The re-write of my second book, Melting Hearts, Sunburns and Tanlines is coming out soon, so I decided to contrast the long-form fiction of the book with this extremely short fiction challenge!
It’s also not a coincidence that there’s 10 weeks of summer left and 10 stories here. Feel free to read 1 a week to give yourself a micro-dose of summer antics – with a dark twist!
Or, read them all now and then end your summer by (re-) enjoying my second book!
Written: 26.06.18
NFF
1. What a scorcher! He kicked the door to his motel room closed as he wiped sweat off his face. At least I’ve got… his thoughts trailed off as the AC made a terrible crunching noise before bursting into flames.
2. “My ice cream tastes funny.”
The ice cream man leaned a little further out over his counter in, using his free hand to slide the cooler door closed, smile faltering slightly as it caught on the wrist of the dead body, “It’s just a new recipe, that’s all.”
3. “Somebody, anybody – help!”
The lifeguard checked his watch as he heard the commotion that was happening on the other side of the pool and shrugged, “I’ve still got 5 minutes of break left.”
4. She held her hand up over her mouth in an attempt to keep her laughter at bay as her husband walked in – he was was practically glowing, his skin was so red.
He noticed her face as he flopped down on the couch with a defeated frown, “I did forget the sunscreen.”
5. He couldn’t take his eyes off her as she walked out in the new bikini, “I-I think I love you.”
That earned him a chuckle and she waved a dismissive hand as she turned to look at herself in the dressing room mirror, “Guess that means I’ll take it.”
6. The mom’s face lit up with a confused smile as her three-year-old came running back over to where she was sitting, “Where’s Daddy?”
The toddler presented a single flip-flop that was spattered with blood, before pointing out toward the water, “Swim.”
7. His eyes bulged out as he fell to his knees, weakly reaching out to grasp at her skirt with one hand while the other pounded itself into his chest.
She moved a few steps backward as she watched him choke and frowned at him with feigned confusion, “I thought you said you liked grapes with women?”
8. The toddler’s bottom lip poked out as he took in the expression on his mother’s face. He turned back to the freezer that held the family dog and shifted his weight – maybe Daddy was kidding when he talked about making a dog-sicle?
9. “Baby, I’m so sorry!” He rushed over to his girlfriend, boulder settling into his stomach as he watched her pick the broken bits of balloon off her now-soaked shirt.
She swatted his hands away as she took a few steps over to the bucket of water balloons that was sitting on the lawn, unable to keep the smirk off her face as she sent a wink to his friends, “It’s okay, Baby – I’m not mad.”
10. He trudged through the door, shaking his head in defeat – sighing as sand fell from it. He made it inside and let out a deflating sigh as he tossed the un-used knife onto the side table, I’ll try again next year.
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