Week 260 of #ThursThreads, the 5th Anniversary of the challenge, had so many fantastic tales. Y'all brought out your best flash and I'm honored to see all of the writers come to tie a tale. Thank you all for tying your tales in our anniversary celebration. Great thanks to Eric Martell for judging this special challenge. Check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on Facebook or the #ThursThreads Community on Google Plus to keep up with news, etc.

Entries:

• Bill Engleson | @billmelaterplea
• Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil
• Silver James | @SilverJames_
• Deelylah Mullin | @VampBard
• Nellie Batz | @solimond
• Kelly Heinen | @Aightball
• Daelyn Morgana
• Siren X Star | @sirenstar
• Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir
• Mark Ethridge | @mysoulstears
• Tina Glasneck | @TinaGlasneck
• Kaylee Hamelink

Winners Announcement:

Honorable Mentions

Bill Engleson | @billmelaterplea
Eric says: There's real loss here, buried somewhere. Where's Celia? The kids? Is the narrator losing his mind, or is he consumed by grief? I'd like to know more.

Kaylee Hamelink
Eric says: A new take on a fairie tale - had a hint of dark at the end, but could be wonderful dark magic. Who can say?

Daelyn Morgana
Eric says: No, the narrator is not alright. Are any of us, knowing that scenes like that take place all over the world day after day? Sometimes we need to crawl into the darkness to understand the problem.

I sink onto the red couch in my office, the torn, stained cushion barely soft anymore. My cats, Ma and Pa, jump into my lap, nuzzling my face and hands. Their black and white tuxedo fur blurs as a fresh round of tears falls. Out of habit, I open the small fridge in my office.

"Son of a bitch!" I shout. The cats hiss.

I stalk out to the kitchen. The fridge door smacks the wall: empty. Cupboards, behind the stove and fridge, in the junk drawer, even the god damned mouth wash is gone.

"Fucking hell!" I shout.

"Are you alright?"

I whip around, breath heaving in my chest. Jacoby stands behind me, brushing dirt from his hands into the trash.

"Where's my stuff?" I tower over him, one inch taller and twice as mad.

"I saw you come home. Bit early in the day, isn't it?" he asks, his voice sharp, accusing. "Get fired?"

I rear my first back. The last of my whiskey got me home, but it wasn't enough and I begin to sober up.

"You going to divorce me if I did?"

He ducks when I swing. "Third damn DUI in the last three months and this one finally cost you your job. You either get your ass into some kind of AA or rehab or I walk."

He stomps away and I stand there a second. His truck tears down the gravel. That's the first time he's threatened to walk.

Congratulations Five Time Winner Kel, Bill, Kaylee, and Daelyn! Don't forget to claim your badges and display them with pride. You certainly earned it! Winners, please contact the host, Siobhan Muir, to choose your prizes. Because there are eight prizes, everyone gets to choose two.

Pass on the great news on Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus, shiny mirrors, Morse Code, and signal flags. Check out all the original tales HERE. Thanks for stopping by and happy reading! :)

Welcome back to the Weird, the Wild, & the Wicked. Today is the 5th Anniversary of #ThursThreads! It's amazing to think this challenge has been going on for so long and the continued willingness of so many people to come back week after week. Thank you! What an honor it has been to be the host of such a successful #flashfiction challenge.

This is Week 260 of #ThursThreads, the challenge that ties tales together. Want to keep up each week? Check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on Facebook and the Community on Google Plus.

Need the rules? Read on.

Here's how it works:

• The prompt is a line from the previous week's winning tale.
• The prompt can appear ANYWHERE in your story and is included in your word count.
• The prompt must be used as is. It can be split, but no intervening words can be inserted or tenses changed.

 
Rules to the Game:

• This is a Flash Fiction challenge, which means your story must be a minimum of 100 words, maximum of 250.
• The story must be new writing, not a snippet from something published elsewhere with the prompt added.
• Incorporate the prompt anywhere into your story (included in your word count).
• Post your story in the comments section of this post
• Include your word count (or be excluded from judging)
• Include your Twitter handle or email (so we know how to find you)
• The challenge is open 7 AM to 8 PM Mountain Time
• The winner will be announced on Friday, depending on how early the judge gets up.

 
How it benefits you:

• You get a nifty cool badge to display on your blog or site (because we're all about promotion - you know you are!)
• You get instant recognition of your writing prowess on this blog!
• Your writing colleagues shall announce and proclaim your greatness on Facebook, Twitter, and Google Plus, etc.

