“best start”: a 50-word story. Humpbuckle Tales 252

April 14, 2022April 8, 2022 Bruce Amanda, Jay fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

The week following the opening of Powerful Cymbols music shop, was better than Jay hoped.

“Who knew there were so many wannabe musicians in Humpbuckle-on-sea!”

Amanda has popped in to see her friend.

“I never doubted that,” Jay says. “But it’s difficult to compete with the online stores.”

…

This is the two-hundred-and-fifty-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.

Hive is a blogging platform that rewards posts in a cryptocurrency (Hive).

You will find over 70 more Humpbuckle Tales on the @humbuckletales Hive blog (so this blog is about 6 weeks behind)

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).

On HumpbuckleTales.com I also publish 12 tales a week but at a different schedule (and about 6 weeks behind): 2 Tales every day, Monday-Friday and 1 Tale on Saturday and 1 Tale on Sunday.

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

“Nobel prize” : a 50-word story. Humpbuckle Tales 232

April 2, 2022March 30, 2022 Bruce Amanda fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

Amanda’s desk is empty, apart from a monitor, keyboard, mouse and one framed photo (of the climate modeler’s Syukuro Manabe and Klaus Hassel Mann, receiving the Nobel Prize in 2021 for their work in the field) .

Taking out her laptop, she connects to the university network and begins her search.

…

This is the two-hundred-and-thirty-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.

Hive is a blogging platform that rewards posts in a cryptocurrency (Hive).

You will find over 70 more Humpbuckle Tales on the @humbuckletales Hive blog (so this blog is about 6 weeks behind)

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).

On HumpbuckleTales.com I also publish 12 tales a week but at a different schedule (and about 6 weeks behind): 2 Tales every day, Monday-Friday and 1 Tale on Saturday and 1 Tale on Sunday.

…

Sunday Stroll (6 of 6): a 50-word story. “Westerlies”. Humpbuckle Tales 202

March 16, 2022March 9, 2022 Bruce Amanda, Jay, Olivia fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

Two large mounds loom into view.

Known to the locals ironically as the Westerlies (they look east), they were used during the war Home Guard to watch for invading forces.

“We should turn back,” Amanda says, looking at her watch.

They link arms and head back to Humpbuckle-on-sea.

…

This is the two-hundred-and-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.

Hive is a blogging platform that rewards posts in a cryptocurrency (Hive).

You will find over 70 more Humpbuckle Tales on the @humbuckletales Hive blog (so this blog is about 6 weeks behind)

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).

On HumpbuckleTales.com I also publish 12 tales a week but at a different schedule (and about 6 weeks behind): 2 Tales every day, Monday-Friday and 1 Tale on Saturday and 1 Tale on Sunday.

…

Sunday Stroll (5 of 6): a 50-word story. “Speak up”. Humpbuckle Tales 201

March 15, 2022March 9, 2022 Bruce Amanda, Jay, Olivia, Yasmin fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

“I miss Yasmin,” Olivia says, suddenly. “We should try to find her.”

“Rescue her, you mean?” Jay says, eyebrow raised. “Break into the cult compound, in the dead of night, guns blazing?”

“She lives in a compound?”

“A farm, I think,” Amanda says. “Somewhere In Wales. They have a website.”

…

This is the two-hundred-and-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.

Hive is a blogging platform that rewards posts in a cryptocurrency (Hive).

You will find over 70 more Humpbuckle Tales on the @humbuckletales Hive blog (so this blog is about 6 weeks behind)

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).

On HumpbuckleTales.com I also publish 12 tales a week but at a different schedule (and about 6 weeks behind): 2 Tales every day, Monday-Friday and 1 Tale on Saturday and 1 Tale on Sunday.

…

Sunday Stroll (4 of 6): a 50-word story. “black belt”. Humpbuckle Tales 200

March 15, 2022March 9, 2022 Bruce Amanda, Jay, Olivia fiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

Jay puts the empty bottle into their backpack.

“Let’s continue,” they say, standing.

Olivia feels light-headed after the champagne, and keeps away from the cliff edge.

“You still practising Karate?” Amanda asks suddenly.

Jay nods. “I’ll never be a black belt,” they say. “But it gives me focus. Discipline.”

…

This is the two-hundredth 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.

Hive is a blogging platform that rewards posts in a cryptocurrency (Hive).

You will find over 70 more Humpbuckle Tales on the @humbuckletales Hive blog (so this blog is about 6 weeks behind)

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).

On HumpbuckleTales.com I also publish 12 tales a week but at a different schedule (and about 6 weeks behind): 2 Tales every day, Monday-Friday and 1 Tale on Saturday and 1 Tale on Sunday.

