11. In Obscurity, There is Protection
_“*Darkness* has always been on my side. What use have I ever had for the light, aside for its defining the borders of my zone of protection? Blackness keeps…
As Large as Alone
77 stories written on Ficly, 2012–2014, shared under CC BY-SA 3.0. Their page on ficly.com
Poetry on My Daughter's Poem (Repost because it's not a sequel)
*POEM* on my Daughter’s Poem Laughter, Daughter? Aught? A poem! Just the gift I’m after, dear. Ring joy to the rafter here: Sonnets? Iambs? Yeah, I know ’em…
10. The Problem with Eternal Reward/Punishment
*Death*, I’ve learned, was the cue that the Judge was waiting for. I don’t know if His decision was based on all the facts, or a few selected tidbits, but I…
9. Finally, my Solo!
*Pride* was something I never had much of, for my own part. I was proud of my parents, proud of my siblings and friends. I was always waiting for the moment I…
8. ZXooomed!
*Speed* increases as I hurtle my way downwards towards my incipient concussion with some as-yet-unseen ground. At least, I assume there will be something hard…
7. Cramped
*Space* is limited here in the box. It reminds me of the other boxes I left behind. The bullies’ spaces, after dying. Like this glass compartment, a viewing…
6. Powers of Communication; Powers of Imagination
*Test* your powers of imagination further, traveler. It doesn’t matter that you’re an apparition of my imagination now, settle down. Stay. I’ve no one else to…
Gamble
I am one of the chosen people. I have also decided to accept this and to live a life of honor. It’s not always easy. I’m a lucky fellow; always have been…
Larry's Suspension of Disbelief
Row by row, the image formed. Since her leg was not a flat surface, it was distorted. This could be seen as symbolic: mysterious shards of the complete works…
Hospital Corners
Ma always demanded that my brother and I set everything to rights each morning when we were kids. The desk had to be neat and tidy, the floor clear of…
Cheerfulness
I used to be happy most of the time, but that changed this spring when Pa found my collection, the bits of rats, I had stashed behind the woodstove. He locked…
"Made:" Awful, Damning Evidence!
I’ve hated “made” since I was a bonny maid of 8. Me and my mate, Matt Maitland, made fun of “made” in school, till Ma warned me she’d make me meet my Maker if…
Rekempt
My hair’s a tangled, icky mess, My beard grows all askew. My shirt’s untucked; my frilly dress Has coffee-stains...a few. I need to wash and brush my stuff My…
The Literal-Minded Seashore Bartender
I went to my favorite seaside saloon and my friend the barkeep asked me, “What’ll you have, Tom?” Just then, my phone rang and I had to answer it; it was my…
Miss Muffet's Breakfast Club
The spider crawled back up the trunk of the apple tree. She was itching for a rematch. Finally Molly Muffet returned to her favorite spot. She still carried…
Letter-Imperfect
I’m dyslexic; sometimes I mix words up. I know this, but it still bothers me when people point it out. Today tops the list, though; my computer told me I had…
End of a Grand Tradition
I want to welcome you all to our annual talent show and contest. This is the 59th year of the series, and it is sure to be among the greatest. Personally I’m…
Humpbacks at the Boardwalk
*Question:* Why did the whales start eating the boardwalk? *Answer:* Because the planks of the boardwalk weigh 2000 pounds, and as everyone knows, a whale…
Old Friends on the Sidewalks of New York
Seth Goldstein and Solomon Goodrich, who grew up in New York on the East End, were talking together at a cafe on Broadway about their old times in New York…
"Wicked Taxidermist" Film Pitch
Tom is a wicked taxidermist who works with a wildlife preserve, pretending to love animals but secretly killing some, always keeping a trophy for his home when…