Better as friends 1: boiling over. A 50-word story (Humpbuckle Tales 41)

November 20, 2021November 20, 2021 Bruce clifftop, Humpbuckle Places, John fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

John doesn’t originate from Humpbuckle-on-sea, a fact he’s reminded of, whenever he proposes a change the locals don’t like.

“It wouldn’t work. Not here. You don’t understand, you’re not Humpbucklen.”

“It makes my blood boil,” he complains to his dog.

Kipper – Humpbuckle born and bred – just stares back.

…

This is the forty-first story in the series of Humpbuckle Tales. Each story is precisely 50 words long. They are meant to be independent stories, but if you read them all you will find each one adds another piece to the puzzle – there is a bigger story that is being told.

This story was first published on my Hive blog (@felt.buzz) and you can find all the stories on the @humbuckletales Hive account – at the time of posting this I have just published Tale number 76. On Hive I publish 12 stories per week (Monday to Saturday one story per day and then six 50-word stories in one post on a Sunday).

You can watch the author read the first 22 Humpbuckle Tales on YouTube or you can listen to it as a podcast.

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Written by Bruce Arbuckle (@felt.buzz on Hive). Find the latest in the Humpbuckle Tales series on Hive

“bird poop” a fifty-word story. Humpbuckle Tales 26

November 1, 2021 Bruce clifftop, Holbert fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

Gilham left neither relatives, nor will.

The suicide note – discovered in his coat pocket – bears Molly’s name.

After giving Molly the coat, Holbert sits on the clifftop bench to think.

Something isn’t right.

It isn’t only the seagull shit, he wipes off his shoulder with a tissue, that smells fishy.

…

This is the twenty-sixth story in the series of Humpbuckle Tales. Each story is precisely 50 words long. They are meant to be independent stories, but if you read them all you will find each one adds another piece to the puzzle – there is a bigger story that is being told.

This story was first published on my Hive blog (@felt.buzz) and you can find all the stories on the @humbuckletales Hive account – at the time of posting this I have just published numbers 41-46. On Hive I publish 12 stories per week (Monday to Saturday one story per day and then six 50-word stories in one post on a Sunday).

If you prefer the drip drip drip approach keep coming back here for one 50-word tale every day!

You can watch the author read the first 10 Humpbuckle Tales on YouTube or you can listen to it as a podcast. The 2nd author reading will be published later today.

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Gilham’s End 6: musk ox (Humpbuckle Tales 22)

October 28, 2021 Bruce Brian, clifftop, Gilham fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

Regaining consciousness, Gilham’s besotted brain doesn’t register immediately that he is being dragged to the cliff edge.

He tries to shout but the alcohol and concussion work against him.

He barely whimpers.

The last thing he thinks before his body smashes onto rocks below is:

“The bastard stole my coat!”

…

This is the twenty-second story in the series of Humpbuckle Tales. Each story is precisely 50 words long. They are meant to be independent stories, but if you read them all you will find each one adds another piece to the puzzle – there is a bigger story that is being told.

This story was first published on my Hive blog (@felt.buzz) and you can find all the stories on the @humbuckletales Hive account – at the time of posting this I have just published number 38. On Hive I publish 12 stories per week (Monday to Saturday one story per day and then six 50-word stories in one post on a Sunday).

If you prefer the drip drip drip approach keep coming back here for one 50-word tale every day!

You can watch the author read the first 10 Humpbuckle Tales on YouTube or you can listen to it as a podcast. The 2nd author reading is scheduled for Monday 1st November.

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Gilham’s End 5: circus performer (Humpbuckle Tales 21)

October 27, 2021 Bruce Brian, clifftop, Gilham, humpbuckletales fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

In his youth, Gilham could backflip like a circus performer.

These days he might pull a muscle simply getting out of bed.

“What did Dave say?” Brian asks. In his hand, a rock.

“I know what you did,” Gilham says.

“Shame.”

Gilham’s reaction is slow. The rock cracks his head.

…

This is the twenty-first in the series of Humpbuckle Tales. Each story is precisely 50 words long. They are meant to be independent stories, but if you read them all you will find each one adds another piece to the puzzle – there is a bigger story that is being told.

