Challenge 19 - an extra one

Anne van Alkemade 2625 posts

Things have been a tad quiet here. Yes, I’m still about and watching!
The current Challenge 18 is perhaps a little uninspiring so I thought I’d post another to run concurrently.
It will end on Wednesday 26th, so basically overlap and run an additional week to C18.

The Theme:
In ‘dubious honour’ of the fact that while I’ve not been obviously active, I am still hanging about (working on Flashback but still here, I promise)
your theme is I’m still here

Please paste your entries below rather than or in addition to links. It’s easier for me to copy over to an email to send off to our judges. I’ll be sending this one to firefighter Sarah so if you want to suck up to the judge, you could make it a little bit smokie if you like but this is optional.

8 months ago

Arcadia Tempest 1224 posts

Ok ….I can echo echo echo that I’m still here as well ;O)

Will see what flashes in for this and hopefully will be back with something to flash about the place ;)

8 months ago

Anne van Alkemade 2625 posts

lol lots of gratuitous use of Flash there AT.

8 months ago

Lawford 419 posts

I’ve seen Arcadia flash before.
I had to avert my eyes

8 months ago

Lawford 419 posts

Expectations You can leave comments here.

Or you can just read this -

Terry stopped at the door and stepped in. Something had changed. He looked down at the pale drawn face of his father. He put his ear near the partly opened bloodless lips and listened. Nothing. He straightened up, pulled the sheet over the motionless head, paused briefly and then turned his head.
“Diedre. Come here.”
His wife entered the room and stared at the sheet. She gave a quick intake of breath.
“What? You knew the old bugger could go any minute. You can’t say you’re shocked. Thank God. Now I can get that V8 Ute I want and that cabin cruiser. Old bastard horded his money for years and wouldn’t help us out when we needed it would he Diedre?”
Diedre glared at her husband.
A discreet cough came from under the sheet. A feeble voice whispered – “I’m still here. Call my lawyer will you? There’s a good boy.”

8 months ago

Andy Smerdon 119 posts

hehehe – gotta love karma

8 months ago

Solar Zorra 451 posts

Thoughtless Omissions

Neither Gail nor Michael would have ever guessed they would find love again. Meeting on a dating website, they talked on line for six months until they finally met, fell madly in love and decided to marry.

Gail’s first husband had died three years earlier. Michael and his wife were married for twelve years before his wife drowned in a boating accident.

Michael had a beautiful house on the lake so they sold Gail’s small condo and agreed to make his house “theirs”. Gail redecorated the entire house, removing all signs of his previous life. She finally moved in when all the changes were made. Late that evening she awoke to a noise in the kitchen. While walking in the hallway a shadow appeared and a voice whispered, “I’m still here.” She ran frantically back to Michael but froze in terror when he casually said, “She’s still here, isn’t she?”

8 months ago

Andy Smerdon 119 posts

I’ve just read yours Solar and I like it – great minds eh :)

Here is my attempt:

It was nearly twelve months ago that the police and insurance investigations had finished. Insurance payments followed shortly after. Audrey’s first action was to get rid of the old Toyota Prius that Hal had insisted they buy to reduce their carbon footprint. All well and good, she thought at the time, but nobody else at the country club drives a Prius. She had bought the Audi TT only two weeks ago, red of course and driving it, she felt more comfortable.
Everything had been going to plan so far, slight delays, but she had expected them. Now this! She had just walked into the kitchen and there on the fridge door was the message; written using those little magnetic letters. “I’m still here”.
Over two years had passed since she had pushed Hal off the roof. She didn’t really believe in ghosts, but what other explanation could there be?

