Most of the time, when I write a piece of flash fiction for a photo prompt, I don’t really think about what to write or how the plot and characters should be developed. Most of the time, I just write.
Continue reading “I Am Just Me”
Tag: Short Story
Skeptical
Skeptical. I think that’s the word I’ll use to describe my feeling at the moment.
Two days ago, a technician came and “fixed” the internet. Technically, he didn’t really fix the internet. All he did was switching the router. He did fix the speed on the wifi. It turned out the new router was a piece of junk and I may have discovered my room was a blind spot in the whole house. After he swapped the router though, the speed became normal again, for about 5 minutes. After he left, I tested again and would you look at that, it went back to as slow as before but only on my new computer. I don’t know why. My old computer and tablet performed just fine.
For the past two days, I had been holding my breath, waiting for everything to resume to normal, for the internet to go back up but it never did. Switching the routers might be the worst thing I’ve ever done. Now, not only the download speed is still not back up to the speed that I was getting before but the wifi on my old computer won’t stay connected for less than 5 minutes. It is like a time-bomb about to go off any second and it’s completely and utterly frustrating.
A few minutes ago, my mom was complaining again how the phone line went dead after 5 minutes. She was trying to call my aunt in China. I asked if she wanted me to change back to our old G router, it seemed to be the only router that’s ever worked. It only irritated her even more. After the line’s connected again, she immediately told my aunt how unwilling to work I was, that I rather watch TV last night than perform the big switch on the router.
Yes, I do prefer watching TV at night because I don’t perform well at night when the lighting’s not adequate. Working at night would just amplify my frustration when something goes wrong.
So the internet is definitely slow now, there’s not denying it now. She wants me to do the switch tonight when I want to relax after a day of work. I’m very afraid because if something goes wrong, I might be drowning myself in tears in my sleep tonight. Wish me luck.
Daily Prompt – Twenty Five – Didn’t use the letter “z”, my favorite letter.
The thing I want to do…
During my workout at the gym today, I gave my response to today’s prompt some thought and I want a redo. Continue reading “The thing I want to do…”
Awards for Academia
You know what award I’d really like to receive? Continue reading “Awards for Academia”
The Paintbrushes
The mystery I may never solve and I may never forget it… Continue reading “The Paintbrushes”
Fantastical Dreamscape
Daily Prompt: You’re having a nightmare, and have to choose between three doors. Pick one, and tell us about what you find on the other side.
Believe it or not, I feel like I’m having a nightmare today. My headache’s been alternating on and off and I’m starting to feel cold even though I’m not supposed to.
When I woke up this morning, I thought today would be an easy day. You know, do homework and write but I’ve forgotten I have work. I supposed it’s a good thing but I just don’t feel like working today. My day had just gotten worse when my mom called home mid-morning and said someone scratched the car door. “Why are you telling me?”
This is so her, complaining to me about her problems but I can’t do the same. Anyway, like always, she blamed me for it. I was like I didn’t park near anything yesterday. I’m beginning to think she scratched it this morning at work since her parking skill had become so awful lately. Last week, she almost took the mirror off backing out of the garage.
Plus, she’s in one of her moods again which it might be the cause of my headache. Last night, she came home from school and started complaining how dirty the counter was. I cleaned it, what do you want from me? Then like always, she insulted my generation (people born in the 90’s) saying we are all dirty and lazy. It made me so angry, I was literally clenching my fist while surfing the web. I mean, can you just leave me alone?
So if I was given three doors, one red, the other green with cool breeze blowing from the gap between the door, the third black. I would definitely choose the green door with cool breeze. I would open it and step into sunshine and a meadow full of flowers and it would be the most relaxing place. I won’t have to think about anything for a while and just lay there, bathe myself in sunlight.
Doesn’t that sound just like a dream? I really need that to get away from my mom’s unpredictable temper. Oh, by the way, I just got word that it was indeed her fault, not mine for scratching the door but she still blamed me for not looking closely to check this morning. It’s dark, how can you see something when it’s so damn dark?
Image credit: Pinterest
Not Today
Okay, so today’s prompt has asked me to write my own obituary. That’s just plain depressing. Is it just me or has the last three prompts (including this one) been sad? I’ve actually seen this one a few months ago while I was shuffling around the prompts, trying to squeeze some sort of inspiration out of me. Then when I saw this prompt, I was like that’s it, no more. That was one of those days I didn’t post at all.
