Tag: drama

Daily Flash Fiction Challenge 56: Imperial Spirit

This is the 56th a series of 365 Flash Fiction stories I’m writing. You can find out more about the challenge here.

Imperial Spirit, by Jonathan L. Lawrence, 26th January 2012

Word count: 856

Theme: race, motor racing, sport, underdog, down to the wire, photo finish, drama

The story:

“You’ll have to manage with fourth,” Rossi said over the radio into Julian’s helmet.

“Easy for you to say,” Julian retorted as he cambered left for the sweeping corner.

“You’re twenty seven seconds up on Garner, just keep it clean and bring the car home,” Rossi instructed.

Julian didn’t reply, he settled into the fight off the championship, this race wouldn’t decide who got the trophy, but it could easily decide who didn’t.

The damaged Mercedes thundered down the straight coming out of the corner, but quickly became the sound of a dying gear box as it tried to find fifth.

Through the next corner Julian barely braked, he wasn’t carrying enough speed to afford the luxury. He sped over the home straight towards the start-finish line and started his final lap.

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Daily Flash Fiction Challenge 23: Never Stop Moving

This is the 23rd in a series of 365 Flash Fiction stories I’m writing. You can find out more about the challenge here.

Never Stop Running, by Jonathan L. Lawrence, 24th December 2012

Word count: 684

Theme: drama, challenge, focus, determination, super human feat

The story:

“Oppa Gangham Style! Oppa Gangham Style!” Gary hated that ring tone, Susan who sat opposite him in the office thought it was hilarious to mess with his phone when he was away from his desk.

“Hello, Gary speaking,” he said cutting off that awful ring tone.

A few moments went by, everyone in the office was watching.

“Shit! Now?” another pause, “I’m on my way.”

“Go time, boss?” Susan asked as Gary slammed his phone in his coat pocket, then put the cost in.

“Yeah, I gotta go. Tell Julia for me,” Gary said, not waiting for confirmation before he flew out the door.

He got to the side of the small office, only to find his car clamped.

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Daily Flash Fiction Challenge 22: Darwin Lane

This is the 22nd in a series of 365 Flash Fiction stories I’m writing from 2nd December 2012 until the 1st December 2013. It’s intent is to keep me writing throughout the year, and not just in November. you can find out more about the challenge here.

Darwin Lane, by Jonathan L. Lawrence, 23rd December 2012

Word count: 727

Theme: dystopia, mutants, false accusation, pieces in a game

The story:

“I don’t really know how I do it,” Johnson claimed.

“Yeah sure, I know what you freaks are capable of these days,” the sergeant said snarling.

“I really don’t,” the young man protested, “I never wanted to be one of those freaks.”

There was a top on the police interview room’s door. The sergeant walked out, there were mutterings, and Johnson thought he heard someone exclaim, “Son of a Bitch Human Fucking Right Activists”.

The sergeant came back in, “I’d through the god damn book at you, the library that it was sitting in,” he said still snarling, “But it appears your fellow freaks are kicking up a stink. I hope you all have a really good time together,” somehow Johnson felt he didn’t mean this.

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Daily Flash Fiction Challenge 21: Dialgog

This is the 21st in a series of 365 Flash Fiction stories I’m writing from 2nd December 2012 until the 1st December 2013. It’s intent is to keep me writing throughout the year, and not just in November. you can find out more about the challenge here.

Dialgog, by Jonathan L. Lawrence, 22nd December 2012

Word count: 999

Theme: racing, drama, misbehaving, cheating, horse, horse racing

The story:

“You stupid son of a bitch,” Max Butcher said hitting the sick looking jockey with a newspaper.

“It wasn’t my fault,” Gary Cloves said trying to duck, and looking even more sick for the attempt.

“We’ve got a race meeting tomorrow, you know the sodding thing that pays for all this,” Max gestured.

“It must have been bad sea food,” Gary moaned.

“Max, Max, stop hitting him. We’ll have to field another jockey,” said Simon Reeves, Max Butcher’s trainer.

Max turned away from the cowering Gary, “Who you got?”

“Me? I’ve only got kids right now,” Simon said, “We’ll have to reach out to another jockey.”

“Shit, like I have that kind of money,” Max said. “Any of your kids got talent?”

“Of course, but not enough for a big meet like this,” Simon said, “Besides they’re too young to be legal.”

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Daily Flash Fiction Challenge 20: The Wheel of Life

This is the 20th in a series of 365 Flash Fiction stories I’m writing from 2nd December 2012 until the 1st December 2013. It’s intent is to keep me writing throughout the year, and not just in November. you can find out more about the challenge here.

Banquet for the Lost, by Jonathan L. Lawrence, 21st December 2012

Word count: 999

Theme: drama, gambling, holiday, letting loose

The story:

Peter Simmons was a careful man, usually, he didn’t gamble, didn’t risk. Life was too precious to waste. So how he came to be in a casino gambling on his life on a roll of the dice was somewhat out of character.

It all started three days ago, he’d had to come to the South of France on work business. For some reason his boss felt he was the perfect person to go to buy up a collection of rare wines.

“Safe pair of hands,” his boss had noted, it somehow irked him more than it should. The fact he was being forced to take a weeks leave as well, (“You’ve got too many holidays unused, everyone needs time off”), only added to the annoyance.

Was this his life? Safe pair of hands? Something inside him just clicked, and so he went to France determined to enjoy himself on the company’s dime.

That wasn’t so easy, outside of work and his books, Peter had little else. So he did the most obvious thing, he went to a vineyard.

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Daily Flash Fiction Challenge 19: Banquet for the Lost

This is the 19th in a series of 365 Flash Fiction stories I’m writing from 2nd December 2012 until the 1st December 2013. It’s intent is to keep me writing throughout the year, and not just in November. you can find out more about the challenge here.

Banquet for the Lost, by Jonathan L. Lawrence, 20th December 2012

Word count: 977

Theme: drama, families, atonement, reunion, discovery, history

The story:

Katherine smoothed off her red dress, though the material was sheer and seemed immune to creasing, it was a self concious act. Katherine felt seriously out of her depth right now.

“Relax, you’ll be fine I promise,” Luther said with that overly warm smile. He was a middle aged man with a German accent, he looked swathe in his perfectly fitted tuxedo, gold cuff links  and just the barest hint of cologne. He was also a bloody good salesman, and Katherine would know she considered herself as a pretty good one, yet he’d been able to convince her, a perfect stranger to come to this fancy dinner party.

“Maybe I should go, I don’t fit in here,” she said, and it was true. As people filed in they wore the expensive clothes and jewellery with ease, most seemed middle aged, and well preserved.

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