8 months ago

Alison Pearce 734 posts

Iam still here! I am, I am I am!! Here is my small contribution Linger

Charlotte closed her eyes and thought of the days spent perched on the edge of Janie’s bed clutching her daughter’s teddy bear to her chest.
Run away? Taken? Fallen into one of the old mine shafts on the neighbouring lands? The police and search and rescue teams had been baffled. Hope of finding Janie alive – or at all – had been given up.
And then had come the whispers. Soft and light, Charlotte thought them a trick of a grieving mother’s mind; but then the writing on the walls had begun.
Small markings at first, mere scratches that were hardly visible and easily cast aside as figments of the imagination.
The more she ignored them, they larger they had become.
Charlotte had found them carved deep into the walls, the doors and the trees surrounding the old mansion.
Over and over the same words appeared everywhere Charlotte went.
I’m still here.

8 months ago

Andy Smerdon 119 posts

The stuff nightmares are made of Alison (losing a child and the ghostly stuff), nice work… Hope I sleep tonight :)

8 months ago Anne van Alkemade 2625 posts	Things have been a tad quiet here. Yes, I’m still about and watching! The current Challenge 18 is perhaps a little uninspiring so I thought I’d post another to run concurrently. It will end on Wednesday 26th, so basically overlap and run an additional week to C18. The Theme: In ‘dubious honour’ of the fact that while I’ve not been obviously active, I am still hanging about (working on Flashback but still here, I promise) your theme is I’m still here Please paste your entries below rather than or in addition to links. It’s easier for me to copy over to an email to send off to our judges. I’ll be sending this one to firefighter Sarah so if you want to suck up to the judge, you could make it a little bit smokie if you like but this is optional.
8 months ago Arcadia Tempest 1224 posts	Ok ….I can echo echo echo that I’m still here as well ;O) Will see what flashes in for this and hopefully will be back with something to flash about the place ;)
8 months ago Anne van Alkemade 2625 posts	lol lots of gratuitous use of Flash there AT.
8 months ago Lawford 419 posts	I’ve seen Arcadia flash before. I had to avert my eyes
8 months ago Lawford 419 posts	Expectations You can leave comments here. Or you can just read this - Terry stopped at the door and stepped in. Something had changed. He looked down at the pale drawn face of his father. He put his ear near the partly opened bloodless lips and listened. Nothing. He straightened up, pulled the sheet over the motionless head, paused briefly and then turned his head. “Diedre. Come here.” His wife entered the room and stared at the sheet. She gave a quick intake of breath. “What? You knew the old bugger could go any minute. You can’t say you’re shocked. Thank God. Now I can get that V8 Ute I want and that cabin cruiser. Old bastard horded his money for years and wouldn’t help us out when we needed it would he Diedre?” Diedre glared at her husband. A discreet cough came from under the sheet. A feeble voice whispered – “I’m still here. Call my lawyer will you? There’s a good boy.”
8 months ago Andy Smerdon 119 posts	hehehe – gotta love karma
8 months ago Solar Zorra 451 posts	Thoughtless Omissions Neither Gail nor Michael would have ever guessed they would find love again. Meeting on a dating website, they talked on line for six months until they finally met, fell madly in love and decided to marry. Gail’s first husband had died three years earlier. Michael and his wife were married for twelve years before his wife drowned in a boating accident. Michael had a beautiful house on the lake so they sold Gail’s small condo and agreed to make his house “theirs”. Gail redecorated the entire house, removing all signs of his previous life. She finally moved in when all the changes were made. Late that evening she awoke to a noise in the kitchen. While walking in the hallway a shadow appeared and a voice whispered, “I’m still here.” She ran frantically back to Michael but froze in terror when he casually said, “She’s still here, isn’t she?”
