I'm a Flasher!

After my last lonnnng post, I decided to take it easy on you. Here goes:

Seven years ago, I joined several other bloggers who wrote what they referred to as a "Flash 55," a complete story using only fifty-five words! I did this four times in 2010, and since the stories are so short, I'm going to reprint all of them here and now, but not in their original order... as if it matters.

The first one I ever did was called "A Very Personal Flash 55," and is what I described as "an autobiographical work of fiction."

* * * * *

The Silver Fox sat down to write Friday's "Flash 55" post, to prove that he could be that brief. He thought, If I can just set my mind to it...

Unfortunately, there was one major, unanticipated stumbling block. His story remained unwritten. He couldn't decide whether the word count should include... "Thanks for your time."

* * * * *

Here's one called "Chickening Out."

* * * * *

"Chicken again?" he said to his wife. "Almost every night, chicken! Fried... roasted... chicken salad sandwiches... chicken soup...! How about a nice steak, or some pork chops?"

"Excuse my interruption..." said his wife. "The economy's been picking up. Did you bother looking for a job today?"

"Uhhh, no..."

"So, you were saying...?"

"Pass the chicken."

* * * * *

"The only thing that cannot successfully be put off until a later time is procrastination." -- David M. Lynch (and he -- okay, I -- oughtta know!)

In that spirit, I wrote another Flash 55, called "A Sucky Habit." It deals with a procrastinator named "Steven."

* * * * *

Lighting his cigarette, Steven thought, "What idiot first thought of inhaling the smoke of burning tobacco leaves?"

He debated "Googling" the answer, but... Steven tended to procrastinate.

He wondered if that unfortunate tendency would give him a chance to Google the subject, especially considering his recent talk with his doctor...

After Steven's last chest x-ray.

* * * * *

In the interests of full disclosure, I should probably mention that I leisurely puffed on a Pall Mall while I wrote the above. That was seven years ago. I quit smoking after my heart attack back in 2013,. The fourth anniversary of that heart attack is approaching. It's November 13th.

* * * * *

The very last Flash 55 I have for you is my personal favorite, entitled "Norman's Perfect Murder Scheme."

* * * * *

Norman wanted to kill Burt!

Burt had countless friends. (Potential witnesses!)

Burt inhabited an island cottage on a small lake.

Late tonight, Norman insured (via binoculars) that Burt had no guests. Norman grinned, knife at his side, and dove into the lake. (No boat rental, no evidence!)

Only then, Norman remembered that he couldn't swim...

* * * * *

Well, that's it!

Thanks for your time.