It had something like 20 responses the last time I’d check and I didn’t think it would actually come back. Well, I’m not going to write it. A reason being I have no reason to write an obituary for myself especially not days like today.
I’m not sure if I’ve ever mention this, I am horrifically superstitious. I believe that when my right eye twitches, it’s good and when my left eye twitches, uh oh, better watch out.
Well, my left eye’s been twitching since Saturday morning. I was so worried that I might mess up on someone’s tax return. Fortunately, I didn’t. Throughout the entire weekend, my left eye’s been twitching and twitching. Just when I was going crazy worried, my right eye started twitching, which is great news. I relaxed for a second and that was when my left eye would start again.
Believe it or not, my left eye is still twitchy and it’s making me incredibly nervous wondering what the heck is going to happen. My mom said maybe I just need more sleep. If I have more sleep than the amount I’m getting now, I’d be chubby again.
This morning, I woke up to this…
…as compare to this from early February.
What a difference, right? I like snow, we need the water but of all the days to snow, why today? Why does it have to snow when I have to go to school? Also, why couldn’t the weathermen predicted this? I swear, when I watched the weather two days ago, it said there wouldn’t be a storm for days. Either there’s a problem with the weathermen’s machines or this storm was really as unpredictable as it seemed.
This is the view from my bedroom window. You see that thing with the antenna sticking out? That’s my car, temporarily evicted from the garage to house my rich friend’s expensive European “toy” car. There was at least 3 or 4 inches accumulated by the time I went outside this morning. It took me 15 minutes to get the snow from the windows. When I got into the car again, I realized the windows were covered with snow again. Frankly, I was running out of time.
I turned on the heat and melt the snow to the best of my ability while I listened to the traffic on the radio. Everywhere’s stop-n-go traffic, the broadcaster announced and right at the top of my head, I knew I couldn’t take my usual route down Highway 89. I can’t get through the canyons in this weather. I also knew I-15 wouldn’t be an option either. It’s been about two months since the last snow storm and people drive like a maniac here especially with the increased speed.
There’s only one route left to take, the slowest and it involves me driving through 4 or 5 cities at 40 mph. It was a smart decision, I thought even though it’s almost the same as the freeway. With the slick road, I couldn’t really go more than 30 mph. I was stuck in stop-n-traffic for about 30 minutes and didn’t get to school until almost 2 hours later. A normal 15 minutes commute had taken me almost 2 hours, can you believe it? I’m just so glad I didn’t get into an accident or skid off the road, or worse, die. Then my mom will really be the one who’s doing this prompt (writing my obituary).
The Outcome of Having “Friends”
Daily Prompt: A writer once said, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” If this is true, which five people would you like to spend your time with?
Whoever said that is completely full of it. But if this was true, I’ll bet words like introvert and shy will not exist just like I wasn’t so kept to myself when I was in middle school. Oh yes, we are going back to middle school again because it was middle school that made me who I am today, not high school.
In middle school, I surrounded myself with the smartest people in the entire school or the 40% student population that’s Asian. I am talking straight A’s and never took a test that resulted in less than 90%. These guys and gals were great at everything – math, science, language arts, and even PE. I thought if I hung out with them long enough, their smartness and coolness will rub off onto me (that’s obviously not true).
In 6th and 7th grade, I hung out with them almost every minute of everyday, except weekends and when school’s out, you get my point. They stopped hanging out with me after the first several weeks. This tend to happen with people like me – people with not much to offer. I suspect they grew tired of me though because I wasn’t smart enough for their “group”. Too late, you’ve already introduce me to everyone you know.
Soon, I became something of an incessant shadow, always want in on the action. I don’t know why I even both to do that. They don’t even like me. Oh yes I do!
There was this theory I worked out when I was in 2nd grade, I still believe in it partially. The theory is if you shadow someone long enough, you’ll become more like them. And that was exactly what I wanted. I wanted to be smarter, cooler, have more friends, part of the crowd, all of it, just not the being an a** part which is exactly what they were.
It didn’t work. I think as time went on, I became more and more like a virus. Whenever I walked near the group, they immediately moved away like they unconsciously found themselves standing under a beehive and just now hear the buzzing. It made me feel awful and sad and one day, I even heard them call me annoying like I wasn’t even there.
In 8th grade, I decided. Why should I change for this people? They aren’t worth it. From then on, I kept mostly to myself. Eat lunch alone or with whoever’s sitting next to me in the cafeteria. Eventually though, I did have a couple of new students that had just arrived in the U.S. with hardly any knowledge of the English language. They wanted to be follow me around, be in my own little group of one and together, we became friends.
