by

Friday Fictioneers – Wet Hours

© Jennifer Pendergast

Wet Hours
by Miles Rost

A drop of sweat plinked down upon the hot wooden plank, evaporating slowly.

Paul sat in the large sauna, taking his time letting the steam work through his lungs, helping to bust up the crud he got from one of his flock.

He leaned back, his shoulder resting upon the hot wood that made the base of the upper level.

As the seconds rolled by, the sweat drops rolling down his face, a thought passed across his lobes and resonated through his skull. The whole of his humidity-drenched being cried out a great old chestnut:

“Is it worth it?”

Go ahead. Click the frog. Join the fun.

by

Friday Fictioneers – Back On The Streets

© Rowena Curtin

Back On The Streets
by Miles Rost

8 years since he returned to the old haunts.

The smells, or lack thereof, made the area seem surreal. The scent of freshly baked bread from the factory was the prime smell missing.
The scent of booze and lichens no longer permeated the streets or the sidewalks.

The absence of smell made the area seem antiseptic. Half the buildings that enclosed the area were gone, removed to make new, giant buildings at twice the price.

He got back into his car, and drove away from the glass and concrete facades where brick used to rule. Donor money gone to waste.

Go ahead. Click the blue box. You know you want to read others.

by

Friday Fictioneers – Providence

© David Stewart

Providence
by Miles H. Rost

Marsha didn’t know what to do.

Nearly everyone she knew, even clergy, attempted to exert pressure on her to kill the child she carried. The child of a megalomaniacal old man who would execute an entire generation of people over one more dime.

She knelt, weeping, in the garden prison that was the mansion in Geneva, strands of hemp rope on her palm.

*click*

The creaking of the gate caught her attention, and she saw one of her friends peek her head through.

“C’mon, Marsha. We’ll get you somewhere safe.”

Without hesitating, Marsha jumped up and ran, her providence received.

You know you want to… Click it.
by

Friday Fictioneers – A Brief Repose

(Author’s note: I haven’t posted since the end of August. I have not had much inspiration during that time, and even with all that’s going on, I’ve had a hard time being motivated to write. And being as I’ve been at this website for nearly 10 years, originally as an experiment for my Korean students to read micro-stories in English, it felt like I was starting to go dry on things. But a month has passed, rest has been attained, and we shall see where things go. Enjoy today’s story.)

© Rowena Curtin

A Brief Repose

by Miles H. Rost

Run down, but not out.

Kyle looked at the building and wondered if it was his twin.

He sat down and looked over the empty harbor. The one place where he could sit and not hear anyone else. It was a moment of blessed peace, in a world that threatened to overwhelm him.

It was tough for someone who knew things, but couldn’t tell anyone. No one would believe the things he knew. It wasn’t secret info, but patterns he picked up on.

Increasingly isolated from society, he sank back against the building. Just for today, he was going nowhere.

Like stories like this? Click the frog.
by

Friday Fictioneers – Electric Blue

(Author’s note: Fall is starting to come in early to the Pacific Northwest. It is also my second favorite season. But, as a nod to the soon to be departing summer, here’s today’s Fictioneers!)

© Dale Rogerson

Electric Blue

by Miles H. Rost

At one moment, a nice and fluffy cloud in the sky.

Five minutes later, a roaring rainstorm with blue lightning cleared the beach. (1)

Patrick wanted to enjoy the beach one last time before returning to university, and being stuck in a small shelter in a rainstorm wasn’t fun.

Until he looked to his right.

Huddled up next to him, gripping his arm for dear life, was a striking beauty in an electric blue bikini. (2)

“Scary?”
She nodded.
“I’m here. Hold on as long as you like.”

After 10 minutes it was over.

After 15 minutes, he had a date.

(1) – Thank you, Walter.
(2) – You should really hear the story behind the song, as told by John Oates. Look it up.
Oh come on, you know you wanna see more!
by

Friday Fictioneers – Victoria

(Author’s note: Injuries are never fun. Nor is being on a new health plan. Losing weight, feeling good, but dealing with injured appendages. Here’s a throwaway story, as I really couldn’t come up with something that would do the picture justice. Enjoy!)

