. Jack heard screams, crunching, and then a loud burp. Then the intercom crackled.

Jack Petty, report to the principal's office immediately!
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Ethan Swage is a New Jersey–based writer/artist/photographer whose work has appeared in Flashshot and The Legendary.
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© 2010 Ethan Swage

Check out "The Writers Who Inspired Flash", http://www.gwthomas.org/inspiration.htm which I updated. I forgot James Thurber! -- GW

URUMQI
By Matthew A. Hamilton

The streets were damp and cold that July day in Urumqi.

"Are you ready to do this?" one said.

The other two nodded in agreement, brandishing makeshift swords.

They rounded the corner and headed north. Shop owners watched in disbelief; some told the men to stop. But they refused. It was forbidden to stop.

The men shouted in their ancestral tongue as they charged the Chinese policemen. Their words were broken by gunshots; yet they pushed on, strong in their faith, moving toward the danger.

And just before their eyes closed for the last time, they saw God.
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Matthew A. Hamilton is a US Peace Corps Volunteer serving in the Philippines. Two of his poems will be published in the E-zine, Long Story Short: Ballads of Quiet in June 2010 and 1692 in October 2010. After service, he plans to pursue an MFA in Creative Writing.
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© 2010 Matthew A. Hamilton

TIME OUT
By Thomas Scofield

The children were behaving like horrible little monsters. Oh, not all of them, but there were quite a few that insisted on being overly rambunctious. Their mother spoiled them and they, in turn, walked all over her. Their father sighed and turned to the nanny.

“Just give them a time out. That’ll settle them down. Here, this should help.”

Death smiled a skeletal grin as Father Time handed him a scythe. Mother Earth didn’t notice.

“Just have a good time, you two,” Death said, with a twinkle in its eye-socket. “I’ll make sure no one stays up past bedtime.”
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Thomas Scofield is a graduate of Yale University. He studied Shakespeare in Stratford-upon-Avon, acted in New York City and has spent the last five years trading lines for lucre. His drink of choice is Irish Cider and he likes mashed potatoes on his pizza. He currently lives with his partner across from an historic park, which is excellent, as he loves trees. http://www.thomasscofield.com
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© 2010 Thomas Scofield

KINGS OF THE NIGHT a free webzine of Sword & Sorcery fiction, featuring a new story "Beginnings" by Eric S. Brown. http://www.gwthomas.org/kingsofthenight.htm