I used to work at The Olive Garden restaurant. We could sneak soup or bread sticks when we were hungry, but we could get suspended for eating the Andes chocolate mint candies that were given when the check was presented at each table. Over such a little thing as that? Yes, because when there are fifteen-plus empoyees on duty and we all eat our fill, the big box that should last all evening, disappears in about an hour. The candies are so good, and a refreshing minty taste remains when one is allowed to slowly melt in your mouth. Continue reading “Yum-Yum”
No fire had ever come close to our valley before. We could see the leaping yellow and red flames over the crest of the hill. We tied wet cloths over our faces to hand out water to firefighters in the dense smoke. They said we were safe. We weren’t, but we had lots of warning compared to others and left with full cars.
Months later we returned with a builder who agreed to work around the original stone fireplace. Vibrant purple fireweed greeted us. The irony of the plants name made us laugh aloud. There had been enough tears. Continue reading “From Fire to Fireweed”
Do you know anyone that doesn’t like Pizza? I don’t think I do. It’s one of those foods that if you don’t like it the “normal” way with red sauce, pepperoni and cheese, you can change to white sauce and all veggies. You can get the crust thick or thin, you can add any topping you want, and in certain stores get the crust gluten-free. It’s a satisfying dish for everyone as long as your group can agree on which kind to order or make when there are a bunch of you. Continue reading “Good Anytime”
“I failed an honesty test.”
“You? How?”
“The questions were grey and they wanted black and white answers.”
“Explain.”
“One was; have you ever taken anything home from work?”
“And you said yes.”
“I have, baking pans from the pastry kitchen.”
“But you had permission to borrow them. You didn’t steal them.”
“But I took them home.”
“They were asking if you stole things.”
“I know that, but that’s not how the question was worded.”
“You should have told them what they wanted to hear and not told the truth.”
“Then it shouldn’t have been called an honesty test.” Continue reading “Black and White – Flash Fiction”
I’m like an eagle standing on the ice. The thaw is near enough that I can hear the trout beneath claws designed to grab what I need — words like trout populate the pond of my stories. So close. So close.
But the words I wrote populated pages requested by clients. Nothing creative. Nothing literary. I interview board members and vendors. Such as the ice-cream maker who explained the moment she realized sugar was killing her husband. It was Valentine’s Day and she returned home with a box of chocolate. He loved his chocolates and Mountain Dew. But on that day he met his wife at the door, he told her he had diabetes. Continue reading “A Note From Charli Mills at Carrot Ranch Literary on Inspire Your Heart With Art Day”
Her father worked evenings. That was good. She rarely had to be alone with him.
Getting off the school bus she checked the drive. He was home. Damn!
He would expect her to walk around naked so he could ogle and touch her.
Her mother was buried, no longer a wedge of protection. No siblings.
She stood there, on the edge; go in or not.
She backed away, fishing for her cell phone. She touched the only safe number.
“Dad’s home, therefore drunk. Can you come get me?”
Waiting, she decided to stick with the lie, he gets mean.
In response to Charli Mills -Carrot Ranch Literary
January 25, 2018, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story that goes to the edge. Consider what the edge might be and how it informs the story. Go where the prompt leads.
Respond by January 30, 2018, to be included in the compilation (published January 31). Rules are here. All writers are welcome!
Sue Spitulnik 