The Humpbuckle-on-sea Museum of the Mysterious (6 of 6): “no sleep” Humpbuckle Tales 214

March 23, 2022March 16, 2022 Bruce Gilham, Lilly, Museum of the Mysterious fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

Lilly hesitates.

It’s all very odd.

She’s no idea how she got here.

Now, she is being offered refreshments by a dead man.

Has she lost her mind?

She wouldn’t be the first old woman to develop dementia.

Taking a breath, she takes Gilham’s hand.

“Lead the way,” she says.

…

This is the two-hundred-and-fourteenth 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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The Humpbuckle-on-sea Museum of the Mysterious (5 of 6): “partisan” Humpbuckle Tales 213

March 22, 2022March 16, 2022 Bruce Gilham, Lilly, Museum of the Mysterious fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

Gilham was the best reporter on the Gazette.

He was more than just an employee.

He was her friend.

“What are you doing here?” Gilham asks.

“I don’t know,” Lilly admits. “I’m a little lost.”

Gilham chuckles.

“You’re not the only one. Come on up. We have tea and cake.”

…

This is the two-hundred-and-thirteenth 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.

…

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

The Humpbuckle-on-sea Museum of the Mysterious (4 of 6): “reverse” Humpbuckle Tales 212

March 22, 2022March 16, 2022 Bruce Lilly, Museum of the Mysterious fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

On this side, there’s no handle.

She hammers on the door.

“Hello?”

The voice comes from behind.

She turns, squinting in the half-light.

A dark figure stands at the far end of the narrow corridor.

“Lilly? Is that you?”

“Gilham?”

But isn’t he dead?

Lilly went to his funeral.

…

This is the two-hundred-and-twelth 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.

…

The Humpbuckle-on-sea Museum of the Mysterious (3 of 6): “no way to get home” Humpbuckle Tales 211

March 21, 2022March 16, 2022 Bruce Lilly, Museum of the Mysterious fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

Lilly falls through the open door, landing on something soft and warm.

She doesn’t think she’s broken anything.

She lies still for a moment before attempting to move.

Nothing works like it used to.

Getting up from the floor takes effort.

As she stands, the door swings shut.

She’s trapped.

…

This is the two-hundred-and-eleventh 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.

…

The Humpbuckle-on-sea Museum of the Mysterious (2 of 6): “gear” Humpbuckle Tales 210

March 21, 2022March 16, 2022 Bruce Lilly, Museum of the Mysterious fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

Lilly isn’t sure how she ended up here, outside the Museum.

It certainly wasn’t on purpose.

She’d forgotten it even existed.

She’s tired.

She only nipped out for a pint of milk.

She leans against the door.

Just for a moment.

Somewhere a gear whirrs.

Click!

The door creaks open.

…

This is the two-hundred-and-tenth 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.

…

The Humpbuckle-on-sea Museum of the Mysterious (1 of 6): “have you tried the museum?” Humpbuckle Tales 209

March 20, 2022March 16, 2022 Bruce Lilly fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

There are no official opening hours.

The door sign reads (if you are able to decipher the faded words) :

The Museum Of The Mysterious will open if you need it

Lilly, in all her eighty years, has never been inside.

Nor – to her knowledge – has she met anyone who has.

…

This is the two-hundred-and-nineth 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.

…

“spring chicken”: a 50-word story. Humpbuckle Tales 183

March 4, 2022March 2, 2022 Bruce Lilly fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

“You’re not welcome here!” the man pokes a finger at the young woman.

She steps back along the bus, visibly scared.

The other passengers look at their feet.

Lilly’s no spring chicken,

But she’s not dead yet.

“Excuse me,” Lilly says, smiling at the woman. “Is this man bothering you?”

…

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

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.

…

“long fingernails”: a fifty-word story. Humpbuckle Tales 146

February 11, 2022February 9, 2022 Bruce Blanche, Lilly fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

Lilly always envied other women’s long fingernails.

Whenever she attempted to grow them, they would split, or break because of the work she did.

When she took over The Gazette, after Jack died, she hired Blanche, a young woman with an incredible typing speed despite her two-inch polished nails.

…

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

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.

…

“laundry day”: a fifty-word story. Humpbuckle Tales 144

February 10, 2022February 9, 2022 Bruce Lilly fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

When Lilly was a child, laundry day was a big part of her week.

She would help her mother wash, scrub, squeeze and hang the laundry.

As she grew older the washing machine became affordable to her, cutting the work substantially.

A days work was reduced to a few hours.

…

This is the one-hundred-and-forty-forth 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.

…

“Salad plate”: a 50-word story. Humpbuckle Tales 121

January 27, 2022January 26, 2022 Bruce Jack, Lilly fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

Melissa gifted them an ugly salad plate for their wedding.

“She’s done it to spite me, ” Jack tells Lilly as she examines it. “I hate salad!”

“Don’t be ungrateful. It’s a nice thought.”

“You don’t know my sister. She rarely has nice thoughts.”

Years later, Lilly learns what he meant.

…

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

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

…