Flash Fiction | Susan's Place

Jun 14

Terrified – Flash Fiction

The following was written for this week’s Flash Fiction Challenge over at Carrot Ranch.

In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story deep waters. It can be literal or metaphorical. Think of a place and person and situation. Explore. Bathe. Renew. Go where the prompt leads!

June 11 Flash Fiction

The waves that day were perfect for bodysurfing.

I headed into deeper water where the waves were forming so I could ride one back into shore. What I didn’t realize was that the undertow was quite strong and just as the wave was breaking, down under the water I went. The undertow literally dragged me across the bottom of the sea, my body feeling the gritty sand scratching and stinging my skin. I could feel the weight of the sand filling my suit. Finally surfacing disoriented, opening my eyes I saw I was at the shoreline, and stood up.

© Susan Zutautas 2020

May 29

18 Comments

Snowy Summer’s Day – Flash Fiction

The following flash fiction was written for this week’s challenge over atCarrot Ranch.

In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story using two words that contradict. Examples include champagne and hard-rock; rosemary and sewage; duck down and firecrackers; sleep and square-dancing. Use one of these or make up your own. Go where the prompt leads!

Image by Carolyn Skipper from Pixabay

It was June, Meg and Ian had just moved into their first home. Ian was outside exploring when the wind picked up. “Meg come outside; you have to see this.”

Meg was in the kitchen busily unpacking boxes and welcomed the break.

Walking out into the yard Meg saw exactly why Ian had called her out. On the ground laid hundreds of tiny white flowers carpeting the pathway to the side yard. Just as Meg was about to say something hundreds more floated down from above.

“Oh, Ian how beautiful, it looks like we have a few Dogwood trees.”

May 17

24 Comments

Scared to Death – Flash Fiction

Image by kalhh from Pixabay

Lounging by the pool Kate looked up towards her window and was panic-stricken. A billow of black smoke was erupting. Then it hit her, she had left candles burning. “Oh my God”, she yelled. A neighbor grabbed Kate from running towards the fire.

“My mother is going to kill me, what am I going to do?” Petrified, Kate started to hyperventilate.

“Try to calm down, Kate,” her neighbor said while taking Kate to her place.

After a few shots of whiskey and a cold shower, Kate was still scared to death and kept saying, “She’s going to kill me!”

Written for May 14th Flash Fiction Challenge over at Carrot Ranch.

May 11

8 Comments

Men in Pots – #FFFC

The following silly poem was written in response to Fandango’s Flash Fiction Challenge.

Image from Pinterest

Plant a man

Watch him grow

Does he grow fast

or does he grow slow

A vegetarian …

I’d say so

Look at his face, he looks like a grump

I would too with those bumps

Horns on his head holding up trees

Pull off a leaf and he will sneeze

He sits all day inside his pot

He’d better take care before he rots.

May 8

13 Comments

Nourishing the Mind – Flash Fiction

The following was written in response to a flash fiction challenge over at Carrot Ranch.

In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story to nourish. The characters can nourish or be nourished. What else can be nourished? A tree? A setting? Does the sunset nourish the soul? Go where the prompt leads!

flash fiction May 7

Little one, you must always remember to nourish your mind.

But father how does one feed the mind?

Not feed … nourish.

Please explain as I am confused.

Each day, be sure you take time for yourself to breathe and relax, to reflect, to find peacefulness within, to count your blessings. Sit down, read a book that interests you, learn something new. Keep a journal and write what your heart says to you. Write down what is troubling you, your joys, your dreams, your hopes, and your desires. Get fresh air and enjoy your surroundings. Socialize, always be kind.

May 6

7 Comments

Diving Board – Flash Fiction

The following flash fiction was written for a challenge over at Carrot Ranch.
In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story that features longboards. They can be used in any way you imagine, including a name for sporting equipment. How are they used and who is using them? Go where the prompt leads!

Image by Guy Dugas from Pixabay

Joe had butterflies in his stomach long before his alarm clock went off. Today he’d be diving in a state competition. Scouts from well-known universities would be there and Joe was hoping for a scholarship.

Climbing the high dive ladder a wave of total confidence came over him.

The first dive was a backward dive. He sprung on the board once then twice, then it snapped startling him, but he carried through like a pro leaving the snapped board behind. Three scores from the judges were all 9.5. Joe and his team were ecstatic!

Joe was offered a scholarship.

©Susan Zutautas 2020

Apr 19

13 Comments

Backyard Quandary

The following was written in response to this week’s flash fiction challenge over at Carrot Ranch.

In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story about something crazy. Laugh like crazy, show the setting of stir-crazy or go off the rails on a crazy train. Have fun with the word and the situation, but go where the prompt leads!

Flash Fiction April 16

Exhausted from a long crazy day at work I needed to take a little time to relax before starting dinner. I grabbed a beer and headed outside to the backyard. The sun was just starting to go down, and I didn’t feel the need to turn on the outside lights. Sitting in my favorite chair sipping my beer I saw the neighbor’s black cat in the distance. Here kitty, kitty, I called again and again until he finally started walking towards me. As he got closer to me, I stopped breathing and froze. Not a cat … a skunk!

Apr 5

25 Comments

Did Someone Say Pizza?

The following short was written in response to a flash fiction challenge over at Carrot Ranch.

In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story that includes pizza. It can be an original pizza pie (or slice) or something pizza-like. Go where the prompt leads!

montreal pizza flash fiction

On our last trip to Montreal, I insisted we have pizza.

If you’ve never tried an all-dressed Montreal pizza you don’t know what you’re missing. It’s almost impossible to eat this pie with your hands and I suggest you have a knife and fork handy.

Thin slices of pepperoni atop a puffy golden crust that has been moistened with a delicious tomato sauce. Fresh mushrooms and green pepper generously follow then the pizza is covered with a carpet of cheese that has been baked till the cheese is slightly browned.

I swear it tastes like a slice of heaven.

Mar 30

8 Comments

Meg Takes Charge – Flash Fiction

The following flash fiction was written in response to a challenge over at Carrot Ranch. In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story in which a character takes charge. Who is this character, and what situation calls for their action? It can be playful or serious, fantastical, or realistic. Go where the prompt leads!

March 26 flash fiction

Ian was running a high fever, had a scratchy throat, and had lost his sense of taste.

“Ian, I think you should go to the hospital and get checked out.”

“What good will it do? Honestly, Meg, I’m far better off here with you.”

“Well you have the symptoms of Covid-19 and if you have the virus, I may have it too. I think it would be the responsible thing for you to go. Behind the hospital they have drive-up testing set up, you don’t even have to go in. Now get your coat on, we’re going right now.”

Mar 22

16 Comments