In 2007, when Facebook was in and Myspace was out, the group of smarta** that called me annoying, sent me friend requests. I wanted to deny each and every one of them the privilege to be my friend again. I almost said FU to the computer.
Why should I be your friends when you spent a majority of 7th and 8th grade teasing and bullying me? Am I that friend that exist only when you want something?
Unfortunately, the part of me that really really really want to be part of the “cool Asian group” again took over and I had hit the accept button. Ugh, I hate that part of me.
Oh well, it’s not like I use Facebook much or anyone’s listening to what I say on there anyway.
Five Photos – Five Stories Day 5
I told you we are going back today, didn’t I? This picture was taken on December 21, 2001 and it brings back great memory when I look at it. Continue reading “Five Photos – Five Stories Day 5”
Five Photos – Five Stories Day 4
We are once again going back in time. Continue reading “Five Photos – Five Stories Day 4”
Five Photos – Five Stories Day 3
Okay, I officially feel like I am going back in time with this challenge. The first day, I featured a picture that was taken last year, day 2 (yesterday), a picture from 2012, and now, for day 3, Continue reading “Five Photos – Five Stories Day 3”
Five Photos – Five Stories Day 2
I actually remembered taking this picture. Continue reading “Five Photos – Five Stories Day 2”
Five Photos – Five Stories Day 1
I’d like to thank Priceless Joy for nominating me for the Five Photos-Five stories challenge, where I post five photos, five stories, each day for five days. Continue reading “Five Photos – Five Stories Day 1”
The Wedding Bells Part 15 (Flash Fiction Chain #6)
Jithin, PhoTrablogger, the host of Flash Fiction Chain, had decided to continue the previous flash fiction chain due to an inconclusive ending. The following parts are inspired by the above image. Due to her busy schedule, Priceless Joy has asked me to write Part 15 of the chain and since she had asked so kindly, I couldn’t refuse.
Character List :
- Anna Brighton- 32 year old CEO who owns and runs a publishing company
- Alex Burns – well established author, Anna’s ex, Toby Blackwell’s cousin
- Toby Blackwell – co-owns the Blackwell estate, Alex’s cousin
Other characters:
- Jenny- Anna’s secretary
- Melissa Doyle –the bride, Anna’s dear friend
- Harrison – Melissa’s fiance.
Recommendation:
If you’re not caught up, may I recommend you to read the previous part before venturing this part.
- Sona
- Click here
- Priceless Joy
- Frenesthetist
- Dr. KO
- Sweety
- Itchy Quill
- I-Read
- First Draft
- Soul n Spirit
- Phaena Says
- The Stardust Elephant
- Sona
- Click Here
Now onto #15
“H-hi,” Anna stammered at the sight of the man on the other side of the door. It took a second for her to notice his bruised lip and cheek and all of a sudden, she was speechless. She cleared her throat. “Alex, wh-what are you doing here?”
Alex shoved his hands in his jeans pockets and shrugged and then followed by a light chuckle. “I just want to check to see if you’re okay and I’m sorry for what happened yesterday what with…”
“Oh, no yesterday wasn’t your fault.”
“But how are you? I’ve been worrying about you all night.”
Really, Anna wanted to ask but instead, she replied. “Oh, I’m fine, just fine.” His eyes wandered while she stared awkwardly at the wooden floor and wondered. Can Alex be it? Is he the person I’d been wanting to fall for all along?
“So, you want some breakfast?” He nodded in the direction of the kitchen and smiled. “The caterers’ gone which means I can finally show you what I can do.”
Anna laughed. “I’ll be the judge of that.” She shut the bedroom door behind her and followed Alex down the hallway to the kitchen.
The caterers had managed to pack up and leave within minutes after the wedding. Upon her arrival in the kitchen, Anna was amazed at the transformation. She remembered when she arrived three days ago, the kitchen was a complete mess, flour and egg shell were all over the beautiful granite counter-tops and even the beautiful porcelain tile floor was dusted with flour and powder sugar. Alex pulled a skillet from the rack above the range. “So what would you like?”
Anna sat down on the other side of the counter and rested her hands under her chin. “Hmm, what can you cook?” Alex went to the fridge and grabbed the carton of eggs. He transferred it to the counter when they heard a blood-curdling scream. Alex froze and Anna jumped off the stool. “What’s that?”
Alex swallowed. “I think it’s coming from upstairs.”