8 months ago Andy Smerdon 119 posts	I’ve just read yours Solar and I like it – great minds eh :) Here is my attempt: It was nearly twelve months ago that the police and insurance investigations had finished. Insurance payments followed shortly after. Audrey’s first action was to get rid of the old Toyota Prius that Hal had insisted they buy to reduce their carbon footprint. All well and good, she thought at the time, but nobody else at the country club drives a Prius. She had bought the Audi TT only two weeks ago, red of course and driving it, she felt more comfortable. Everything had been going to plan so far, slight delays, but she had expected them. Now this! She had just walked into the kitchen and there on the fridge door was the message; written using those little magnetic letters. “I’m still here”. Over two years had passed since she had pushed Hal off the roof. She didn’t really believe in ghosts, but what other explanation could there be?
8 months ago Alison Pearce 734 posts	Iam still here! I am, I am I am!! Here is my small contribution Linger Charlotte closed her eyes and thought of the days spent perched on the edge of Janie’s bed clutching her daughter’s teddy bear to her chest. Run away? Taken? Fallen into one of the old mine shafts on the neighbouring lands? The police and search and rescue teams had been baffled. Hope of finding Janie alive – or at all – had been given up. And then had come the whispers. Soft and light, Charlotte thought them a trick of a grieving mother’s mind; but then the writing on the walls had begun. Small markings at first, mere scratches that were hardly visible and easily cast aside as figments of the imagination. The more she ignored them, they larger they had become. Charlotte had found them carved deep into the walls, the doors and the trees surrounding the old mansion. Over and over the same words appeared everywhere Charlotte went. I’m still here. © Alison Pearce 2011
8 months ago Andy Smerdon 119 posts	The stuff nightmares are made of Alison (losing a child and the ghostly stuff), nice work… Hope I sleep tonight :)
7 months ago Alison Pearce 734 posts	The prompt just screams of spookiness! I think the proof of that is in the common thread of our tales!
7 months ago Arcadia Tempest 1224 posts	She had a long deep throat and was proud it of it too! LONG DEEP THROAT Thunder rolls off her tongue this morning. She’s a mischievous wench running amok in the clouds pocking the dawn with bass laughter. Bisexual weather wench with her masculinity sounding the atmosphere and slowly dressing in her static lightening chemise to tease the world below. Her playfulness stirs hidden dark thoughts yet I ‘m still here listening to her rollback. It’s a roundhouse kick to the metaphorical navel with the promise of rain to freshen and a baptism wash bursting with anew. The thunderstorm moves closer to my little house. I tuck my arms in and curl up my legs keeping safe. The dog’s hairs stand up to acknowledge her approach. Someone has told her news from the heavens that wasn’t to her liking for her voice growls like a belly full of boom! What fool spoke these words bringing her tone down in her long deep throat? © K S Hardy 2011
7 months ago ian osborne 449 posts	Rub A Dub Stylite
7 months ago Arcadia Tempest 1224 posts	Andy …. you I believe have caught the “Im still spooking here” bug from the other flashers And a fine writing flash it be me thinks. Hal is like one of a kind with his ghostly footprint to be counted again and again! Cool stuff Mr ;)
7 months ago Anne van Alkemade 2625 posts	a lovely spooky crop in good time for Halloween. :) Love the thunderstorm AT. We had just this very thing this afternoon, although with the added frozen tears i.e. hail. Robyn was delighted. A strange event, she thought.
7 months ago Arcadia Tempest 1224 posts	Frozen tears ….. oh you must have had Hailstonem ….she is known for such overacting in our skies! Such an attention seeker she be as well and she thinks her balls are bigger.;o) . How big were they by the way?
7 months ago ian osborne 449 posts	Another bash. I’ve just read Anne’s guidelines so I’ll do it right this time! It wasn’t me A model prisoner, I kept my head down and my nose clean pinning my hopes on an early release for good behaviour. God knows I’d been in long enough. Apart from a grumbling appendix and an overactive thyroid I was still healthy and looking forward to a few good years on the outside before I popped off. Unbeknown to me, while I toiled diligently, weeding the governor’s vegetable patch and trimming his yew peacocks, my thyroid consorted with criminal types in dark corners. And while I slept like an innocent (which I truly was, I swear!), the wretched thing paced the confines of the cell plotting escape. At the latest parole hearing my release has been turned down again. The appendix is whingeing. How can they blame me for the bloody thyroid breaking out and eloping with the governor’s housemaid’s knee?
