Discovered, by Bruce Arbuckle

March 18, 2023 Bruce humpbuckletales dribble, fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, microfiction, short story, Stories, story, Tales, zapfic50

In 1992 workmen “discovered” the Humpbuckle Caves, falling into them while digging up the road outside the library.

Paintings, initially thought to have made by prehistoric man, were later revealed to have been drawn by two school boys who’d found an entrance in the old chalk pit two years earlier.

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A fifty-word story written by Bruce Arbuckle, inspired by the Freewriters writing prompt on Hive, “cave drawings”

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Bruce Arbuckle (felt.buzz)

Coffintime, by Bruce Arbuckle

March 17, 2023 Bruce humpbuckletales dribble, fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

“Open your coffin, son. It’s time.”

“Can’t I stay up, watch the sunrise? Just once?”

Head shake.

“Will you read me another coffintime story?”

“You’re almost two hundred years old,” Dad sighs. “When you gonna grow up? “

“Never,” I remind him. “Kinda your fault for coming home thirsty that time.”

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A fifty-word story written by Bruce Arbuckle, inspired by the Freewriters writing prompt on Hive, “open your coffin”

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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)

Pen Knife, by Bruce Arbuckle

March 15, 2023 Bruce humpbuckletales dribble, fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, microfiction, short story, Stories, story, Tales, zapfic, zapfic50

I run my fingers over the back of the church pew where we used to sit. Your initials, smoothed with the passage of time, are still there.

“You’re chicken. Too scared to live,” you said.

Now, as they carry your coffin down the aisle, I carve mine next to yours.

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A fifty-word story written by Bruce Arbuckle, inspired by the Freewriters writing prompt on Hive, “pen knife”

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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)

Not A Good Day, by Bruce Arbuckle

March 14, 2023March 14, 2023 Bruce humpbuckletales dribble, fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, microfiction, short story, Stories, story, Tales, zapfic50

Helen loves her job although on occasion she needs reminding why she became a teacher in the first place.

Most days come with little victories helping her feel she serves a purpose.

Today, she reflects, as an angry parent spits vitriolic words into her face, is not a good day.

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A fifty-word story written by Bruce Arbuckle, inspired by the Freewriters writing prompt on Hive, “education is a right”

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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)

Prey, by Bruce Arbuckle

March 13, 2023 Bruce humpbuckletales dribble, fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, microfiction, short story, Stories, Tales, zapfic, zapfic50

The woman talks loudly into her phone, the loudspeaker broadcasting the whole conversation to other customers, to their obvious irritation.

Her bag, seductively fat, expensive and available, is easily liberated from the back of the chair. I keep on walking, the purse under my coat.

Shouting. Indignation. Footsteps.

I run.

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This fifty-word story was written by Bruce Arbuckle, inspired by the Freewriters writing prompt on Hive, “expensive purse”

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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)

Whisperings, by Bruce Arbuckle

March 11, 2023 Bruce humpbuckletales dribble, fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, Tales, zapfic, zapfic50

I’ve always heard the Whisperings,

The tangled murmur of conversation that fly around other people’s minds like angry wasps trapped under a glass on a hot summers day.

Doubt, worry, desire, guilt.

I know who people really are.

They frightened me, until I learnt to use my talent against them.

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This fifty-word story was written by Bruce Arbuckle, inspired by the Freewriters writing prompt on Hive, “murmer of conversation”

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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)

Hair Loss, by Bruce Arbuckle

March 10, 2023 Bruce humpbuckletales dribble, fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, microfiction, short story, zapfic, zapfic50

His hairline’s retreating.

White flags held high it gallops towards the back of his head.

It doesn’t want to face forward anymore than he.

If he can’t see what’s coming it isn’t happening.

Turn away. Hide. Whatever happens don’t open your eyes.

He’s a grown man playing peak-a-boo.

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Written by Bruce Arbuckle using the Freewrite Writing Prompt on Hive

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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)

Decision Time, by Bruce Arbuckle

March 9, 2023March 9, 2023 Bruce humpbuckletales dribble, fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, microfiction, short story, Stories, story, Tales, zapfic, zapfic50

Poor old Billy.

You never wanna take a stand.

Thing is, as my dear grandaddy used to say, “A man who tries to walk on both sides of the road is gonna get flattened by a jugganaut sooner or later.”

So, Billy-boy, are you with us, or against us?

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This 50-word story was written by Bruce Arbuckle using the Freewrite Writing Prompt “walk on both sides”, from Hive.

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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)

The Last Time, by Bruce Arbuckle

March 8, 2023March 8, 2023 Bruce humpbuckletales dribble, fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, Tales, zapfic, zapfic50

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He wears a perfume of cigarettes, garlic and brandy. He reaches for the bottle.

Mummy says, *You’ve had enough.”

Then – to me – “You’re too big to sit on his lap.”

Then, “Where are you going?”

The door slams and we cry.

As if we both know this time it’s forever.

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This 50-word story was written by Bruce Arbuckle using the Freewrite Writing Prompt on Hive,

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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)

“Better Late Than Never” by Bruce Arbuckle

March 7, 2023 Bruce humpbuckletales dribble, fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, microfiction, short story, Stories, story, Tales, zapfic50

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“Better late than never!”

His beaming smile battles my migraine-inducing frown, but even his sparkling eyes can’t cool my lava-hot anger.

“You said you’d be here on time. You swore it.”

“I’m here now. Why do you always do this?”

And suddenly – yet again – I’m in the wrong.

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A fifty-word story written using the Freewrite Writing Prompt on Hive.

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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)