“reverse”: a 50-word story. Humpbuckle Tales 206

March 18, 2022March 16, 2022 Bruce Hooper fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

The truck’s gaining on him!

He rounds the corner, tyres screeching.

A dead end!

Spinning the wheel, Hooper throws the car into reverse.

The gearbox screams in protest.

Another truck!

Where did that come from?

It smashes into him.

YOU LOSE!

“Stupid game!” Hooper throws the controller against the wall.

…

This is the two-hundred-and-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.

…

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

“no way to get home”: a 50-word story. Humpbuckle Tales 205

March 17, 2022March 16, 2022 Bruce Rosemary Doughty fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

Rosemary Doughty, bestselling author of No Way To Get Home, is considered something of a celebrity in Humpbuckle-on-sea.

She sits in A Turn Up For The Books, “Humpbuckle’s favourite independent bookshop” (factually correct, as it is the town’s only bookstore) ready to sign copies of her new book.

…

This is the two-hundred-and-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.

…

“gear”: a 50-word story. Humpbuckle Tales 204

March 17, 2022March 9, 2022 Bruce Badger, Buried Treasure, Mr Biggs fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

Badger unloads his stolen gear in Buried Treasure, a junk shop in Cuthroats Alley.

The owner, Mr Biggs, handing him a few coins, laments what he calls the “throwaway society.”

“New televisions are cheap,” he says. “Nothing’s built to last.”

An honest thief can’t make a decent wage these days.

…

This is the two-hundred-and-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.

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.

…

“have you tried the museum?” : a 50-word story. Humpbuckle Tales 203

March 16, 2022March 9, 2022 Bruce Museum of the Mysterious fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

The Humpbuckle-on-sea Museum of the Mysterious is located in a small building on a side street, a half an hours walk from the Pier.

You could walk past it without knowing it was there: the brass plaque is worn and dirty.

It is not listed in tourist brochures.

…

This is the two-hundred-and-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.

…

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 (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.

…

“westerlies”: a 50-word story. Humpbuckle Tales 196

March 12, 2022March 9, 2022 Bruce Old Bert fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

“And then,” Old Bert said, pausing for dramatic effect – and to take a long swig of bitter.

“And then,” he continued, wiping froth from his beard. “She kicked me right in the Westerlies!”

Old Bert’s hand clutched his balls, a pained expression on his face.

The pub erupted in laughter.

…

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

…