Flitterfic

  1. Inside Frisbee

    “Mommy, why is there glass in front of the TV?” “It’s to keep the little people inside,” she answered sagely, amusing herself. “Oh. What would happen if they got out?” “They’re very bad people,” she told him. “That’s why they have to stay in there and put on shows for everyone.” “Oh.” He stared at the screen, wide-eyed. Later, he was playing Inside Frisbee with his friend Jaron. They weren’t supposed to play it anymore. The Frisbee hit the TV and there was a sharp cracking...
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  2. Pot o' Gold

    “I’ve caught you!” cried Jerry exultantly. “Aye, ye have.” Jerry didn’t relax his grip on the little man’s ankle. “Now I get the pot of gold, right?” “Aye.” The leprechaun flipped a page of the magazine he’d been reading – The Economist – and puffed at his meerschaum pipe. “Aren’t you upset?” “Ach, laddie,” the wee man chuckled, “ye have no idea. But ye’ll learn…” When Jerry awoke, the first thing he noticed was the huge pot of shining gold pieces. He picked up his little...
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  3. Slow and Steady

    “Slowpoke! Ha! You’ll never catch me, not in a million billion years! You couldn’t catch a cold!” The Hare danced about, shouting similar taunts and jibes, as the Tortoise carefully placed another foot in front of him. The dirt kicked up from the Hare’s gamboling made him cough. “Seeya, sucker!” And the Hare was gone, a disappearing dust cloud. Racoon sighed from the branch overhead. “I wish he’d lose.” “He will,” said Tortoise calmly. “Why? Because you’re slow but determined? I...
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  4. The Lady's Decision

    “He is a disgrace!” shouted the Lady. “Take him away.” The failed dancer was led outside by harsh hands, his jeweled codpiece glinting in the torchlight. “Mistress,” spoke one of the Soothed, bowing his shaved pate to the floor at her feet, “there is word. The nuatua is low; the shipment from Celeste has not arrived.” “How much remains?” “But two days’.” She considered. “Slaughter half of the Raging and feed them to the other half. That will give us nearly half a week.”...
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  5. The End of the World

    She gazed out of the cave entrance in considerable disappointment. She had been waiting for the end of the world. “That’s it?” she asked. “Just a little ‘pop’ and a few pretty lights?” No one answered her question, so she continued. “This is completely unacceptable,” she announced. “Someone is going to have to put things right.” No one volunteered to help, so she rolled up her sleeves and got to work. It was no wonder the world had ended so unimpressively. It hadn’t been much of...
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  6. The Captain

    Faltering, failing. He could not see. He could not hear. There was no time left; his lungs were wrecked, capsized, sinking. He staggered on, nerveless fingers fondling the walls for a guide. He left a trail, four red lines on the metal bulkhead. Whatever they had done to him, it had been bad. He could not see how bad it was, but he could feel. That is why his hands were red. The hallway went on forever. He had to reach the end. The ship must be turned aside. To think...
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  7. Toasters

    “I hate this job,” groaned Nortle. “Thirty seconds,” huffed Tarn, running on the little treadmill that powered the wind-maker. “I didn’t have to do this,” Nortle went on, poking half-heartedly at the fire. “I could have worked for the key-takers, or the ice-cube-tray-emptiers. But I thought I’d rather be helpful. It isn’t worth it. They take us for granted!” At the end of his strength, Tarn sagged. “We’re toasters,” he said. “We make toast.” Nortle knelt and grasped the lever....
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  8. Harold Shops Around

    “It’s not,” Harold began, “that I don’t appreciate the offer. I’m flattered, really. It’s just the price seems awfully steep.” The demon shrugged, its massive shoulders knocking cobwebs down from the rafters. “Quality is worth paying for. You could get a knockoff job for pennies on the dollar, sure, cheap imitation stuff. Real damnation is hard to find, these days. It’s all mass-produced, some factory in China.” “How’s the warranty?” “Eternity or ten thousand miles, whichever comes...
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  9. Toybox

    Jack-in-the-Box heaved himself upright. “You know I’m right,” he told the assembled toys. The Plastic Army Men murmured their discontent. “How can you be so sure?” the sergeant growled, leveling a tiny finger. “It’s psychology,” said Jack-in-the-Box. “He’ll grow old, and one day he’ll get nostalgic for his fond memories of childhood. They always do.” He-Man snorted. “I don't have any fond memories of his childhood. I spent half of it in the dog’s bowl.” “Right, right,” said...
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  10. Captivity

    The fly buzzed like a pager that had somehow grown wings, making soft tink-tink-tink sounds as it rebounded from the dirty dome light. More flies, smaller, baby flies, grandbaby flies, swarmed over the crusted remnants of his last meal. Another flimsy aluminum tray would be shoved through the slot in the door soon. Maybe. Maybe not. It was hard to tell time. He huddled in the corner, plucking at his rags. He tried to remember anything before the cell. He remembered the sudden light,...
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  11. Dial Tone

    (Forgot to post this yesterday, so today's a twofer!) “Hello?” Jess spread her toes and frowned while Beth answered the phone. The color didn’t look nearly as good now. “Hello?” Beth sighed in disgust and slammed the phone down. “What?” “The phone rings, but no one’s there. Like, every day.” “I read about this one lady who got, like, a phone call every five and they found out it was just some old automatic ordering computer that everyone’d forgotten about.” “Whatever....
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  12. Freedom

    Deep in the secret heart of the forests of Kel, there is a cavern. If a brave explorer penetrates the depths, he will find a spring. It is said that whoever drinks of the spring’s water will become truly free. Next to the spring there is a quiet man with a sword. The quiet man will explain what true freedom means. If the explorer declines to drink from the fountain, the swordsman will quietly cut off his head and mark a notch in his belt. Fifteen explorers have found the hidden cavern....
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  13. Laying Season

    “Why are you all so frightened?” she asked. “You’re new here,” replied a plump matron. “You don’t know.” “I’ve heard,” she said. “I’ve heard rumors from the other young ones.” Another female sighed. “I probably have children out there, but I’ve never met them.” “They take our children from us,” said the doyenne. “Thieves. Kidnappers. Murderers.” “Is it truly so horrible? We have food; we have warmth; we have shelter.” Before she could receive an answer, the door slammed...
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  14. Vern

    I had just pushed the doorbell when what I had thought was a decorative vine snaked down and wrapped around my neck. It squeezed, and I gasped for air. I clawed at it, coming away with sap under my fingernails. It lifted me up. I could feel the crushing pressure on my throat, my own weight strangling me. I kicked feebly, recalling stories of hanged men, dying slowly if their necks were not broken by the initial fall. The door opened. “Oh, dear,” said my friend. “Don’t you mind Vern....
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  15. Checking for Monsters

    “Daddy, check again!” Lilly clutched the blankets to her chin, her lip trembling. “There’s no monsters under the bed, sweetie. I promise you.” He knelt down, held her hand. “I’ll leave the light on all night, okay?” “Just look! I know they’re there!” She knew. She’d heard. He sighed. He leaned over, lifted the ruffled fringe. SNAP! He was gone. There was a crunching sound. The monster climbed out, grunting and snuffling. She cast a dismissive glance at Lilly, then turned and...
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