Running in the family (2 of 6): “brown eyes”. Humpbuckle Tales 162

February 21, 2022February 15, 2022 Bruce Tommy fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

Tommy’s mother works nights in a bar when his father’s “away”, which is often.

When Dad’s home it’s like Christmas – so much excitement, gifts and laughter.

But, too soon, it’s all over.

“Take care of your mother!” Tommy’s dad says his brown eyes twinkling as the police drag him away.

…

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

…

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

Running in the family (1 of 6): “scoundrel”. Humpbuckle Tales 161

February 20, 2022February 15, 2022 Bruce Tommy fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

Tommy comes from a long line of scoundrels.

Both his father and grandfather were charming and talented conmen.

Although neither of them were successful enough to avoid capture.

One of Tommy’s earliest memories was of meeting his grandfather for the first time outside the prison on his day of release.

…

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

…

“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.

…

“badger”: a fifty-word story. Humpbuckle Tales 159

February 18, 2022February 15, 2022 Bruce humpbuckletales fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

Badger loves the Humpbuckle Festival.

Everyone’s down at the Old Dock.

It’s a burglars dream.

Coming out of a house carrying a flat screen television Badger sees two people bundle a guy into a van.

He writes down the registration.

He’s no snitch.

But the information might come in handy.

…

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

…

“dirt on face”: a fifty-word story. Humpbuckle Tales 158

February 18, 2022February 15, 2022 Bruce John fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

He scrambles back to his feet, fists raised, dirt on face.

“Oh, look!” Kribble laughs. “Little Johnny wants some more!”

John’s heart beats fast.

Fear races through his veins.

His jelly-legs shake.

He takes a breath.

“Leave her alone,” he says, again. “You’re a bully Kribble. I pity you.”

…

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

…

“big crowd”: a Fifty-Word Story. Humpbuckle Tales 157

February 17, 2022February 15, 2022 Bruce Hooper fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

The Humpbuckle Festival always draws a big crowd.

People come from the surrounding areas. They watch the fireworks, drink, eat and laugh at the idiots who dive into the icy sea at midnight.

It is great fun.

Apparently.

Hooper hates them all.

Tonight, he moves against the tide of people.

…

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

…

“brown eyes”: a 50-word story. Humpbuckle Tales 156

February 17, 2022February 15, 2022 Bruce John fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

Kipper’s brown eyes are the first thing John sees when he awakes.

The dog whines.

John reaches for his phone and almost falls off the sofa.

It’s been three weeks since Janey came to stay and he insisted she take his room.

His back is punishing him for that decision.
…

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

…

“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.

…

Kelly (6 of 6): Humpbuckle Tales 154

February 16, 2022February 10, 2022 Bruce Kelly fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

Tracie takes Kelly to her mother’s funeral.

Kelly worries the casket might be open like she’s seen on the telly.

Kelly remembers how her mother looked. Her eyes almost closed, her skin pale grey.

But the simple wooden coffin is shut.

Tracie introduces her to Stan.

“Your uncle,” she says.

…

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

…

Kelly (5 of 6): Humpbuckle Tales 153

February 15, 2022February 10, 2022 Bruce Kelly fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

Kathy pretends to be nice whenever her parents are near.

But really she’s mean.

Frank – Kathy’s dad – works nights at the psychiatric hospital, sleeps during the day and is often grumpy.

One afternoon Kathy pours tea leaves and sugar over the kitchen table.

She blames Kelly when Frank wakes up.

…

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

…