Week 351 of #ThursThreads had many fantastic tales. I'm honored to see all the writers come to tie a tale in our sixth year. If you’ve been doing it a while, thank you. If you’ve just found us, welcome! May you come back again and write more great flash. Thousand thanks to Louisa Bacio for judging this week. Check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on Facebook or the #ThursThreads Group on MeWe to keep up with news, etc.

Entries:

• Cara Michaels | @caramichaels
  
• Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir
• Bill Engleson | @billmelaterplea
• Christine Ashworth | @CCAshworth
• Richard Gibney | @ragtaggiggagon
• Silver James | @SilverJames_
• Nellie Batz | @solimond
• Jo Hawk
• J. Thomas Ganzer | @J_Thomas_Ganzer
• Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil
• Mark A. Morris
• David A. Ludwig | @DavidALudwig
• Kel J. Heinen | @Aightball
• P.T. Wyant
• Mark Ethridge | @mysoulstears

Louisa says: Such incredible tales this week. Judging was incredibly hard, and I enjoyed delving into these mini jewels very much. Thank you Siobhan – my roommate next week – for the honor this week!

Winners Announcement:

Honorable Mentions

David A. Ludwig | @DavidALudwig
Louisa says: Intrigued by the descriptions, and I want to know more about the double-personality of Violet and her magic. At the same time, the tale feels encapsulated, and it works as a mini story of its own.

Nellie Batz | @solimond
Louisa says: What are these ash roses? The piece combines a sense of hopelessness and hope, if that makes sense. Love the imagery of her creating these roses for something, but doesn’t get to see the message to fruition.

Silver James | @SilverJames_
Louisa says: I feel naughty liking this flash so much. What did Wizard and his brothers do to her? Inquiring minds, really want to know, in detail.

Cara Michaels | @caramichaels
Louisa says: Love that combination of “a dance of practical and medicinal magic,” and I want to see more of the elven aquamarine irises.

I crunch my way through the rubble. What is left of the bakery is still smoldering. Along the street, cars are just sitting there, some with the doors open, others with engines still running, windshield wipers still wiping. The rest of the block…I blink as memory returns.

The rain is relentless, steady, cold. So cold. Too late to cool off high tensions. The scents of fire and blood, death and helplessness rise from the earth, mingle in the back of my throat as if I had licked an ashtray and bit my tongue bloody, all at the same time.

I don’t know what to feel. Which emotion to choose. Loss? Agony? Terror? Rage? Regret? They are all right there, floating in front of me, daring me to pick one. Pick. One. Let the emotion sweep me away as it had, just prior to the devastation in front of me.

If I had held my tongue. If I had looked away as the crowd broke and bled the two women for daring to love each other. If I had turned aside, rather than unleash my rage, the block would still be standing. The women dead, the men free. No.

In my peripheral vision, I see the women. They come with flowers, with offerings, with murmurs. They lead me to safety, feed me.

They wipe soot from my cheeks, pull off my rags, wash and dress me in linens that do not absorb the rains.
Now their men will be more careful.

Congratulations Winner Christine, and Honorable Mentions David, Nellie, Silver, and Cara! Don't forget to claim your badges and display them with pride. You certainly earned it!

REMINDER: NO #THURSTHREADS NEXT WEEK as I'll be at a conference with Louisa Bacio.

Pass on the great news on Twitter, Facebook, MeWe, 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. HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! Today is Thursday and that means it’s time to start flashing. We’ve reached our Sixth year of weekly prompts! This is Week 351 of #ThursThreads, the challenge that ties tales together. Want to keep up each week? Check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on Facebook and the Group on MeWe.
 
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 in the post (or be excluded from judging)
• Include your Twitter handle or email in the post (so we don’t have to look for 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, MeWe, and Google Plus, etc.

 
Our Judge for Week 351:
 
College professor, equality enthusiast, and romance author, Louisa Bacio.

Louisa on Facebook
Louisa on Twitter
Louisa on Goodreads
Louisa on Google Plus


We're looking for the best romantic tales - but not in the traditional sense. Of course, you can write romantic love, but for those who don't write romance, what about that deep, fulfilling friendship? The work relationship that gets the whole team home safely? The connection between people working toward a common goal? Bring us your best. Happy Valentine's Day.

And now your #ThursThreads Challenge, tying tales together.

The Prompt:

“I don’t know what to feel.”

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 350 of #ThursThreads had many fantastic tales. I'm honored to see all the writers come to tie a tale in our sixth year. If you’ve been doing it a while, thank you. If you’ve just found us, welcome! May you come back again and write more great flash. Thousand thanks to George Varhalmi for judging this week. Check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on Facebook or the #ThursThreads Group on MeWe to keep up with news, etc.

Entries:

• Mark A. Morris
• Bill Engleson | @billmelaterplea
• Silver James | @SilverJames_
• Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir
• Joe Hesch | @JAHesch
• Kel J. Heinen | @Aightball
• Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil
• Patty Knowles | @pattydump1
• David A. Ludwig | @DavidALudwig
• Rich Gibney | @ragtaggiggagon
• Cara Michaels | @caramichaels
• Louisa Bacio | @Lousiabacio
• Shirley Penick | @shirley_penick

Winners Announcement:

Honorable Mentions

Silver James | @SilverJames_
George says: I really liked the action and the intensity.

Cara Michaels | @caramichaels
George says: I liked the intrigue of where [Lina] is going and it really was formidable. I can tell that the character truly changed, and I'm left wanting to know more about what caused her change.

Shirley Penick | @shirley_penick
George says: I felt sadness for the characters. There was that profound feeling of loss. This was the last time they could help and there was nothing more to do.

“Don’t tell me what to do, and don’t tell me what to feel!” Jenny raised her hand full of fury, and ready to defend herself.

Whit took a step back when her ex would have stepped forward. “What are you doing hon? Are thinking about hitting me?”

“I?” She glanced at her hand, palm facing out as if ready to strike someone, and in particular the woman standing before her. “No. Never. I don’t know.”

Forcefully, she fisted her hands and shoved them in her jacket pockets. “I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to feel. All this is new to me.”

“I don’t know how things went in your previous relationships,” Whit said, “but I’m not going to touch you. If we fight, we fight. Nothing will ever get physical in that sense between us.”

She approached her step by step, and Jenny squashed the increasing fear.

“What I said, this wasn’t a game between us, I meant it. I really feel something with you, but I also gotta know you’re in it for the right reasons.”

Whit’s blue eyes sparkled with unshed tears. “I don’t want to be a novelty. The wild fling. The one woman you fucked.”

Jen shook her head. “I wouldn’t. No way.”

“You might. I’ve lived my whole adult life this way, open with my sexuality, and you’re new to the scene.”

Determination ground its fierce way into Jen’s heart and she reached for her lover’s hand. “You’re not a novelty.”

Congratulations Eight Time Winner Louisa, and Honorable Mentions Silver, Cara, and Shirley! Don't forget to claim your badges and display them with pride. You certainly earned it!

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