Our Judge for Week 260:

Scientist, Dad, and flashfiction author, Eric Martell.

Eric on Facebook
Eric on Twitter
Eric on Google Plus

And now your #ThursThreads Challenge, tying tales together.

The Prompt:

"Are you alright?"

Because this is a special event, there are prizes being offered by not only previous winners, but by the host as well.

Silver James is offering a writing journal, 3 Nightrider bookmarks, 3 Red Dirt bookmarks, 3 flashlight keychains, and 3 post-it note pads.
Heidi Rundle is offering two weeks of free PA help (promoting, swag, etc.).

All stories written herein are the property (both intellectual and physical) of the authors. Now, away with you, Flash Fiction Fanatics, and show us your #ThursThreads. Good luck!

Week 208 of #ThursThreads, the 4th Anniversary of the challenge, had so many fantastic tales. I'm honored to see all of the returning writers come to tie a tale and several new folks join us. Thank you all for tying your tales in our anniversary celebration. On toward year 5, yes? :D Great thanks to Deborah Blake for judging this special challenge. I encourage you all to check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on FB to keep up with news, etc.

Entries:

• Michael A. Kozlowski | @MAKozlowski
• Silver James | @SilverJames_
• Katheryn J. Avila | @katheryn_avila
• Bill Engleson | @billmelaterplea
• DeCota A. Jaymes | @a_decota
• Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir
• Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil
• Barbe Crabtree | @ComeOnPeopl
• Kelly Heinen | @Aightball
• Lizzie Koch | @Lizzie_Koch
• Daelyn Morgana
• P.T. Wyant | @PTWyant
• Hennessee Andrews | @HennesseeAndrew
• Anne Odom | @AFOdom
• Revo Boulanger | @RevoBoulanger
• Nellie Batz | @solimond

Deborah says: Quite a few of these were very good--I was really impressed with the quality. The finalists were tough to choose!

Winners Announcement:

Honorable Mentions

Michael A. Kozlowski | @MAKozlowski
Deborah says: fabulous and evocative, tells the whole story in so few words. Masterful.

P.T. Wyant | @PTWyant
Deborah says: fabulous. Brutal and succinct. I love the role reversal from the usual hero of the dragon vs. slayer story.

Daelyn Morgana
Deborah says: I loved this. Very lyrical!

Hennessee Andrew | @HennesseeAndrew
Deborah says: I love the twists and turns of this one.

DO YOU LIKE PINA COLADAS (OR BLOODY MARYS)?

Marriage takes sacrifice, patience and really sharp reflexes.

A second honeymoon found us in Wales. We sought something different, a dash of adventure mixed with...clammy. We got more than the brochure boasted.

At a stop somewhere unpronounceable, during a moonlit stroll, one thing led to another and we separated after the fog thickened to pudding consistency. She got nipped by a swarthy wolf, I was punctured by a biped mosquito with severe dental issues.

Experiencing new cultures can be weird.

Nothing is impossible for a dedicated, albeit unconventional, couple. Sure, we've stalked each other for hours, had heated philosophical arguments and attempted to rip each other's throats out, but nothing worse than my parents threatened during the holidays.

Once home, vacations became problematic. Trips to the beach resulted in my fair skin bursting into flames while the wife chased down and stole everyone's Frisbees.

Cruises were worse when my desired cuisine had buffet-bloated and no longer possessed necks. Meanwhile, my significant other repeatedly polluted the only fauna onboard, a poolside terrarium.

Thankfully, we found a creative way to mix dining and pleasure. Oddly, it took my becoming the undead and her cursed carnivore to embrace...camping.

We once had little use for the outdoors. Things change.

A couple in sleeping bags is like a burrito platter. Bonfire drunks are like hickory-smoked cattle (with udders). Large trailers are remarkably soundproof.

So if you see a handsome couple with shining eyes at your favorite campsite, feel free to stop by for a bite.

Congratulations Three Time Winner Revo, Michael, P.T., Daelyn, and Hennessee! Don't forget to claim your badges and display them with pride. You certainly earned it!

All the winners will have a choice of prizes, and if there are any left over, the host will choose winners from the remaining writers. Thank you all for participating. It's such a pleasure to host this challenge for all of you.

Pass on the great news on Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus, shiny mirrors, Morse Code, and signal flags. Check out all the original tales HERE. Thanks for stopping by and happy reading! :)