The Symbol of Civilization

He was proud to represent his nation at the first reestablished Olympics. Standing at the starting blocks he admired the sea of humanity that gathered to watch. His event would start the games that demonstrated that mankind was bigger than his hate for himself; that mankind had indeed clawed its way out of the dark days of war and ashes and that civilization would conquer chaos. He had been born long after the Year of Fire and the desolation of the seas. His sport had been reconstructed from pictures and old stories as one of the first Olympic sports.

The starter pistol fired. Clutching the burlap at his waist, he leapt forward in giant bounds, focusing on the goal, ignoring the athletes that fell, legs tangled in their sacks. He jumped ahead knowing they envied his bounding strength and grace. As he hopped near the finish line, he thought to himself, “This race is in the bag!”

Posted for Flash Friday vol2-#9
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Update: So honored to receive an honorable mention for this one!

Clam Digging with Little Jon

Jon spent the morning in the hot sun digging clams on the island.  Maybe this trip would bring some happiness back.  Their life was a drab, joyless haze since the fever took their son.  He didn't fear the ghost stories about the island.  He came because of them.  Jon thought sorrowfully of digging with Little Jon on this same beach.

Contraband

Story Prompt

In the end it was a good that the Hat Head Club drank our own water.  Teachers just ignored us when we complained about the taste of the fountain.  It was Monday and the HHC was meeting near the fountain.  All five of us wearing our crazy, custom knitted hats and watching the gym class let out, each kid taking turns gulping the water, making a face, and turning away.

Sarah gave us the new hats she had finished.  Mine was an owl!  She knew it was my favorite.  Jenny got the three eyed alien, Sasha the panda, and Mica now had spiky, yellow, yarn hair.  We giggled over our new prizes, fawning over Sarah’s gifts.  Then Mica’s face turned serious as she covertly handed us each a bottle of water like it was contraband.  We nodded solemnly reminded of the reason for our hats, our solidarity with Mica’s baldness.

Friday Flash Fiction Entry at: http://flashfriday.wordpress.com/2013/10/04/flash-friday-44/comment-page-1/#comment-5130

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Knock me over with a feather. There were so many excellent moving and entertaining entries, I am humbled that I should be picked. Thank you to the judge Beth Peterson and our host Rebekah Postupak. http://flashfriday.wordpress.com/winners/ben-miller/

Cool! An official interview and everything: http://flashfriday.wordpress.com/2013/10/09/sixty-seconds-with-ben-miller/

Deep Space Hunger

The ship deftly rounded the spinning asteroid sighting the alien cruiser as it attempted to elude

Week 84 Honorable Mention

destruction.  The photon capacitors discharged into space and the fleeing vessel blossomed into oblivion.   The black of space consumed the explosion with a quick snap.

“Nice shooting B9”, squelched the tinny voice over the radio.

“Thanks C7, you keep flushing ‘em out and I’ll take ‘em down.”  He replied performing a nose over and reversing direction in less than a heartbeat avoiding the spreading debris.  “This never gets old.”