Day: January 7, 2009

Flash Fiction

Flash Fiction: Caught on My Space

Karen

I love flash fiction. It’s so challenging to write a semi-complete story in 250 words. Try it sometime, it’s MUCH harder than it looks. If you want to participate and write your own flash fiction, feel free to take that nifty button below.

Fiction under 250 words
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I let him in. I didn’t want to. I knew what was going to happen, but I swallowed my anxiety, stomped on my panic and I quasi-calmly opened the door to face my ex-boyfriend.

“Hey you,” I began but no sooner were the words out of my mouth that he snarled at me.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

I had convinced myself that he had come over to try and reconcile the damaged relationship. But judging by the sneer on his face and his diamond-hard eyes, that wasn’t his intention.

“I have no idea …”

“You are mental. Wait. You’re more than mental, you’re insane and wow, I’m so glad I dumped your ass because you’re one scary bitch.”

Even though I knew what he was referring to, I forced my expression to maintain a blankness that I was far from feeling on the inside.

He shook his head in disgust. “I can’t believe you thought you could trash my apartment and get away with it.”

Again, I tried to interject even though my heart had now squeezed through my rib cage and had settled just under my vocal cords. I suddenly found it hard to speak and my words came out squeaky. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“You deny breaking in, and yet you post pictures of what you did on My Space,” he snickered.

I swallowed.

“I’m filing charges.” He thrust a piece of paper at me. “I’ll see you in court.”

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Inspired by this true story. I need to write more flash fiction – I eat this stuff up.

Oh, one more thing, the new [Fiction] Friday writing prompt has been posted if you’re itching to do a little fiction writing.

Reflections

Reflections: The Origin of My Name

Karen

This was originally published on my self-hosted blog, March 31, 2006.

From time to time, I’ll be recording thoughts and events from my childhood. These memories are prompted from the Reflections from a Mother’s Heart – Your Life Story in Your Own Words. I plan on filling this book out one of these days to pass onto my children. I’m sure I’m not the only one who finds the lives of our parents fascinating. It’s weird to think of my parents as children and it’s really fun to hear stories about their past, how they met, etc. If my children read about my past, perhaps they will understand me just a little better.

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Who gave you your name and why?

I learned, some years back, that mom had wanted to call me Carrie instead of Karen. I never knew why she liked that name but I was profoundly grateful that my parents didn’t stick with that name. Any and every time I hear the name Carrie I immediately think of Stephen King’s “Carrie.” Carrie conjured up wicked images of a blood-soaked wannabe debutante who killed people with her supernatural powers.

Then Carrie Fisher played Princess Lea in “Star Wars” and suddenly the name Carrie was cool. Though I’m still glad my parents didn’t stick with Carrie. I think it was dad who talked my mom out of naming me Carrie. They compromised and named me Karen.

Did you have a family nickname?

The only name I can remember being called other than Karen was KK. I’m not sure who or why that got started, but I remember being called that a few times by my mother. I like KK, it has a musical ring to it.