At the landing, a maid rushed to them. “What’s wrong?” Anna asked.
The maid shrieked frightfully, “He’s dead!” She cried.
Chills crawled up Anna’s spine as her heart hammered. “Who’s dead?”
The maid led them down the corridor and pointed at the library. The door stood ajar. Anna slowly pushed the door open and gasped. Lying face-down in the middle of the room was Toby. She covered her mouth, shocked. Was this after the fight? She pondered as she entered the room.
Moving closer like she wasn’t afraid, she clenched her fists and bent over his bodies. Who would do this to him? She skimmed over his ruffled blond hair and slightly ripped jacket. Something caught her sight. In the middle of his back was a small hole. This wasn’t not a bullet hole, she was sure for she’d seen an actual bullet hole before. It was from something thinner but thicker than a needle. She scanned the room, hoping for a clue and there it was, lying on the other side of Toby’s lifeless body was a thin arrow. Its feather tip red and the pointy end was in the shape of a heart.
Uh oh, who could be Toby’s killer? Stay tune for the next part written by whoever it is.
16. Itchy Quill
17. Dr. KO
The Wedding Bells Part 14 (Flash Fiction Chain #6)
Jithin, PhoTrablogger, the host of Flash Fiction Chain, had decided to continue the previous flash fiction chain due to an inconclusive ending. The following parts are inspired by the above image. Continue reading “The Wedding Bells Part 14 (Flash Fiction Chain #6)”
This takes me back…
My step-dad was always big on music. I think me learning the piano was probably the proudest moment of his life. Continue reading “This takes me back…”
Secretive
Ah, finally, some peace and quiet. Continue reading “Secretive”
The Wedding Bells Part 2 (Flash Fiction Chain #6)
I am once again super excited to participate in this Flash Fiction Chain hosted by Jithin of PhoTrablogger. The following parts are inspired by the above image. Continue reading “The Wedding Bells Part 2 (Flash Fiction Chain #6)”
Teacher’s Pets
I used to be a teacher’s pet with my group of so-call friends back in 6th and 7th grade. Almost everyday at lunch, we’d go chat with our teacher like friends. Then after school, we’d go again to help clean the boards and tidy up the classroom. But then we sort of went our separate ways during 8th grade. Continue reading “Teacher’s Pets”
A Scene in my head
Brooke! Claire’s voice rang through Brooke’s head like the echo of a gong. She jumped and frantically looked around, searching the place the voice was coming from. Suddenly, she felt a sharp pain. It was like someone had pierced a thousand needle through her skull. She blinked, stumbling to the nearest object and held on.
“Brooke? What’s the matter?” James had raced to Brooke’s side followed by Rose and Sofia.
She shook her head. “Claire” was the only word she could manage.
James grabbed her arm and led her out into the dimly lit hallway. The girls followed behind. She leaned against a column. “What is it? What’s wrong with Claire?” James asked anxiously.
“Where is she?” Rose followed.
Brooke’s head felt heavy like a ton of bricks. She stumbled forward feeling unbalanced. Was whatever was happening to Claire affecting her too?
Brooke! Claire’s piercing scream sounded again.
“Find her.” James demanded in the same tone he had used when they were trying to find Claire in Zander’s maze of hallways.
“I know, I’m trying.” She replied, frustrated.
“Well, try harder.” His grip tightened and Brooke let out a whimper.
“Don’t push her. Can you see? She’s enough pain.” Rose pulled James’s arm away.
Blinded by the pain, Brooke fell forward. She felt her head hit the ground but her eyes remained open, frozen. She was blinded by the light before her. It was too much.
She used to be able to withstand pain, she remembered, no matter how tremendous and torturous. She remembered the pain she went through during those weeks when she was strapped down on Zander’s lab table, she survived that, didn’t she? That kind of pain was the kind that make people wish they could just die at that very moment.
But this? She realized. This was a pain far greater than anything she had ever endured and it’s too much. Whatever this is, please stop, she willed but it seemed only to intensify. No more no more, she begged.
Then another thought dawned on her. Is this what happens before death? The Great Slumber? The Sleep we shall never wake from?
This was written as part of the challenge “Write now…Yes Right Now” hosted by Photrablogger. The handwritten part, not the story obviously. Actually, the story was handwritten too but it’s been edited so many times that I don’t think anyone can read it.
Therefore I decided to write the title of this post in both English and Chinese (my native language) instead. I haven’t practiced my characters for a long long time, can’t remember the last time I’ve done it at least. Anyway, I hope you’ve enjoyed this short excerpt from something I’ve been working on.
