Jim the Writer

a literary blog

Jim Anderson

Two Boys, a Girl, and a Fire

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Paul and I drew water from the lake in plastic buckets and dumped it on the coals. Steam rolled skyward. From her perch on a nearby log, Susie clapped. Paul lifted his bucket as if to throw water on her. “Don’t you dare!” Susie darted away across the sand as he chased her with the empty bucket.

I guess that was when I knew. So it was no big surprise when she let him walk her home.

I carried the buckets back to the cottage. Behind me, on the beach, hope like some great bird flapped off into the night.

I wrote this story for the 100 Word Challenge #340 at Velvet Verbosity.

Shots Fired, Garden View Apartments

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As she parked near her building, Gina saw a man’s form swaying in the shadows. It was the same guy. She was sure of it.

The book said to call it in. Gina liked the book, but not for this. Instead, she drew her nine-millimeter.

In a second, she was out of the car. Air-conditioners hummed. Crickets sang. Gina stepped forward, the automatic by her thigh.

“Pretty stupid, stalking a cop.”

“Stalking?” The voice was soft, almost feminine.

“Yeah, stalking. What would you call it?”

“Haunting, perhaps?”

The shadow lunged.

Gina crouched and fired three rounds into a potted shrub.

I wrote this story for the 100 Word Challenge #339 at Velvet Verbosity.

What is a story?

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So I have been writing stories this summer, or trying to, and have published a few very short ones (100 words each) on this blog.

It might be good to consider what I mean by a “story” and whether a passage as short as 100 words can make the grade.

My definition is traditional. A story is a usually a narrative, and usually focuses on a character who is facing a problem, a challenge or a conflict. In a strong story, the challenge somehow defines the character. Or, rather, how the character responds to the challenge defines him or her.  [Read more…] about What is a story?

Details

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The professor wore the required shirt and shoes. He expected service.

100wordchallengelogoYes, his pants were missing. So were his underpants, his socks and his wife of 38 years, if anyone cared for details.

The girl behind the counter gaped at him, her mouth a perfect O. The professor set down a bottle. “It’s all in your imagination,” he told her. True enough. What could she see beyond the counter-top? A man in bifocals and a wrinkled shirt. “Let’s get on with it.” He pulled a bill from his shirt pocket, and unfurled it beside the register.

She rang him up.

I wrote this story for the 100 Word Challenge #336 at Velvet Verbosity.