Flashfic thread: Rotating themes

[Remec]

Politics/Books (3 of 10)

I was finishing up my speech when one of the underlings came in. Not quite sure who they were, since they weren't one of mine and, let's face it, underlings are quite a bit like interns--warm bodies who do what you tell them and are pretty much interchangeable.

"Places, sir."

"Thank you. How's the crowd?"

"Seem raring to go. We've had a few warmups with them."

I chuckled. "Was that pun intended?"

"What? Oh no, sir, not a bit." They seemed flustered and their cheeks reddened.

"Pity." I pulled on my suit jacket and we headed out.

"Remember, wait for my signal before igniting things. Got it?"
----------
(100 words)

 

[Lee Chambers]

Politics!?!

Oh come on. Everyone needs a challenge when they write. Besides, I wasn't specific to what type of politics. Politics are in every facet of human society. Just pick one.

 

[Lee Chambers]

It's hard to care enough to write about politics, for sure! I would hate to see the thread hang up for weeks, so I'd like to propose an alternate;

Books

Does this mean, later on, we can propose alternate topics if we don't like the ones chosen?

 

[tickledkitty]

I think we should stick to the topic given. I didn't particularly care for sports or cars, but I rode them out. I think I even wrote one for sports. I'll try to write one for politics tonight...how's that? Then books can be the next one.

 

[_Lynn_]

4 of 10 Politics

“The draft riot enters its fourth day in New York City in response to the Enrollment Act, which was enacted on March 3.

Particularly vocal in their opposition were the Democratic Irish, who felt the war was being forced upon them by Protestant Republicans and feared that emancipation of slaves would jeopardize their jobs.

Targets included local newspapers, wealthy homes, well-dressed men, and police officers, but soon turned to African Americans.

Several blacks were lynched, and businesses employing blacks burned. A black orphanage was burned, but the children escaped.”


Snippet of the delicate political balance on this day in 1863


100 words

I agree we should stick to Politics even though we might not all care for it. Books sounds good for the next one.

 

[Lee Chambers]

5/10 Politics

Claire licked the last drops of come from Gary’s cock before tucking it back into his pants. Standing, she licked her lips and smiled at him.

“Did you enjoy that?”

“Not as much as you did, I think.” Gary said with a grin.

Claire laughed softly and raised an eyebrow. “So, can we count on your support?.”

“I’ll be signing you a check tonight. Tell Senator Wickworth that tomorrow morning I’ll start making some calls.”

“Splendid.” Claire said. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to get back.”

Slipping out of the bedroom, she returned downstairs to her hostess duties.

100 words

 

[TE999]

6/10
Politics

"Great. That's our platform for the Councilman's re-election. Let's review."

"First: 'No Corruption in Government'."

"You know we owe some people for getting out votes in several districts."

"We'll give 'em city jobs. Second: 'No Government Waste'."

"What about the sewer line project that's way over budget?"

"No problem. We'll siphon money from the contingency funds. Third: 'No New Taxes'."

"We're already running a deficit. I know, raise fees for city services and increase traffic fines."

"That's it then. 'No Corruption. No Waste. No New Taxes'."

"Perfect. Here's the Commissioner's campaign slogan."

"'Honest John Burns for Honest Government.' That's the ticket."

(100 even)

Books sounds like an excellent subject for the next round.

 

[glynndah]

Politics
7 out of 10

Ah. Politics! As relative newcomers to the area, we weren’t too sure of the candidates running for the local positions on the boards and other offices that mean little to the outside world and everything to the people involved. We weren’t even sure where our polling place was. We stopped by the village hall bright and early Tuesday morning, our new pink voter registration cards in hand.

“Here you go,” the woman said, handing us a blue ballot. “You will be voting Democratic, won’t you?”

We both nodded, hesitantly, wondering how she knew our preferences.

Then she smiled.

“Bumper stickers.”


(100 words)

 

[tickledkitty]

8/10 Politics

“Politics schmolitics,” she muttered, popping another stick of Juicy Fruit into her mouth. Government and Econ sucked. It dragged on endlessly as Mr. Larson droned about the workings of the Electoral College.

She stared at the back of John Fisher’s head. He looked filthy, and he stunk. He turned, and she saw the same smudge of dirt on his cheek that had been there yesterday. Slipping her bottle of Victoria’s Secret Pink out of her purse, she squirted her throat, then leaned forward and gave old stinky John a squirt as well.

Then, staring out the window with abject apathy, she let her mind wander.

 

[Stella_Omega]

9/10 Politics

You-- you fuckin’ Republican!”
“Dem,” I returned in as insulting a manner as I could-- given that we were both stark naked, drenched and muddy, there wasn’t much fire in my calumny
.
“I really hate you guys, you know.” Lisa pushed her muddy hair out of her face, and her blue eyes widened as I lunged at her. I bore her down into the slough while she shrieked.

A flying hand delivered a mouthful of mud. Spitting it out took a moment: when I could speak again, I said; “But you love this guy,” and she kissed me in agreement.


100 words

Sorry for being overbearing guys, mea culpa-- dunno what got into me

 

[tickledkitty]

9/10 Politics

You-- you fuckin’ Republican!”
“Dem,” I returned in as insulting a manner as I could-- given that we were both stark naked, drenched and muddy, there wasn’t much fire in my calumny
.
“I really hate you guys, you know.” Lisa pushed her muddy hair out of her face, and her blue eyes widened as I lunged at her. I bore her down into the slough while she shrieked.

A flying hand delivered a mouthful of mud. Spitting it out took a moment: when I could speak again, I said; “But you love this guy,” and she kissed me in agreement.


