Tag: story

Daily Flash Fiction Challenge 25: The Fisherman’s Son

This is the 25th in a series of 365 Flash Fiction stories I’m writing. You can find out more about the challenge here.

The Fisherman’s Son, by Jonathan L. Lawrence, 26th December 2012

Word count: 876

Theme: father and son, bonding, learning the ropes, the paths of our fathers, sci fi, civilian sci fi

The story:

“Okay, let’s just fix that right there, shall we?” the captain said with fatherly tenderness.

Jack just looked at him, he was eight but didn’t say much. This was the first time his father had taken him out on his old boat.

“Fix that line!” the Captain shouted down to the deck. Jack looked out over the railing, down below men scattered around fixing cables in place.

“All set for star drive, Captain,” the first mate said.

“Course set?” Captain asked his first mate.

“Alpha Centauri, on the slow route,” the first mate confirmed.

“The word is go,” the captain said, then turned to his son, “Okay I want you to hold on to this handle, it’s going to be a bumpy, and it’s always scary the first time you go to star drive.”

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The Christmas Fic – Daily Flash Fiction Challenge 24: Santa’s Lost sock

This is the 24th in a series of 365 Flash Fiction stories I’m writing. You can find out more about the challenge here.

Santa’s Lost Sock, by Jonathan L. Lawrence, 25th December 2012

Word count: 956

Theme: Christmas, children, wonder, adventure, santa claus

The story:

It was the night before Christmas, well you know the drill. Jolly Old Saint Nick was doing his international rounds, even with the special stop watch that let him stop time, every year it got harder and harder. Santa though never gave in, he would be doing this until the end of time.

He was currently flying Algeria, stopping at every home on his list, gaining entry by a multitude of means, but ideally through the chimney if one was present. He was the ultimate traditionalist after all, and the magic dust allowed him to squeeze down a chimney easily.

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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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Daily Flash Fiction Challenge 18: Crewing the Spaceways

This is the 18th 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.

Crewing the Spaceways, by Jonathan L. Lawrence, 19th December 2012

Word count: 773

Theme: sci fi, star ship, memoirs of a space pirate, the small details, exploring a point, understanding

The story:

“Right, you take the left bank of the cooling systems, I’ll take the right,” the engineer, Chief Rawlings said to his young apprentice.

“What I don’t understand,” the apprentice, John Bernard started.

“What you don’t understand could fill a billion volumes of the Encyclopaedia Britannia,and still need an extra forest for more paper,” the engineer said snappily.

“I’m sorry I said anything,” John said, feeling embarrassed. It was his first day on the job, and only his third hour into the shift, and Captain Arsené Frassin had already called duty stations to alert, there was something going on, not that anyone would tell John what. ‘For a pirate ship, sorry privateer ship, they were as tight lipped as any military star ship,’ he thought to himself.

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Daily Flash Fiction Challenge 17: The Clarion Challenge

This is the 17th 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.

Stitched Up, by Jonathan L. Lawrence, 18th December 2012

Word count: 1,000

Theme: sport, the one, hero, rugby league, dreams

The story:

“You’re in the big leagues now son,” coach Gilbert was saying.

“Thank you, thank you, I won’t let you down!” replied the young man by the name of Lee Brignall gushed. He’d just been told he was going to be in the starting line up for this Saturday’s match against the Warriors. It was a dream come true for the young Leeds Rhino.

Prop forward in a Super League XXV game, against the defending champions. He knew this was his big break, so he trained solidly for two days, before Gregory Matthews, current Captain of the Rhinos pulled him to one side.

“You need to take it easy. You’ve got a great work ethic, but save some for the game. We don’t want you injured or exhausted do we?”

Lee Bruce took it to heart and reigned himself in, he followed his training schedule and socialised better with the team.

“Sure the kid’s going to be alright?” Matthews asked away from prying ears.

“He’s got talent, just needs discipline,” Gilbert said. “He’s got something the crowd will love, an eagerness. He’ll help us win back the crowds again, and we need them.”

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Daily Flash Fiction Challenge 16: Stitched Up

This is the 16th 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.

Stitched Up, by Jonathan L. Lawrence, 17th December 2012

Word count: 977

Theme: crime, revenge, suspense

The story:

Twenty years, that’s how long it’s been, twenty long years in prison.

Now I’m out, and staying out is proving far harder than I expected. I used to be the man with the plan, and I was worth my weight in gold. Then the people that hire me, they turned on me, set me up for the big fall.

First degree murder.

I’m in admiration of the plan, really, they had me break into the scene of the crime, while the real murderer used my escape route to get out, leaving me shafted, covered in the dead man’s blood holding the weapon, after I foolishly tried to save him.

I protested my innocence of course, for a while. Then I agreed to plead guilty in exchange for leniency. The judge threw that out because I wasn’t confessing to enough murders, there were several other murders with the same MO. Lovely.

Now I’m out and most of the faces I see are young ones, except for the three following me down across Oxford Circus. I might be rusty, but these were amateurs, I recognised one though which was enough to tell me this wasn’t the cops.

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