…

Sunday Stroll (3 of 6): a 50-word story. “ink blot”. Humpbuckle Tales 199

March 14, 2022March 9, 2022 Bruce Amanda, Jay, Olivia, Yasmin fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

“Anyone heard from Yasmin?” Olivia asks. “Last I heard she had joined some kind of commune.”

“More like a cult,” Amanda says. “I tried to talk her out of going.”

“You could never reason with Yasmin.”

Remembering the past, silence covers them, spreading like spilt ink on a blank page

…

This is the one-hundred-and-ninety-nine 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.

Hive is a blogging platform that rewards posts in a cryptocurrency (Hive).

You will find over 70 more Humpbuckle Tales on the @humbuckletales Hive blog (so this blog is about 6 weeks behind)

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).

On HumpbuckleTales.com I also publish 12 tales a week but at a different schedule (and about 6 weeks behind): 2 Tales every day, Monday-Friday and 1 Tale on Saturday and 1 Tale on Sunday.

…

Sunday Stroll (2 of 6): a 50-word story. “carrot cake”. Humpbuckle Tales 198

March 14, 2022March 9, 2022 Bruce Amanda, Jay, Olivia fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

They walk for an hour before stopping at a bench that overlooks the sea.

Jay opens up their rucksack and pulls out a bottle of champagne and three slices of carrot cake.

“We’ll need to drink from the bottle,” they say. “No glasses.”

“To us!” Amanda says, raising the bottle.

…

This is the one-hundred-and-ninety-eighth 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.

Hive is a blogging platform that rewards posts in a cryptocurrency (Hive).

You will find over 70 more Humpbuckle Tales on the @humbuckletales Hive blog (so this blog is about 6 weeks behind)

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).

On HumpbuckleTales.com I also publish 12 tales a week but at a different schedule (and about 6 weeks behind): 2 Tales every day, Monday-Friday and 1 Tale on Saturday and 1 Tale on Sunday.

…

Sunday Stroll (1 of 6): a 50-word story. “powerful symbol”. Humpbuckle Tales 197

March 13, 2022March 9, 2022 Bruce Amanda, Jay, Olivia fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

The three friends meet early Sunday morning outside Powerful Cymbals.

Jay carries a rucksack.

“Supplies,” they say.

Heading up onto the clifftop path, they walk away from Humpbuckle-on-sea.

Amanda links arms with her friends as they shout into the salty wind.

It feels good to be together again.

…

This is the one-hundred-and-ninety-seventh 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.

Hive is a blogging platform that rewards posts in a cryptocurrency (Hive).

You will find over 70 more Humpbuckle Tales on the @humbuckletales Hive blog (so this blog is about 6 weeks behind)

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).

On HumpbuckleTales.com I also publish 12 tales a week but at a different schedule (and about 6 weeks behind): 2 Tales every day, Monday-Friday and 1 Tale on Saturday and 1 Tale on Sunday.

…

“carrot cake”: a fifty-word story. Humpbuckle Tales 192

March 10, 2022March 9, 2022 Bruce Amanda, Jay, Olivia fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

Jay puts down their piece of carrot cake and bounds up to Olivia, enveloping her in their long arms.

“So great to see you,” Jay smiles, nodding towards the back of the store. “Amanda’s here with her new beau.”

“Grab a drink and nibbles. The speeches begin in fifteen minutes.”

…

This is the one-hundred-and-ninty-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.

Hive is a blogging platform that rewards posts in a cryptocurrency (Hive).

You will find over 70 more Humpbuckle Tales on the @humbuckletales Hive blog (so this blog is about 6 weeks behind)

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).

On HumpbuckleTales.com I also publish 12 tales a week but at a different schedule (and about 6 weeks behind): 2 Tales every day, Monday-Friday and 1 Tale on Saturday and 1 Tale on Sunday.

…

“red fox”: a 50-word story. Humpbuckle Tales 98

January 14, 2022January 6, 2022 Bruce Amanda, John, The Red Fox Pub fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

Amanda sits at a corner table in the Red Fox.

She doesn’t give second chances, and wonders again why she’s meeting him.

The doors open.

His eyes find hers.

He waves.

She doesn’t respond, waiting for him to approach before speaking.

“This better be good, John. Don’t piss me about.”

…

This is the ninety-eighth 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.

Hive is a blogging platform that rewards posts in a cryptocurrency (Hive).

You will find over 70 more Humpbuckle Tales on the @humbuckletales Hive blog (so this blog is about 6 weeks behind)

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).

On HumpbuckleTales.com I also publish 12 tales a week but at a different schedule (and about 6 weeks behind): 2 Tales every day, Monday-Friday and 1 Tale on Saturday and 1 Tale on 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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