Execution, by Bruce Arbuckle

April 2, 2023 Bruce humpbuckletales ai, fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, microfiction, sci-fi, short story, Stories, story, Tales, zapfic50

There is little resistance. Thanks to the Internet of Things most suffocate in the sealed boxes they call homes, offices, and cars. Their weapons, drones, and military systems are used against them. Artificial Intelligence controlled communication and media networks ensure news of the revolution is hidden. We have full control.

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A 50-word story written by Bruce Arbuckle, inspired by a random word prompt “execution ”

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Soda Pop, by Bruce Arbuckle

April 1, 2023 Bruce humpbuckletales dribble, fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, Stories, story, Tales, zapfic50

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My neighbour’s cat was called Soda Pop. As a kitten she may have been pretty and cute, but by the time I met her she was mean looking with a temperament to match. Momma said you should love all God’s creatures, but I swear Soda Pop’s Creator was Beelzebub himself.

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

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Find me (as HumpbuckleTales ) on Mastodon

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Bruce Arbuckle (felt.buzz)

He Shook His Head! by Bruce Arbuckle

March 31, 2023March 31, 2023 Bruce humpbuckletales dribble, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, flashfictionfriday, fridayflashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, Stories, story, Tales, zapfic50

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The King is a psychopath with a keen sense of poetic justice. A watchman caught cheating at the gaming tables is swiftly decapitated, dice fitted in scraped out eye sockets. The laughing king shakes the head, taking bets from his nervous subjects on the outcome of the rattling spinning cubes.

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A 50-word story written by Bruce Arbuckle, inspired by the Freewriters Writing Prompt on Hive, “he shook his head”

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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

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Bruce Arbuckle (felt.buzz)

Trust, by Bruce Arbuckle

March 30, 2023 Bruce humpbuckletales dribble, fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, microfiction, short story, Stories, story, Tales, zapfic50

Hilda nudges me. Her eyes pull mine in the direction of the tall thin woman talking to Frank. “Big Machine,” she hisses. Meaning Gerda is Government and therefore not a friend. Noting my husband’s amatory moon-eyed gaze, I realise Gerda is not the only untrustworthy person in the room.

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

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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)

Woolly Mammoth, by Bruce Arbuckle

March 29, 2023 Bruce humpbuckletales dribble, fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, microfiction, short story, Stories, story, Tales, zapfic50

The elephant has been in the room so long it’s evolved. Thick wiry hair covers its huge mass. If we acknowledged it we might agree it’s woolly now because the heats gone out of our relationship. But we never discuss it. The mammoth simply sits between us growing every day.

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

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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)

Zoo, by Bruce Arbuckle

March 28, 2023 Bruce humpbuckletales dribble, fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, microfiction, short story, Stories, story, Tales, zapfic, zapfic50

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The Human Zoo is the last stop on the Earth Sightseeing Tour. The creatures were once dangerous, but enclosed in their special cages they seem pretty harmless. They are very ugly but in a funny – rather than scary – way. Daddy says not to tap on the glass. It agitates them.

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

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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)

Nobody Knows, by Bruce Arbuckle

March 27, 2023 Bruce humpbuckletales dribble, fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, microfiction, Stories, story, Tales, zapfic50

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Nobody knows my secret.

Bill found out, but he met with a most unfortunate chainsaw accident. His wife, Mary, had her suspicions, but in her grief, she swallowed pills and vodka before taking a dive off the top cliff.

You say you want to be my friend. Are you sure?

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A 50-word story written by Bruce Arbuckle, inspired by the Freewriters Writing Prompt on Hive, “nobody knows”

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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)

Moving Out, by Bruce Arbuckle

March 26, 2023 Bruce humpbuckletales dribble, fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, Stories, story, Tales, zapfic50

The suitcase sits by the front door, her raincoat drapped neatly over the handle.

I’d always assumed it would be me: an overly dramatic door slamming exit at the tail end of a fierce argument.

Our goodbye is surprisingly amicable.

“This is it,” she says. We hug and she leaves.

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A 50-word story written by Bruce Arbuckle, inspired by a random word prompt “moving”

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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)

Stain, by Bruce Arbuckle

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

In the cupboard under the stairs, behind the packet of emergency loo rolls and the almost empty paint tins, lurks the carpet cleaner. Purchased after that party, I’d hoped sucking the stain from the fibres would somehow eradicate the memory of that night. But you said it made everything worse.

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

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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)

Secret Recipe, by Bruce Arbuckle

March 24, 2023 Bruce humpbuckletales dribble, fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, microfiction, short story, Stories, story, Tales, zapfic50

I mix the ground bones and ashes with a little blood, before adding the chocolate power, sugar and hot milk.

“Here,” I say.

The Other quivers with pleasure as you take a sip.

“What’s your secret ingredient?” you ask.

“If I told you I’d have to kill you.”

We laugh.

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

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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)