“Jenni Plochka?” the worn woman in a pink bathrobe read the card in a harsh, tobacco and booze voice. The blue “Vacancy” flashed through her cigarette smoke. She frowned suspiciously. “Don’t get many BMWs here.”
“Just wanna crash. Gotta bed?”
“OK. But we paintin’ and wirin’, so th’only room is an old one at the end.”
Cover for Anthology #1
WE are close to publishing!
Well – we have a new plan of action – publish a volume of 3 stories on iBooks for 99¢.
1- The Room
2- Pool Hall Scene
3- The Bottle of Tokaj
Plus Katrin’s great illustrations, and photos from Malcolm Manness.
Here is at Katrin’s amazing cover (draft)
(Literary/Contemporary — 1845 words)
University student Gretta returns returns home to find that her roommate has opened a very special bottle of wine.
———-
The usual January drizzle greeted Gretta as she left the bus depot and walked to her bicycle. She clipped her pack to the bike’s rack, pulled her knit cap over her dark hair and started home. As the day slowly brightened, she was thinking of hot tea.
…
When her companion took in a sudden sharp breath and looked down at the table, Jill sensed that something was very wrong even though she could not see Gretta biting her lip. “Uh-oh!” she exclaimed.
…
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(Contemporary — 1316 words)
In 1976, a buch of hippie tree planters invade a small mill town in Idaho. There they receive an interesting welcome.
A group of old timers and a few kids sat around the campfire. A couple of fresh logs were tossed on, sending a rush of sparks up to the sky. Robbie Richards pushed back his grey hair, and stretched his long boots towards the fire. Someone handed him a fresh bottle of Porter, and he began his story. The others, young and old turned towards him.Dusk was setting in and the rain was pouring down like there was no tomorrow as Tim Booty and me turned onto route 14 outa Grangeville and headed toward Elk City in spring of ‘76. Tim was driving his dusty old green Saab 96. That thing had more creaks and rattles in it than an old horse buggy, but she ran just fine. Man it was coming down!
Now in 1976, that road to Elk City was not paved at all, so it took us well over two hours to go that forty-five miles of dips and turns and foot-deep pot holes as we snaked along the South Fork of the Clearwater. …
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(Contemporary — 720 words)
“I am supposed to be her boyfriend, yet she would rather play solitaire than spend time with me.” the narrator exclaims as his girlfriend continues with her computer game after he comes home. This sets the tone for the rest of the evening.
———-
“Come in! The door’s open.”
I walked into the apartment, down the short hallway to the living room, and stopped behind the faded green sofa. Suzie sat in the far corner, a flickering green light echoing off her fleshy, pale face. Her sandy blonde hair brushed her chunky shoulders as she looked over, gave a begrudging smile, then turned back to her game of solitaire. …
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(Urban Fantasy — 912 words)
Rich-kid Jenni Plochka checks into a cheap motel on the run from her latest diva-tragedy. She is running from her demons, but can she hide?
———-
“Jenni Plochka?” Dressed in a faded, pink bathrobe, the worn woman read from the card in her booze-and-tobacco harshened voice. The blue neon “Vacancy” flashed through her cigarette smoke. …
…
The Room is included in Anthology #1
This story is my first entry into Tin House’s Plotto Contest.
(Urban Fantasy — 499 words)
Martin Pechowski looked around the dim, underground soup kitchen, with its sad, assorted cast of castoff street characters, sitting at the round, dark formica-topped tables. He hoisted loose fitting pants, took his plate to the bus tray. He smiled faintly at the pretty young volunteer, took the chocolate brownie she offered as he headed up the stairs.
In the entryway, several boxes were being tossed onto a long table. First dibs, he thought.
…
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50 Cents Flash Fiction 