© Brenda Cox

Victoria

by Miles H. Rost

Introductions were always the hardest part of being a new student.

For Nigel Liew, it was even worse.

The questions would always come: “How can you speak British when you look like that?”, “Do you know Uncle Roger?”, “What do you think of Beijing?”

After a whole day of answering nothing but inane questions, Nigel was about to leave the classroom.

“Hey, Nigel.”
He looked back at a blonde haired kid with a smile on his face.
“What music do you like?”
“Garage rock. The Kinks. “
“Ever heard of “Victoria””?
Nigel’s eyes lit up.
“I thought no one would ask!”

Go on… read more!
by

Friday Fictioneers – Sundown

(Author’s note – Nothing to report. Just keepin’ on.)

© Jennifer Prendergast

Sundown
by Miles H. Rost

Gordy sat in the shadow of the sunset, the orange glow flooding through his writing room window. At the kitchen table, he tapped his pen against his nose.

He was at home, working on his album. His gal was out on the town, wanting to spend time in the city. His mind wandered to where she would be… or even who she was with.

Jealousy on his mind, he put the pen to paper, describing his woman and describing what he’d do to any interloper.

“Sundown, you better take care if I find you’ve been creepin’ round my back stair.”

by

Friday Fictioneers – Me and Julio

(Author’s note: I had to take some time away to rejuve my spirit and come back with new ideas. That, and the graduation of my niece and soon-to-be enlistment into the US Navy, took a lot of my time and patience. I am now back to do more work! Here we go!)

© Dale Rogerson

Me and Julio

by Miles H. Rost

“Hey, Ma! I’m headin’ next door!”
I shut the door behind me and ran my 12-year old body down the stairs and 30 feet to my friend Julio’s doorstep. I could see Ma leaning out of the upstairs window.

“Be home when the lights come on. It’s Nona’s spaghetti tonight!”
“Got it!”

Julio ran out the door before I could knock.
“Who we playing tonight, Julio?”
“57th Street Brazos. Haven’t lost a stick game since last July.”
“Looks like we gotta up our game.”

We ran down the street towards St. Andrews School. Tonight, we’ll defeat the Brazos real good.

by

Friday Fictioneers – Live and Let Dye

(Author’s note: None. It’s the middle of spring/the start of summer. Let’s read!)

© Liz Young

Live and Let Dye

by Miles H. Rost

“Red Cabbage?”
“Diced.”

Paul checked a box.

“Onion Skins?”
“20 sets of red, 20 sets of yellow.”

Another box checked.

“Oranges?”
“6 bags of mandarins. I ate them all and saved the skins in the freezer.”

Paul raised his eyebrows, then chuckled as he checked the box.

“Carrots?”
“3 pounds. Shaved. Should be able to dye 3 pounds of cloth.”

Paul smiled as he checked the final box.

“Alright. We’ve got the stations set up, the stoves ready, safety prep done.”

He took a breath.

“Melinda?”
“Yes?”
“Bring in all the children. Let them to dye to their hearts content!”

Oh come on now, how did you not expect a picture of fruit to not have some connotation to the work of dyemaking? (Kidding!)
Click Me to read more fun stories!
by

Friday Fictioneers – Spring Growth

(Author’s note: None. Enjoy the Fictioneers!)

© Brenda Cox

Spring Growth

by Miles H. Rost

Xi Lin looked at the banks of the lake, burnt trees sticking up like used matchsticks.

She knew better, however. Being a scholar of the trees in both China and America, it helped her understand exactly what was going on. While the Camp Fire was massive, and wiped out so much acreage, she knew that there was growth within.

She peered down at herself and clutched her hands. The lesson of trees also applied to people who burned with passion, and yet had spent the fuel of a relationship.

She was growing as well, a single spring growth hidden within.

Go ahead, click the picture. See what else is out there!