The Author, by Bruce Arbuckle

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

…

A fresh start, a blank page. This time she’ll write her own story. A bus pulls up, it’s doors hiss open, and she steps on board without checking the destination. If she thought things had been tough so far, The Author thinks, wait until she finds out where she’s going.

…

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

…

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)

Waiting For Halibut, by Bruce Arbuckle

May 5, 2023 Bruce humpbuckletales dribble, fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, flashfictionfriday, fridayflashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, Stories, story, Tales, zapfic, zapfic50

…

We knew something was wrong when the hairdresser called to say she’d missed her appointment. Two things Mum couldn’t abide: tardiness and unruly hair. Minutes later, announcing their arrival with officious raps on the door, two awkward policemen told us Mum had collapsed and died at the supermarket fish counter.

…

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

…

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)

Missing, by Bruce Arbuckle

May 3, 2023 Bruce humpbuckletales dribble, fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, Stories, story, Tales, zapfic, zapfic50

…

“This document,” I say, holding up the folder. “Will prove the CEO is lying!” Opening the dossier i find only blank pages. The board members stare at me. I remember the clumsy man in the elevator, the spilled pages, the apologies as he helped gather them. He stole my evidence!

…

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

…

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)

A Well-Earned Break, by Bruce Arbuckle

May 2, 2023May 2, 2023 Bruce humpbuckletales dribble, fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, Humpbuckle, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, Stories, story, Tales, zapfic, zapfic50

…

Jimmy won’t stop complaining. “I wanna break!” he whines. “Let’s get this wardrobe up the staircase first,” I say. He sighs, liberates a hand to scratch his arse, and I feel the heavy lump of furniture slide. He screams, a bone snaps. And just like that, Jimmy gets his break.

…

A 50-word story written by Bruce Arbuckle, inspired by the Freewriters Writing Prompt on Hive, “it’s been a great ride”

…

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)

Time Lag, by Bruce Arbuckle

May 1, 2023May 1, 2023 Bruce humpbuckletales dribble, fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, Humpbuckle, humpbuckletales, microfiction, sci-fi, short story, Stories, story, Tales, zapfic, zapfic50

…

She wasn’t prepared for how bad time travel would make her feel. I’ll never, she thought, as she fought the urge to vomit, complain about jet lag ever again. Although, looking around at the prehistoric landscape and the broken machine she’d arrived in, it was unlikely to be a problem.

…

A 50-word story written by Bruce Arbuckle, inspired by the Freewriters Writing Prompt on Hive, “it’s been a great ride”

…

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)

Safety In Superficiality, by Bruce Arbuckle

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

…

She isn’t surprised when Ella doesn’t show. She flirted with friendships in her twenties, but sooner or later other people let you down. Not always on purpose, although some seem to take a perverse pleasure in the practice. She prefers superficial contact. It’s safer. She finishes her drink and leaves.

…

A 50-word story written by Bruce Arbuckle, inspired by the Freewriters Writing Prompt on Hive, “not surprising”

…

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)

Stripes, by Bruce Arbuckle

April 24, 2023 Bruce humpbuckletales dribble, fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, Stories, story, Tales, zapfic50

…

Her friends called her “Stripes”, but no one could remember why. She was the strong one, the friend they all came running to when things weren’t going right. She always knew the right thing to say. Nobody thought to ask her how she was feeling until it was too late.

…

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

…

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)

Trip, by Bruce Arbuckle

April 23, 2023 Bruce humpbuckletales dribble, fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, Stories, story, Tales, zapfic50

…

“Thanks,” she mumbles, after the man in the white coat drops the pill into her nouth. It fizzes, melting into her tongue. It tastes like crap, but she’s getting used to it. The man moves along the line of beds. She closes her eyes, waiting for the trip to begin.

…

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

…

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)

Flo, by Bruce Arbuckle

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

…

She turns off the small electric heater, even though it’s below zero outside, and not much warmer inside. Pulling her wool hat over her ears, she climbs into bed and drags the quilt and blankets to her chin. It’s pension day tomorrow. A good day. Shivering, she closes her eyes.

…

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

…

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)

Approval, by Bruce Arbuckle

April 21, 2023April 22, 2023 Bruce humpbuckletales dribble, fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, flashfictionfriday, fridayflashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, Stories, story, Tales, zapfic50

…

A blast of cold air announces her arrival. I shiver.

“Are you alright?”

Awkward. Do you tell your date your dead wife has materialised to check her out? I usually don’t, but tonight feels different. Taking a chance, I explain.

“Does she approve?”

Phantom lips touch mine, then she leaves.

…

A 50-word story written by Bruce Arbuckle, inspired by the Freewriters Writing Prompt on Hive, “a blast of cold air”

…

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)