The Tiny Soldier Part 3 (Flash Fiction Chain #5)
I am super excited to participate in this Flash Fiction Chain hosted by Jithin of PhoTrablogger. The following parts are inspired by the above image. Continue reading “The Tiny Soldier Part 3 (Flash Fiction Chain #5)”
Home At Last
It was a cold and snowy night. I can still remember this night horribly well because it was most likely the first time when I spent the whole drive home praying that I wouldn’t get into an accident.
Continue reading “Home At Last”
The Shadow on the Wall Part 10 (Flash Fiction Chain #4)
I am super excited to participate in this Flash Fiction Chain hosted by Jithin of PhoTrablogger. The following nine parts are inspired by the above image.
Character List :
Maggy: 19 year old Granddaughter of the Owner of the House
Robert: 27 year old House Cook
Steve: Fifty-something House Caretaker
Grandpa: Owner of the House (Dead and Bejeweled, Sacrificed as an experiment by Frank Somerset)
Frank Somerset: Mad Scientist and Maggy’s Grandfather
Nita: Narrator
Recommendation:
Read all the other nine parts before venturing this part.
Part 2 : Written by Travelling Hat
Part 4 : Written by Kelvin Moses
Part 8 : Written by Wandering Story Teller
Part 9 : Written at will by Rashmi
Now onto Part 10
“What happen next?” Nita’s cousin asked eagerly as she looked out the window, rain had begun to fall outside. Nita was pausing the story both for dramatic effect and the fact that she had no idea what happened next. She had no clue her hyper cousins would be so into the story.
She cleared her throat loudly, inhaled a deep breath, reached deep into her mind and continued…
Maggy smiled in her sleep. She rolled over and could feel the roughness of the hay. Her eyes burst opened and she bolted up, suddenly remembering everything from the previous night and how she’d come to be nestled among these hay. She glanced around and realized she was in the barn about two miles from the mansion.
Rob’s arms stretched high up in the air, his t-shirt pulled up revealing his lean abdomen. “Good morning.” Maggy said.
Rob turned around, a little startled, and smiled brilliantly. “Good morning to you too.”
“What’s for breakfast?” He blinked. “Oops, forgot.” She covered her mouth and giggled. It didn’t take long before they both burst into laughter.
Snap…
Their laughter ended abruptly when they heard that. Maggy gasped. “What was that?”
Rob pulled her up from the pile of hay they’ve been sleeping on. “Come on.” Quietly, they made their way to the back of the barn and hid themselves behind a thick stack of hay.
Footsteps entered the barn, sets of footsteps, Maggy could differentiate. She was sure she knew who they belonged to but she needed reassurance. She turned to Rob with pleading eyes. Can you see who it is? Her look told him. He nodded and slowly inched forward to get a look at the intruders. When he did, he immediately sprang back. Maggy opened her mouth. Is it them? She was going to ask but Rob threw his hand over her mouth. “Shh,” he whispered quietly and guided her out the back door.
The moment they’re out, Rob pulled his hand from her mouth and they broke off in a sprint. Rob was a quick runner but Maggy, on the other hand, was running out of breath. At the bottom of the hill, Maggy stopped, her hands rested on her knees. She panted. “Rob…wait.”
Ahead, Rob continued running but he soon realized Maggy was no longer behind him. Maggy? He thought, stopped, and looked back. Maggy was at least a hundred yards behind. She was kneeling on the grass, panting. His eyes shifted from her to something in the distance. Two figures stumbling toward her. Good lord, he thought. They’re coming.
Maggy stared at him as his expression quickly shifted to anxious and worried. He waved his arm frantically, motioning her to go toward him quickly.
Maggy turned around and gasped. Frank and Steve were staggering quickly toward her. She turned back to Rob who was already jogging toward her. She was caught in the middle. She picked her up and began jogging toward Rob but her legs were like jelly. Jeez, pick it up, won’t ya. She urged her legs.
Her stomach growled from hunger and her heart pounded in her ears both from panic and exhaustion. She stretched her hand toward him but when they were just a finger away, she felt a triple sting in the small of her back. The remaining strength in her legs suddenly felt completely drained as everything before her swirled. Her knees fell on the grass as her eyelids drooped.
Faintly before the darkness gave way, she saw Rob fell to his knees as well, the end of three red darts stuck out of his left shoulder.
This is Another Story 