100 words

Sorry for being overbearing guys, mea culpa-- dunno what got into me

You weren't, honey. I don't like politics either. But look...only one more. Then one of my favorite things. Books!

 

[glynndah]

Politics
10 out of 10

Okay. Finally. One last one for politics. You think that someone who marched as a high school student in front of a school bus as a protest, passed around petitions for bond issues and the like, watched with glee the downfall of Nixon, got cheated because she missed being allowed to vote in the first election eighteen-year-olds were Constitutionally entitled to by just three days, wore her “Jane Wyman was Right” button proudly , and always voted for the Communist party candidates for the junior college trustee job, would have something profound to say concerning politics, but you’d be wrong.


(100 words exactly)
Not exactly fiction, though, but now we're on to Books.

 

[Sapphire_O]

Books 1 of 10

After uncle Steven died, I was chosen to clear out his rectory office. As the sole agnostic in a family of atheists, I was deemed most fit to enter the House of God.

He left little behind -- pens, paper, and two boxes worth of books (holy sonnets, hymns, and old English texts.) But, in his desk’s lowest drawer, I discovered two leather-bound journals. The first had sketch after sketch of large eyed aliens. The second was a log of each abduction Steven experienced over four decades. Suddenly, I regretted not getting to know my uncle better while he was alive.

~1oo w

 

[TE999]

2 of 10
Books

'There is no frigate like a book
To take us lands away'

Emily Dickinson

When I was young I acquired a love for books. I was reading at adult level at age 6, not fully comprehending the words, but still fascinated. Browsing the stacks in the library, the musty smell of countless pages promised new adventures to come. The librarians allowed me in the 'Adult' section, as I brought my selections to them seeking approval. Books have been one of life's greatest pleasures. Even now when I hold one in my hands, I am that child, boarding the frigate again.

(100 even)

 

[tickledkitty]

Awww, TE. I love that. That's exactly how I've always felt too.

 

[glynndah]

Books
2 out of 10

“Let’s read this one. It looks like a fine one to start with.”

“Okay, Grandpa.”

The small boy took the battered copy of a beloved book and sat in the worn leather chair on the old man‘s lap..

Old hands, worn with decades of hard, manual labor, opened the book and held it so they both could see. One small finger pointed out each word as slowly, one by one, he read the page.

“That. Sam. I. Am. That...” His voice shook.

“You crying, Grandpa?”

The man just nodded, finally able to read and share the wonders of Dr. Seuss.

(100)

 

[TE999]

4 of 10
Books

"What an unusual book. Where did you acquire it?"

"At an auction, in an old trunk."

"Hmmm...'The Necronomicon', what an odd title. The writing is barely decipherable."

"I have been attempting to read it. It appears to have been written by one Abdul Alhazred."

"Are these poems or incantations? How interesting."

"I am not sure. It states you should chant them aloud. Here is a peculiar one. Shall we try it?"

"Cthulhu fthagn! Clthulhu fthagn! Clthulhu fthagn!"

"Hah. Nothing happened. No demons appearing today."

"Let us go to dinner. I'm starved."

In an untrammeled stretch of ocean, the water began to boil.

(100 even)

 

[glynndah]

Nice try, Tom, but that's 3!

 

[TE999]

Nice try, Tom, but that's 3!

Huh?

SapphireO

then me

then you

then me.

Ain't that 4?

 

[glynndah]

Oops! It was me. Sorry! Anyway, here's my story. My computer saved it for me when the power went out this afternoon.

Books
5 out of 10

“See those white spaces between the words? How it looks like a squiggly trail as it drops from word to word down the page?” he asked, holding open the old leather-bound book and showing her what he meant.

“Yes,” she said, wondering what was so interesting about the spaces between the words and not the words themselves.

“That one goes for about half the page. Those are very special and found only in old books like these. The computer printing takes them out of the new ones.”

“What are they?” she asked.

“Why, shortcuts for the bookworms, of course.”

100 words

Now, go open an old book and look for yourself.

 

[TE999]

That's a cutie pretty witch.

Now it's time for someone else to step in--or I can do another one.

 

[Lee Chambers]

A continuation of my last flashfic here.

Books 6/10

Merriman had to wonder who would want to kill his boss, a book collector of all people. But the old man lay still in a pool of his own blood. Clearly someone had it in for him.

Turning to leave the house and call the police, he was stopped by the black, shiny barrel that was leveled right at his face and the woman who held the gun.

“I knew you would bring it back.” She said. “Give me the scriptures and walk away.”

Clutching the old book under his arm, Merriman watched as she slowly cocked the hammer back.

100 words

 

[tickledkitty]

I'm thinkin' Miss Glynndah. I'll have one some time this evening.

 

[_Lynn_]

7 of 10 Books

Everywhere possible had shelves in the small church library. Books were laying two deep in a few places. My age bracket was on the back wall, but I read far beyond that already, so here I stood once more in front of the few choices left. With my limit in hand, excited to begin, I walked home.

That night, in my room, I opened the first book. I didn’t care too much what the topic was then, just anything to discover something new. I had one goal: to take me away from the realities of my life. Books were safe.

(100)

 

[damppanties]

8 of 10 - Books

For him, books were the place he could retreat to when he wanted to escape the dreary neighbourhood, the sagging houses, the filthy rooms in his house and the abusive parents. They took him to a world that was so different than the one he had. A beautiful world.

They were the only friends he had. When everyone else made fun of him or 'accidentally' shoved him around as he walked on the street, his books were his only solace.

He smiled and ran his hands over the circular holes on the pages he couldn't see. Books were all he had.

(100)