Zoo, by Bruce Arbuckle

March 28, 2023 Bruce humpbuckletales Tales, Stories, fiction, short story, story, flash fiction, fiftywordstory, zapfic50, zapfic, microfiction, flashfiction, fiftywordfiction, dribble

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The Human Zoo is the last stop on the Earth Sightseeing Tour. The creatures were once dangerous, but enclosed in their special cages they seem pretty harmless. They are very ugly but in a funny – rather than scary – way. Daddy says not to tap on the glass. It agitates them.

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A 50-word story written by Bruce Arbuckle, inspired by the Freewriters Writing Prompt on Hive, “sightseeing tours”

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Bruce Arbuckle (felt.buzz)

Nobody Knows, by Bruce Arbuckle

March 27, 2023 Bruce humpbuckletales dribble, fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, microfiction, Stories, story, Tales, zapfic50

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Nobody knows my secret.

Bill found out, but he met with a most unfortunate chainsaw accident. His wife, Mary, had her suspicions, but in her grief, she swallowed pills and vodka before taking a dive off the top cliff.

You say you want to be my friend. Are you sure?

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A 50-word story written by Bruce Arbuckle, inspired by the Freewriters Writing Prompt on Hive, “nobody knows”

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Find me (as HumpbuckleTales ) on Mastodon

Read my daily 50 word stories every day here or on Hive or on Facebook

My Humpbuckle Tales are always published first on Hive

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Bruce Arbuckle (felt.buzz)

Moving Out, by Bruce Arbuckle

March 26, 2023 Bruce humpbuckletales dribble, fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, Stories, story, Tales, zapfic50

The suitcase sits by the front door, her raincoat drapped neatly over the handle.

I’d always assumed it would be me: an overly dramatic door slamming exit at the tail end of a fierce argument.

Our goodbye is surprisingly amicable.

“This is it,” she says. We hug and she leaves.

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A 50-word story written by Bruce Arbuckle, inspired by a random word prompt “moving”

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Find me (as HumpbuckleTales ) on Mastodon

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My Humpbuckle Tales are always published first on Hive

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Bruce Arbuckle (felt.buzz)

Stain, by Bruce Arbuckle

March 25, 2023 Bruce humpbuckletales dribble, fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, microfiction, short story, Stories, story, Tales, zapfic50

In the cupboard under the stairs, behind the packet of emergency loo rolls and the almost empty paint tins, lurks the carpet cleaner. Purchased after that party, I’d hoped sucking the stain from the fibres would somehow eradicate the memory of that night. But you said it made everything worse.

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A 50-word story written by Bruce Arbuckle, inspired by the Freewriters Writing Prompt on Hive, “carpet cleaner”

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Find me (as HumpbuckleTales ) on Mastodon

Read my daily 50 word stories every day here or on Hive or on Facebook

My Humpbuckle Tales are always published first on Hive

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Bruce Arbuckle (felt.buzz)

Secret Recipe, by Bruce Arbuckle

March 24, 2023 Bruce humpbuckletales dribble, fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, microfiction, short story, Stories, story, Tales, zapfic50

I mix the ground bones and ashes with a little blood, before adding the chocolate power, sugar and hot milk.

“Here,” I say.

The Other quivers with pleasure as you take a sip.

“What’s your secret ingredient?” you ask.

“If I told you I’d have to kill you.”

We laugh.

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A 50-word story written by Bruce Arbuckle, inspired by the Freewriters Writing Prompt on Hive, “bone and ashes”

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Find me (as HumpbuckleTales ) on Mastodon

Read my daily 50 word stories every day here or on Hive or on Facebook

My Humpbuckle Tales are always published first on Hive

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Bruce Arbuckle (felt.buzz)

Worry, by Bruce Arbuckle

March 23, 2023 Bruce humpbuckletales dribble, fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

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“Don’t worry,” he says.

He means well. He doesn’t know I’m entirely constructed from molecules of angst.

“Sit down,” he says.

I’m an anxiety shark swimming in an ocean of disquietude. I have to keep moving, or I’ll drown.

“Breath,” he says.

I see my panic reflected in his eyes.

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A 50-word story written by Bruce Arbuckle, inspired by the Freewriters Writing Prompt on Hive, “don’t worry”

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Find me (as HumpbuckleTales ) on Mastodon

Read my daily 50 word stories every day here or on Hive or on Facebook

My Humpbuckle Tales are always published first on Hive

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Bruce Arbuckle (felt.buzz)

Swim, by Bruce Arbuckle

March 22, 2023March 22, 2023 Bruce humpbuckletales dribble, fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, microfiction, short story, Stories, story, Tales, zapfic50

“Can you swim?” she asks, randomly, on their first date.

Six months later, on the second day of their honeymoon, she smiles at him from the boat, waving goodbye, as his head disappears under the sea.

Perhaps, he thinks, water filling his lungs, her question wasn’t without purpose after all.

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A 50-word story written by Bruce Arbuckle, inspired by the Freewriters writing prompt on Hive, “can you swim”

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Find me (as HumpbuckleTales ) on Mastodon

Read my daily 50 word stories every day here or on Hive or on Facebook

My Humpbuckle Tales are always published first on Hive

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Bruce Arbuckle (felt.buzz)

Risk, by Bruce Arbuckle

March 21, 2023 Bruce humpbuckletales dribble, fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, microfiction, short story, Stories, story, Tales, zapfic50

Night shift over, he takes the bus to his second job.

He reads a crumpled newspaper, discarded in disgust by a fellow passenger.

Another bank failure, another bailout.

It’s easy to be a risk taker, he reflects, if you have money and there are no real consequences for bad decisions.

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This 50-word story was written by Bruce Arbuckle, inspired by the Freewriters writing prompt on Hive, “Bank failure”

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Find me (as HumpbuckleTales ) on Mastodon

Read my daily 50 word stories every day here or on Hive or on Facebook

My Humpbuckle Tales are always published first on Hive

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Bruce Arbuckle (felt.buzz)

Happier, by Bruce Arbuckle

March 20, 2023 Bruce humpbuckletales dribble, fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, microfiction, short story, Stories, story, Tales, zapfic50

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She looked happier.

Momma used to say my sister wore her mood like a big black coat in a rain storm. Always covered up, hunched over. Protecting, or hiding, herself from the world. Or something in it.

Her smile seemed out of place at a funeral. But it suited her.

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This 50-word story was written by Bruce Arbuckle, inspired by the Freewriters writing prompt on Hive “she looked happier”.

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Find me (as HumpbuckleTales ) on Mastodon

Read my daily 50 word stories every day here or on Hive or on Facebook

My Humpbuckle Tales are always published first on Hive

Find my 100 word tales on Drabble.Club

Bruce Arbuckle (felt.buzz)

Cylinder, by Bruce Arbuckle

March 19, 2023 Bruce humpbuckletales dribble, fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, microfiction, short story, Stories, story, zapfic50

He builds The Ark, a huge silver cylindrical monstrosity, at the end of the garden.

Our lifesaver, he says. When the apocalypse comes.

It’s a deathtrap, she says. A metal coffin. If the ventilators stop working you’ll suffocate.

Later, when he’s inside, she unplugs the solar panels. Proving her point.

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A fifty-word story written by Bruce Arbuckle, inspired by the random word prompt “cylinder”

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Find me (as HumpbuckleTales ) on Mastodon

Read my daily 50 word stories every day here or on Hive or on Facebook

My Humpbuckle Tales are always published first on Hive

Find my 100 word tales on Drabble.Club

Bruce Arbuckle (felt.buzz)