H. D. Dodson

It’s time for Flash Fiction Friday again!

Here’s the gist. Each week, Paper Hangover gives some kind of writing prompt–it won’t always be stories, just something to get those creative juices flowing. If you want to participate, just leave your link in the comments (over there) and we’ll stop by and see your work. Easy, right??

This week’s prompt is:  “Take any minor/background character in your novel and give them their own wacky, mini adventure. In 300 words or less, start the scene in media res and end with a cliffhanger. No resolution.”

Okay, I’m taking my character, Jace, from my novel HAPPILY NEVER AFTER.  This would actually still fit within my novel’s realm, but obviously could never be part of it because he’s not the MC.    So, enjoy…

“I’s been watchin yous, boy.  Thay ain’t nothin’ yous can do tha’ I won’t see.”  The witch cackles, sending chills racing up my spine.

“I don’t care what you see, lady, I just want a straight answer.”  I pause and narrow my eyes at her.  “What did you do to get banished to these woods?”

She cackles again and I ball my hands into fists to keep from lashing out at her.  

“Oh, so the boy bees wantin’ answers, do he? Answers I gots, but answers I don’ give.”  The witch smiles showing off her toothless gums, and I grimace.

I step forward and grab a hand full of the front of her ragged dress.  “You have to tell me.  If I don’t find out, we all die.”

The witch leans in close, only inches from my ears, and whispers, “Death be better than this, boy.” 

Haha, okay, so what do you think? 

Each week, Paper Hangover gives some kind of writing prompt–something to get those creative juices flowing. If you want to participate, just leave your link in the comments over there so we can all read what you write.

This week’s prompt is:

I’m working on dialogue this week:

“Another one bites the dust,” I whisper into my cell phone.

My sister’s voice sounds distant on the other end of the phone, like she’s not really paying attention.  “That’s great, Sis.  How’d you do it?”

I roll my head to the right to brace the phone between my face and shoulder so I can wash my hands in the sink.  “It wasn’t easy.  I had to chase the little devil all through the park.”  Grimy suds drop into the sink as I attempt to scrub my hands clean.

“Did he try hiding in the tree like last time?”

I sigh.  “Yes.  Of course.  And, you know, I’m really not as limber as I used to be.  It is not as easy to climb a tree as it looks.”

My sister’s laugh booms through the phone.  “You tried to climb up after him?  That’s priceless.”

“Ha.  Yeah, I put on quite a show for the other moms.  At least they had enough class not to laugh at me.”  My sister bursts out laughing, and I have to pull the phone away from my ear with a wet hand before my eardrum explodes.  “Thanks, Sis.”

“But kiddo is sleeping now?” she giggles.

“Yeah, out like a light.”

Today is the official inauguration of Paper Hangover’s Flash Fiction Friday!   

Mine:  Kitty War

That darn cat was worst thing that ever happened to me. First, the little shit attacked me. Kitty left a nice scar on the inside of my wrist from that attempted assassination. Then, as if that wasn’t enough, Kitty filled my house with fleas.

Guess he figured slicing me open wouldn’t work, so he’d let the blood suckers finish me off.

How wrong Kitty was. I dominated the fleas with my little insecticide bombs. And a flea bath. Oh yeah, it gave me a little thrill to see Kitty dripping with soap.

Kitty sat in the bay window for while, twitching his tail and watching me as I tapped away at my keyboard. I should have known the little beast was plotting against me, even as I scratched his head and fed him the expensive canned food he demanded. Little demon.

I woke up one morning and stumbled to my computer chair, coffee in hand, prepared for a long day full of work. I reached down to press the power button on the tower of my machine and my hand brushed something furry.

Kitty. He was perched atop the computer like a King in his throne, his tail dipping down and back up in a way that said, “I’m causing serious trouble.”

“What are you doing there?” I asked him.

His eyes slid half-way closed and he glared at me.

Something was up, and I knew it wasn’t going to be good. I pressed the button.

Nothing.

I pressed the button again.

Nothing.

I closed my eyes and sucked in a long breath. When I reached down and pulled the tower from under my desk, my heart stilled in my chest. Every single wire on the back of the tower had been chewed in two.

Kitty had dealt the death-blow.