100-Word Fiction: ‘A Meteorite’

Nothing was unusual about that morning. The willows swayed in a slight breeze. Freddie the cat licked his paws; the man in the suit ran for his train; and no one saw the flash in the sky. A haze descended over the town and then cleared. Then people began to notice. A fine dust hadContinue reading “100-Word Fiction: ‘A Meteorite’”

100-Word Fiction: ‘Light’

A lightning bolt, mainlined to a spire, channels electricity between the heavens and the Earth with so much power. * * * All the candles he has lit, he has seen, has had lit for him. Offerings of light and he, he offers light too. These offerings are full of the weight of hope andContinue reading “100-Word Fiction: ‘Light’”

100-Word Fiction: ‘Raptor’

The bird’s wings scythed through the morning air imperiously as it locked its position over some ground prey, unseen, scuttling in the wildnerness below. The long arc of those wings; I had seen something like them before. An owl, perhaps, or a bird of prey, a falcon or harrier, a raptor. Was an owl aContinue reading “100-Word Fiction: ‘Raptor’”

100-Word Fiction: ‘Kora’

Kora of calabash, the bottle gourd lute, cowskin resonator, bridge and strings. Kumbengo riffs and birimintingo runs, across the wires of the dancing desert harp. Griot storytellers of Mali’s Mandinka, keepers of memory, ancient people of Sundiate Keita. Plucking notes that quiver into being, hardly heard above the arid air or the brushing of sandContinue reading “100-Word Fiction: ‘Kora’”

100-Word Fiction: ‘If Just Once Those Birds’

If just once those birds That scatter snow from the tall tree – Its branches shaken from white to green By whirled circles on the wing – Would cross to us and feed If just once those birds Would cease from flailing And flashing their colours To the phosphorescent sky And be still If justContinue reading “100-Word Fiction: ‘If Just Once Those Birds’”

100-Word Fiction: ‘Trajectories’

A clear blue sky and two planes crossing it, one after the other, perhaps too close, turning southerly. As is often, here, at this time, there is talk of politics. Governments this, ministers that, history and security, links to conspiracies. An older man and a younger man are looking skyward, standing, waiting. One holds aContinue reading “100-Word Fiction: ‘Trajectories’”

100-Word Fiction: ‘If Just Who He Was’

We were trying to remember his name. Annie was finishing her wine and I had lit a cigarette; was wondering about brandy. I could hardly even picture him but Annie seemed to know. How could I forget? It was like seeing an old school photo and one of the pupils was blacked out in theContinue reading “100-Word Fiction: ‘If Just Who He Was’”

100-Word Fiction: ‘So Early In the Year’

She came back inside at three, just as the light had started to fade fast. Andy was boiling the kettle. She kicked off her boots and stood them on the mat, took off her gloves and placed them on the ledge. No coat? You’ll catch cold, said Andy. It’s warm. You’re kidding? I’m in aContinue reading “100-Word Fiction: ‘So Early In the Year’”

100-Word Fiction: ‘How Will We See?’

In the future we will see Everything in three dimensions. What? The robin whistling The mud underfoot The long journey home Hands in gloves The cheers at the bar The chiming bells The turning of a page The plans being made The mildness of the air The perfume of a fir tree The warmth ofContinue reading “100-Word Fiction: ‘How Will We See?’”

100-Word Fiction: ‘This Waiting’

A feeling. Grips you how, if, you don’t know. No I cannot eat. She sits down, scrapes the chair across the floor. Time. The clock presses forward a dreaded minute. She should eat. Oh just to stop the thoughts. It won’t be over until it is. Hard as granite. Cold as metal. Steely stone. Bad.Continue reading “100-Word Fiction: ‘This Waiting’”