Gathering, by Bruce Arbuckle

She was his secretary for thirty years and he couldn’t be arsed to sign her leaving card. She suspected he hadn’t put his hand in his pocket for the rather vile plate they gave her. Her last act was to forward evidence of his infidelity to his long suffering wife.

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A 50-word story written by Bruce Arbuckle, inspired by the random word prompt, “secretary”

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Bruce Arbuckle (felt.buzz)

Gamesmaster, by Bruce Arbuckle

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

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Your hobbies include mind games and gardening. The later brought joy, the former pain. You abandoned me, I dumped you on the compost heap in my head. Now toxins leech out from my decaying memories of you, and my fertile soul absorbs your poisons. You always did play to win.

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

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Bruce Arbuckle (felt.buzz)

Knot Up, by Bruce Arbuckle

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

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Some days, the bed won’t release him until the icy knot in his stomach thaws. The duvet hugs his face, shutting out morning light. Bubbles meows, scratching at the covers until he emerges, a zombie rising from the grave. He scrapes food into her bowl and crawls back into darkness.

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A 50-word story written by Bruce Arbuckle, inspired by the Freewriters Writing Prompt on Hive, “knot in the stomach”

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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)

Siren, by Bruce Arbuckle

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

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When the vitriolic head clamour becomes too much to bear she slips out the back door, storms up the clifftop path and shouts into the wind, throwing her frustrations out to sea. She sings at ships. They never answer her siren call, but the voices quieten down, for a while.

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

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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)

Setbacks, by Bruce Arbuckle

April 12, 2023 Bruce humpbuckletales dribble, fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, Stories, story, Tales, zapfic50

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“Our new life begins tomorrow” , Bill says. “Promise.”

One set back after another. First their passports went missing. Then Bill had food poisoning. It was almost as if someone was telling them not to go. Claire waits for Bill to fall asleep, then sneaks outside and slashes their car tyres.

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A 50-word story written by Bruce Arbuckle, inspired by the Freewriters Writing Prompt on Hive, “tomorrow it would start”

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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 Alternatives, by Bruce Arbuckle

April 10, 2023April 10, 2023 Bruce humpbuckletales dribble, fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, Stories, story, Tales, zapfic50

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They met at the Morbid Responsibility Festival, the annual celebration of the 1980’s goth scene. In a sea of eyeliner, swept back hair, and flour dusted jackets, they alone were not dressed in black. He wore a bright pink tutu, and she an original 1990’s rave t-shirt.

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

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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)

Great Expectations, by Bruce Arbuckle

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

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What did he expect before he proposed live on national television ? Would she jump with joy, throw her arms around him, scream happily, cry (with joy, obviously), mouth the word “yes” , or just nod, speachless. He didn’t anticipate derisive laughter, or that she’d leave, spitting out the words “no way!”

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A 50-word story written by Bruce Arbuckle, inspired by the random word prompt, “reaction”

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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)

A Dish Best Served Baked, by Bruce Arbuckle

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

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The cookies smell good. Janice packs them into a tin. A housewarming present. A little late? Perhaps. The newcomer wasn’t welcomed correctly. But Peggy overstepped. Janice organises things in this community. There’s no room for competition. The empty rat poison bottle is binned and Janice takes her gift next door.

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

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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)

Doll, by Bruce Arbuckle

April 6, 2023 Bruce humpbuckletales dribble, fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, Stories, story, Tales, zapfic50

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The wooden doll catches her eye as she hurries past the antique shop. She’s late for work but something about the way it is posed – little hands reaching out – is reminiscent of her mother and she skids to a standstill with comic strip suddenness. She laughs, then bursts into tears.

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

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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)