'Grate Question' by Scaramanga Silk

The call came in last minute during this leg of the book tour. But here I am, in the studio of Number 1 radio station WDPK 83.7 FM. ‘The sound of tomorrow, the music of today’. And boy it is something else. Everything in the room looks brand new. These headphones must be two grand alone and that Neumann microphone might have to come home with me for my podcast.

“Now to today’s special guest, Hugh Traxx, esteemed DJ, here to talk about his sublime debut book Turntable Wizard,” he enthused.

“Cheers Kevin, pal. Great to be here. Big fan of the show.”

“It’s Caoimhín,” came the soft retort. “So, your book is Number #3 in the New York Times Best Sellers List. What inspired you to put pen to paper?”

“Ooo. Great question. Well, having been on the circuit for…”

Caoimhín glared at me, his eyes looking like they were about to explode…

“Great question is it? Really? It’s the most generic thing you can ask a creative. Also, who are you to rate the calibre of it anyway? So patronising.”

“Huh? Erm… I…”

“Fan of the show are you? You didn’t even get my name right! I’d never heard of you a week ago. I haven’t read all of your book either. My producer arranged this nonsense off the back of your sudden fame. From what I have seen, I wonder how you managed to get published. Do you know what a proofreader is? Who are the idiots buying this rubbish? I’ve interviewed Stevie Wonder. What am I doing here???”

He threw down his headphones, gestured a cut-throat sign through the window, leapt out of his chair, and marched out.

His producer ran in, profusely apologising, and looking rather flushed.

“Trouble at home with the Mrs, has he?”

'Intruder' by Rachel Burrows

I woke up to banging. Not imagined or dreamt. Thump! They said there‘d be high chance of break-ins, but nothing prepared me for this absolute terror - all happening right underneath our balcony. Then primeval dredging provided sudden uncharacteristic courage which propelled my tingling body from under the mosquito netting, straight towards danger, armed only with adrenalin. Final moments.  Old Askari Musa looked up, still crumpled by sleep - that apparently hadn’t been solitary!  ‘Mamba!’  he croaked, and held aloft a quivering dead snake, beaten, minutes earlier, against unexpectedly lethal burglar bars.

'Witching Hour' by Lynda McMahon

It is midnight. One day ends, another begins. Things begin stirring. In the impenetrable darkness eyes intently watch me. They think I don’t see them but my sights are clear. Bad spirits gather, together more powerful than alone. Coming closer, now, bringing unspeakable hate with every movement forwards; breaching thresholds overwhelming emotion increases. Fear! Mine! Yours! Depth charging one’s pulse, kick starting adrenaline, flooding cortisol. Fight or flight? Stay. Definitely. Not losing! Ever.

Orbs of light! Dazzling, blinding, terrifying. A strong will to survive creates protection. Basic, natural magic overpowers lacking illumination. Always.

Gone. All disappeared back into Hell. Lungs gulp air, breathing continues, hard, life affirming. Ready for tomorrow.

'Joycean Meandering from Word to Word' by Laura Cooney

Well, if you can’t write the same words twice it feels quite stilted as there is necessary ramble with incessant meander so much longer than you’d like, but then all becomes incredibly satisfying and Joycean almost, making any writer experience warm feelings; sitting in a Dublin pub, Guinness handed, smoke tendrils curling, holding one pen to paper, scrawling whatever thoughts darken souls upon midnight, when his fiddle plays; light, airy, charisma supersedes; evoking enthusiastic paroxysms of mirth for poet, listener or drunkard whose legs may take flight at this moment. Freedom comes near; destructive, costly, rumbling unworth, my muse, erase. 

NFFD 2023 Prompt #21: It's Different Every Time

 

It's Different Every Time 

Welcome to The Write-In!  This year, we're celebrating the 2023 National Flash Fiction Day Anthology theme of time.  Throughout National Flash Fiction Day, we'll be posting one time-related prompt on the hour every hour from now until midnight (BST), for a total of 25 prompts in all.  You have until midnight on Sunday (BST) to submit your responses for possible publication here at the Write-In.  We'll start posting responses on Sunday, 25 June 2023....

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Write a story of at least 100 words in which you do not use any word more than one time.  And yes, this includes words like 'I', 'he', 'it', 'the', 'and', and 'is', etc.!

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If you’re submitting this to us, make sure to note that this is a response to Prompt 21: It's Different Every Time.

You can submit responses until 23:59 BST on Sunday, 25 June 2023 for a chance to be published here at The Write-In.

You can claim the badge for this prompt until 23:59 BST on Sunday, 2 July 2023 by going to the here (hosted by the NFFD website).