7 months ago ian osborne 449 posts	Another one (if entering three times isn’t being just plain greedy.) Damp Damask Nobody gives much thought to the food at these events, except the caterers of course. The guests gorge blindly as drink flows and the first lost glasses tinkle on the terrace flags. Nobody gives much thought to the quality of the wine either once a dozen bottles have been emptied and tossed into the waiting skip. Nobody looks twice at the old boy asleep in the deckchair dribbling mayonnaise onto his creased tie, or the ladies’ hats so fussily fastened at first, now teetering tiredly over straying strands and reddened cheeks. And as the setting sun paints the marble pink and abandoned napkins litter the lawn, nobody gives much thought to me, the last sandwich that nobody wanted, dressed so lovingly hours before, now curling at the edges with lettuce petticoat limp and dragging. Just me and the snoring drunk curled up behind the clipped box.
7 months ago Solar Zorra 451 posts	Great work Ian, your stories are always an adventure. The visual of that last curling sandwich makes me ill. I guess I didn’t read the fine print either, sorry Anne. I’ll go back and post my story in this thread too.
7 months ago Anne van Alkemade 2625 posts	lol no dramas Solar. It’s just a bit easier. Sorry guys, been fighting a few domestic battles over here and still trying to fix a few things in Flashback 2011. Much much much slower process than I would have liked. In the mean time, get your pens, pencils, paper, keyboards and brains ready to tick over.
7 months ago Cathryn Swanson 438 posts	Impatient There’s this whole back-story as to why I’m still here. That’s not important right now. Lets just say, something similar has happened to someone else before, that is, having your arm wedged in a rock as you’re hanging off the side of a mountain. This other guy, after still being there undiscovered for five days, cut off his arm with a blunt knife. I’ve only got a hand-sized rock at my disposal. Shouldn’t be too much longer now. Just as I hack through the last bit of flesh and skin, wouldn’t you know it, a helicopter appears. Gives me a heck of a fright. I lose my footing and plummet to the sharp rocks below. If only I’d just waited a little bit longer. It honestly felt like near on a week, even though it was only a few hours. Ah well, I’ve always been impatient.
7 months ago DBA Lehane 51 posts	The Here Not Now I open my eyes. My flesh is pale, the water cold and tainted. I’m still here. Fuck. “I’m still here,” I say, as if hearing my own voice will underscore the fact. I shiver and step from the tub. I want to cry, but no tears will come. I step onto a small plastic container which I pick up and examine. It’s now empty of the pills it once contained. Tentatively I look down at my wrists; the two deep slashes now congealed and purple. I take a deep breath and step in front of the mirror. I’m not there. No me, no reflection, no nothing at all. There comes kicking at the door and I stand back as a police officer comes rushing in. He steps to the tub and desperately heaves my limp body from it. My elderly neighbour gasps from the doorway. “I’m afraid she’s gone, ma’am.”
7 months ago DBA Lehane 51 posts	Andy – nice bit of spooky flash. The fridge magnets were a nice touch.
7 months ago annieannie 1012 posts	whhhooops annie is way behind but i am still here after a fashion so will go play catch up xx
7 months ago annieannie 1012 posts	here is my attempt I’m still here After all these years I’m still here Still towing the line Still tugging the forelock I’m still here Cleaning the place Answering their inane questions I’m still here Looking up to check for leaks Looking down in case they dropped banana skins I’m still here Clearing up their mess Shining the brass I’m still here repeating myself in triplicate Boring the pants off [hmm well maybe not] Am convinced they find me boring though not one would admit it. They sometimes return to haunt me, that’s when I go to ground, hide in my office. Still, not long until scoop day. Scoop day? The day I scoop up my hoard and do a runner. Scoop up the nest egg I have crammed away in the boiler room. ………. Scoop day is passed. Boiler exploded. Should have saved my ill got gains in coinage. I’m still here.

Flash Fiction

Write it in a flash; read it in a flash.

Challenge 19 - an extra one