This story was first published on my Hive blog (@felt.buzz) and you can find all the stories on the @humbuckletales Hive account – at the time of posting this I have just published number 37. On Hive I publish 12 stories per week (Monday to Saturday one story per day and then six 50-word stories in one post on a Sunday).

If you prefer the drip drip drip approach keep coming back here for one 50-word tale every day!

You can watch the author read the first 10 Humpbuckle Tales on YouTube or you can listen to it as a podcast. The 2nd author reading is scheduled for Monday 1st November.

Gilham’s End 4: knee problems (Humpbuckle Tales 20)

October 26, 2021 Bruce Brian, clifftop, Gilham, humpbuckletales fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

If he wasn’t so old, drunk, and beset with knee problems, Gilham might have considered fleeing.

But he’d never run away from danger before.

Why start now?

Brian was younger, fitter, less intoxicated than he.

But Gilham would fight if he had to.

He steps forward.

“What do you want?”

…

This is the twentieth in the series of Humpbuckle Tales. Each story is precisely 50 words long. They are meant to be independent stories, but if you read them all you will find each one adds another piece to the puzzle – there is a bigger story that is being told.

This story was first published on my Hive blog (@felt.buzz) and you can find all the stories on the @humbuckletales Hive account – at the time of posting this I have just published number 35. On Hive I publish 12 stories per week (Monday to Saturday one story per day and then six 50-word stories in one post on a Sunday).

If you prefer the drip drip drip approach keep coming back here for one 50-word tale every day!

You can watch the author read the first 10 Humpbuckle Tales on YouTube or you can listen to it as a podcast. The 2nd author reading is scheduled for Monday 1st November.

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Gilham’s End 3: gopher (Humpbuckle Tales 19)

October 25, 2021October 25, 2021 Bruce Brian, clifftop, Gilham, humpbuckletales fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

There is, what at first looks like, a pile of clothes on the clifftop bench overlooking the ocean.

He squints.

A head pops out, gopher-like, from the bundle.

“Hello Gilham,” it says.

It takes his fuddled brain a moment.

“Brian.”

Gilham suddenly wishes he’d taken the long walk home.

…

This is the nineteenth in the series of Humpbuckle Tales. Each story is precisely 50 words long. They are meant to be independent stories, but if you read them all you will find each one adds another piece to the puzzle – there is a bigger story that is being told.

This story was first published on my Hive blog (@felt.buzz) and you can find all the stories on the @humbuckletales Hive account – at the time of posting this I have just published number 35. On Hive I publish 12 stories per week (Monday to Saturday one story per day and then six 50-word stories in one post on a Sunday).

If you prefer the drip drip drip approach keep coming back here for one 50-word tale every day!

You can watch the author read the first 10 Humpbuckle Tales on YouTube or you can listen to it as a podcast. The 2nd author reading is scheduled for Monday 1st November.

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Gilham’s End 2: dye pot (Humpbuckle Tales 18)

October 24, 2021 Bruce Chloe, clifftop, Gilham, humpbuckletales, The Dye Pot fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

Chloe is locking The Dye Pot door as Gilham stumbles past.

They chat for a minute before she heads home to Molly.

He meanders on.

The walk along the windswept clifftop path is sobering.

The waves crash against the rocks below.

He wonders what it would feel like to fall.

…

This is the eighteenth in the series of Humpbuckle Tales. Each story is precisely 50 words long. They are meant to be independent stories, but if you read them all you will find each one adds another piece to the puzzle – there is a bigger story that is being told.

This story was first published on my Hive blog (@felt.buzz) and you can find all the stories on the @humbuckletales Hive account – at the time of posting this I have just published 6 stories on Hive (numbers 29-34). On Hive I publish 12 stories per week (Monday to Saturday one story per day and then six 50-word stories in one post on a Sunday).

If you prefer the drip drip drip approach keep coming back here for one 50-word tale every day!

You can watch the author read the first 10 Humpbuckle Tales on YouTube or you can listen to it as a podcast. The 2nd author reading is scheduled for Monday 1st November.