The rain fell sideways as the storm winds whipped through the Portland streets. Twenty-four year old Donald, his curly black hair flapping wildly, followed three others hurrying into the downtown Starbucks where, clothes dripping, they all joined the long line of late morning caffeine hounds.

Donald grimaced and bit his lip impatiently at the sight of the line. Then he sighed and pulled out his iPad. On his bus ride in, he had downloaded a new Flash Fiction story for fifty cents. He opened it as the line edged forward, and read:

…

— (598 words)