“the hemlock society”: a 50-word story. Humpbuckle Tales 169

February 24, 2022February 15, 2022 Bruce Brian fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

It’s sad to see such an imposing and proud man reduced to this state.

“I want to die with dignity,” the crumpled heap whispers.

The boney fingers dig into his own.

“Help me on my way, my boy. Please.”

Brian doesn’t normally do requests.

But he’ll do anything for Grandpa.

…

This is the one-hundred-and-sixty-ninth 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

“the last meal”: a fifty-word story. Humpbuckle Tales 160

February 19, 2022February 15, 2022 Bruce Brian, Jeff fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

Jeff’s last meal was a hamburger he shared with his son on the pier.

“I’ll have half,” he said. “It’s dangerous to swim on a full stomach.”

He drank the juice his son gave him, unaware it was laced with ketamine.

“You’re a good boy,” he said, ruffling Brian’s hair.

…

This is the one-hundred-and-sixtieth 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.

…

“scoundrel”: a fifty-word story. Humpbuckle Tales 155

February 16, 2022February 15, 2022 Bruce Brian fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

Brian had never been called a scoundrel before.

He quite liked it.

He felt like a character from a Dickens novel.

He didn’t like the other word.

“Murderous scoundrel!”

It was accurate, of course, but he thought it common, undignified.

He wiped the bloody blade onto the dead man’s shirt.
…

This is the one-hundred-and-fifty-fifth 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.

…

“try not to offend”: a fifty-word story. Humbuckle Tales 135

February 4, 2022February 2, 2022 Bruce Brian, Margot fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

Margot spent the first ten years of her life trying not to offend anyone.

After The Blue Bicycle Incident, something snapped inside.

She discovered a certain pleasure in making others uncomfortable.

“I speak the truth,” she told Brian, once. “It isn’t my fault if people don’t like to hear it.”

…

This is the one-hundred-and-thirty-fifth 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.

…

“Boiling Over” a 50-word story. Humpbuckle Tales 35

November 10, 2021 Bruce Brian, Gilham fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

As a journalist, Gilham interviews many dangerous people.

Gang members, drug dealers, murderers.

Politicians.

There is a vulnerability in all of them.

But there is something within the fourteen year old boy, sitting beside his mother, that frightens Gilham.

An underlying rage that threatens to boil over at any moment.

…

This is the thirty-fifth 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 61. 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 22 Humpbuckle Tales on YouTube or you can listen to it as a podcast. The 3rd author reading will be published on 15th November.

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Swimming against the tide 6: Icon (Humpbuckle Tales 34)

November 9, 2021 Bruce Brian, Helen, Humpbuckle Festival, Jeff, The Old Dock fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

From the Humpbuckle Gazette:

Locals are shocked by the drowning of the town’s veterinarian, at the iconic annual festival.

Reports that Dr Simmons was high on ketamine, a horse tranquilliser abused as a recreational drug, have been confirmed by an anonymous police source.

He leaves behind a wife and son.
…

This is the thirty-fourth 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 60. 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 22 Humpbuckle Tales on YouTube or you can listen to it as a podcast. The 3rd author reading will be published on 15th November.

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Swimming against the tide 5: A good thing (Humpbuckle Tales 33)

November 8, 2021 Bruce Brian, Festival Pets, Jeff fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

Jeff looks old, tired, thin.

Brian can not believe his beautiful mother ever loved this shell of a man.

“It’s a good thing you are here,” Jeff says to his son. “I appreciate your help.”

Brian steals the keys to the drugs cabinet.

He supplies ketamine to the local dealer.

…

This is the thirty-third 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 59. 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 22 Humpbuckle Tales on YouTube or you can listen to it as a podcast. The 3rd author reading will be published on 15th November.

…

Swimming against the tide 4: Bird Poop ( Humpbuckle Tales 32)

November 7, 2021 Bruce Brian, Festival Pets, Humpbuckle Places, humpbuckletales, Jeff fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

Brian, now twelve, reluctantly spends every other weekend with his dad.

Sharing his mother’s contempt for his father, he hates working at the veterinary practice.

Brian cleans out the cages and makes drinks for the staff.

He amuses himself by stirring bird shit into his dad’s tea along with sugar.

…

This is the 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 – at the time of posting this I have just published 6 Tales: numbers 53-58. 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 22 Humpbuckle Tales on YouTube or you can listen to it as a podcast. The 3rd author reading will be published on 15th November.

…

Swimming against the tide 3: Festival (Humpbuckle Tales 31)

November 6, 2021 Bruce Brian, Festival Pets, Helen, Jeff fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story

When Brian turns three Helen announces her parents were right: Jeff is a loser.

He’s taken over Festival Pets. Unfortunately, he’s bought the debt that comes with the veterinary practice.

Jeff works very long hours to try to make ends meet.

Helen doesn’t even bother to hide her affairs, anymore.

…

This is the thirty-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 number 52. 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 22 Humpbuckle Tales on YouTube or you can listen to it as a podcast. The 3rd author reading will be published on 15th November.

…

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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