the tall man

The tall man walked into her dream clearly unaware he was in her personal space. 

He looked around for a moment then headed toward an outlet in the wall where a cord was plugged in. She watched him stroll right up and simply pull the plug. 

She rushed in and told him no, no that has to be plugged in there. She took it from him and plugged it back in. 

He apologized and proceeded to go about moving other things around.

Soon, another person arrived loaded down with various items. The tall man helped to unload it all into the space, smiling and chatting pleasantly all the while. The other person came and went several times, each time bringing a load which the tall man carefully dispositioned in the space. It was a seemingly miscellaneous collection of items, most of which seemed to be old or used.

The tall man went about his activities in her space as she looked on. She finally struck up a conversation with the tall man, who turned out to be very easygoing and congenial.

She couldn’t help but wonder who he was. He seemed quite intelligent but never really gave a clue about his profession or background. Still, he seemed to know everything about all the items being delivered into the space, and showed no interest in everything that she already kept there.

She asked the tall man to tell her about some of the things being delivered, which he was only too happy to do, in great detail.

They wandered off chatting. Distracted by the tall man’s steady banter, she didn’t notice as he casually pulled the plug again and turned off the lights as they walked out the door. She never for a moment thought where it was she was going, or that she might be leaving her space behind. 

Still talking, with a smile on his face, he gently closed the door behind them. She never even noticed the soft click of the lock as they headed down the path. The tall man clearly knew the way.

###

Stand for Freedom

at the artist’s cottage, a drabble

Courtesy of Eugi’s Causerie

His cottage looked out to the waves and the sky. Paints, brushes, and canvasses in varying states of completion filled the space. His lonely time on the bluff fueled creative landscapes highly prized by art lovers. 

Then one day, the woman with the black hair knocked on his door. Now, he lay idle, his fingers mingled loosely in those raven strands, inspiration long evaporated in a haze of romance.

“Today, my love? Please, pick up your brush again,” she coaxed.

He knew he was done with landscapes. 

He stared into her sapphire eyes. New inspiration flickered.

“Yes, today,” he smiled.

###

Thank you to Eugi’s Causerie for the prompt, “mingle,” and the accompanying photo.

“Compost” on Spillwords Press

Oh, hey, I’m happy to share that Spillwords Press published my flash fiction piece “Compost” today. Check it out here:

Compost

distraction

For Friday Fictioneers, 100 words

© Ted Strutz

Loading was going according to schedule. The new rigger seemed to be working out alright, slow but conscientious.

As Kevin took one last walk around the load, his phone rang. A moony smile spread across his face at the sound of his new girlfriend’s voice. 

Kevin gave the new guy a thumbs up and they hopped in the truck.They were in the middle of an intersection when Kevin realized he had only checked one side of the load.

He watched helplessly as the entire load careened off the trailer, traffic screeching wildly in every direction. He winced and prayed.

###

Thank you to Rochelle at rochellewiseoff.com for the Friday Fictioneers prompt, and Ted Strutz for the photo!

ready and willing

For Friday Fictioneers, 100 words

Photo courtesy of Dale Rogerson

Retirement was not agreeing with them.

Roscoe and Norma restlessly sipped their drinks, soaking in the tropical surroundings. The spacious deck overlooked a pond teeming with beautiful, lush growth, but they both sat bored, itching to cook up some adventure.

They couldn’t help but notice when the sky took on an eerie glow. Without further warning, a ferocious wind exploded around them. Foliage and water became a blur, whipped by the maelstrom.

“Roscoe! Look up!” Norma yelled, pointing.

Turning his head skyward, Roscoe could see the strange, elliptical craft descending towards them.

“Hell, yeah!” grinned Roscoe. “Beam us up, Scottie!”

###

Thank you to Rochelle at rochellewiseoff.com and for the Friday Fictioneers prompt!

spontaneous

Photo courtesy of Eugi’s Causerie

The strains of the old song wafted out over the streetside cafe. Maddie couldn’t help herself.

“Oh, we have to dance!” she trilled, eyes sparkling.

“What? Here? Now?” Peter laughed. Still, he, too, could feel the pull of the song. How, after all, could he resist Maddie’s entreaty?

Maddie rose, pulling Peter up towards her. They melded into a gentle, slow swaying dance, meandering among the tables, oblivious to the startled onlookers. A waitress gently skirted them to bring an order out. 

The song came to a close. The couple looked up, surprised, as the cafe erupted in happy applause. 

###

Thank you, Eugenia, at Eugi’s Causerie, for this happy prompt, “dance,” and the accompanying photo (apologies for using just a portion)!

with the crowd

For Friday Fictioneers
100 hundred words

Photo courtesy of David Stewart

At first, it seemed like fun. We all bobbed along, each of us safely ensconced in our pandemic-proof eggshells. The crowd chattered excitedly, getting louder and louder as we jostled along. 

Total introvert that I am, I began to feel frazzled. Finally, I knew I had to flee.

Bumping into the edge, I forced my hand through a seam, scrambled out, and ran off into the darkness. I strolled along, watching the spectacle from a distance. 

That’s how I happened to see it: all those glowing eggs tumbling over the precipice down into a dark abyss, babbling into silence.

###

Thank you to Rochelle at rochellewiseoff.com for the Friday Fictioneers prompt!

switching it up

A to Z challenge, theme: anatomy, day 16: P
Flash fiction, 100 words 

One year into this whole pandemic schtick, and Sheldon was over it. He had reached his limit with the loneliness, the video screens, the constant soundtrack of fear.

Sheldon knew, however, that he held opportunity in the palm of his hand. 

To anyone else, it looked like a piece of candy. He popped the bonbon in his mouth, savoring the strange flavors as it melted.

It wasn’t long before he felt his teeth growing. Then, the tail started to happen. Pretty soon, the wings popped up and flapped a little. 

Sheldon, the little red dragon, was ready for take-off.

###

scent of hope

A to Z challenge, theme: anatomy, day 14: N
Flash fiction, 100 words 

The scent of the lilacs wafted into the house. Mandy paused, taking it in. She walked outside and clipped a small, bushy sprig of blossoms. Since it wouldn’t be allowed, she tucked the sprig into a plastic bag. She knew it was just the right thing.

Her mother lay in the ICU, unable to move or even to look out a window. Mandy took the sprig out of her pocket. She held it up in front of her mother’s eyes, then up to her nose. Mandy’s hopeful heart leaped as she saw those death-dull eyes suddenly sparking with light.

###

fresh start

For Friday Fictioneers
Flash fiction, 100 words

Photo copyright Anne Higa

The fairies gathered near the grotto at the appointed hour, their little shadow selves barely visible in the darkness. Their excited chatter could be heard almost like birdsong through the forest.

It took the strength of all the fairies, heaving together, to get the old wooden bucket lowered into the deep glowing pool. With Herculean effort, the tiny hands pulled the full bucket back up to the top. 

Their elfin cheer reverberated throughout the woods as they spilled the bucket out, dusting their wings with the powdery fairy gold. Sparkling anew with their magic, they flitted off into the night.

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Many thanks to Rochelle at rochellewiseoff.com for this intriguing photo prompt!