Category: Flash Fiction

Hardworking

“Large. Extra frothy almond milk with cocoa, cinnamon, and brown sugar.”

It wasn’t the first time that Ben bought, and Jenny handed him his boss’s beverage. In her four years as barista, countless Bens had rushed in with profuse requests.

As the afternoon rolled in, their bosses called them aside.

“What’s up?”

“You need to work harder. Unless you show some real progress, I may have to cut down on your pay.”

She’d missed her break, and he his. It wasn’t new—they’d skip meals just to ensure others didn’t. And they knew better than to slight each other’s work.

Lost in the midst

Forest

Intense density pressed upon her face. From the clearing she stood at, she saw towering barks rise overhead. As she sat on a cold stone bench, she observed walkers and bikers disappear into clusters of thickets that surrounded her. Afraid of getting lost in the wilderness, she remained put, hoping her colleagues would rescue her.

She’d made a huge mistake going off alone on the first day of work. This new life had overwhelmed the simple country girl that she was. In her search for fresh air, she’d found herself, instead, in a forest of buildings.

IT parks were unfamiliar.

Attention

“C’mon. You’ve got great figure. Flaunt yourself!”

“Yeah,” chorused her cheerleaders. She’d agreed to meet Jason, the new boy in school, to help him catch up with the curriculum. Julie’s friends were helping her get ready.

“For heaven’s sake! It’s not a date.”

“Oh, but what if?” wondered Katie.

Waving them goodbye an hour later, Julie sighed. They’d forced her into a little black dress and black heels, with her hair in a bun.

“Good luck!” Ruth yelled walking away.

As they disappeared, Julie ran upstairs. She pulled on a ragged t-shirt and shabby jeans.

She’d rather flaunt her mind.

Your time is gonna come

“Damn!” Charley swore.

“What happened?” Though he knew, Marvin asked nevertheless.

“Missed,” Charley replied, halting before his friend of fifteen years. They’d grown up together, and become each other’s wingman.

“Well, there’s plenty of fish in the sea.”

Charley sighed. “Can’t believe it! I mean, I’m a decent fellow, right? Why I can’t I get a good catch?”

“I don’t know buddy,” Marvin assured him. “Trust me, though, the tide will turn and your time will come.”

Charley shrugged, tired. “My brothers’ll tease me anyway. Let’s go before they turn up?”

And the two sharks swam into the deep ocean.

Voices

“Gosh, look at the height of that thing. Looks like the twelve years of practice was for nothing. You’ll never make it.”

“I don’t think I’ll mess up.”

“Are you crazy? You’ll embarrass the whole country if you break down at the last minute. Oh, imagine the horror. Tell them you’re feeling sick. They can’t blame you—the fish was horrible last night.”

When her name rang through the loud speaker, Vanessa approached the pool with jelly legs. Before she knew it, she was poised for her Olympics qualifier.

At the whistle, she dove.

Astonished, her inner voice never surfaced.