Flash! Friday story: The Wish Fields

The following microfiction story was written for Flash! Friday, a weekly flash fiction contest taking place every Friday, and is hosted by Rebekah Postupak.  This past round's winner is Gordon B. White and is featured in this week's "Sixty Seconds" feature.

And now, my story...

~*~

"She was something," Edna said while overlooking the dry fields from her porch. "Wasn't always the great ballet dancer she turned out to be. She would let frustrations get to her too."

Emma's legs clanked as she walked over to her grandmother's side. "How did she deal with them?"

"She went into the fields one day--came back--became the greatest dancer ever known."

"How did going into the fields help her do that?"

"Emma!" Emma's mother called as she came out of the house. "Found your jacket, honey. We're running late to therapy, so we better get moving."

Emma hugged Edna. "Bye, Grandma."

"Bye, sweetie."

Emma's mother waited until her daughter was inside the car before turning to Edna. "Stop it!"

"What?"

"There's nothing in those damned fields! They're all just blatant lies!"

"Beg to differ," Edna's eyes shifted toward Emma then back to her daughter. "Your own baby came from those fields, honey."

155 WORDS

Jodie's Whisper

"Why are you still wearing that silly cape?" Jodie asked.

Billy looked back to where Jodie sat on a large rock, the cave behind her looming like a wide-mouthed rugged beast. His fists were on his hips as he stood defiantly near the edge of a cliff looming over the small town. He was used to playing the superhero and have Jodie played the one that needed saving. The cape was a recent addition to the game, but this time, he wasn't playing any game.

"This is all part of my plan," Billy said.

"Your plan?" Jodie raised an eyebrow. "Are you planning to jump off the cliff like some crazy person?"

Billy shook his head. "I'm going to find him," he said, then turned to Jodie with a serious look. "And when I do I'm going to destroy him."

Jodie's grin faded. She rose to her feet and walked slowly toward him. "It won't make things any better."

"Maybe. But it will make me feel better."

Now standing beside Billy, Jodie placed a hand over his shoulder. "Do you really believe that?"

Billy shuddered, the whipping winds around him hurling dust into his watery eyes. At least that's what he hoped Jodie would think. "I guess not," he said solemnly, his eyes shying away toward the ground. "Guess I'd still miss you."

The winds clamed momentarily. A faint howl erupted from the cave as Jodie whispered softly into Billy's ear. "I'll always be with you."

The winds picked up speed again. A massive boulder rolled off from a curving mound nearby, partially blocking the cave opening. It was as if nature had given its fair warning over the howl of the beast, stealthily guarding the darkness that had taken Jodie, one year before that day.

300 Words

The Realm Watchers

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"There was evil in that horned statue," Martin said. "I felt it clenching every part of me."

"What statue? The one downtown?"

Martin nodded. "But this evil comes in many forms."

"And you encounter this evil often?"

"Yes," Martin said, staring blankly toward a window. "Grace used to see it too, but I never believed her until I started seeing it for myself--after she died."

Seated next to Martin's bedside, Dr. Nguyen tapped a pen lightly over her lips momentarily, then slowly leaned forward. "I'm sorry for your loss. Sure it's been a very difficult process for you, but you must understand that leaving the facility the way you did only puts you into more danger."

Martin shook his head. "You just don't understand."

"Oh I understand," Dr. Nguyen said, her brown eyes bulging into neon red spheres. "I understand that you've been a very naughty boy, Martin!"

150 WORDS

This story is linked with Anonymous Legacy's Visdare , a weekly writing challenge hosted by Angela Goff.

A Cheap Dirty Trick

"I can turn this one-dollar bill into a one-hundred-dollar bill," the magician told the homeless man he approached on the street, dangling the bill in the air in front of him.

"I don't believe you," the homeless man said skeptically.

The magician stretched the bill with both hands, blew it, and the bill instantly turned into a crisp one-hundred-dollar bill before it inexplicably vanished into thin air. "Guess the magic made it disappear!"

Feeling taunted, the homeless man took a deep flustered breath and said, "Yeah, well I can make any man look like a donkey."

"I don't believe you," the magician said, before a knee to the groin forced him to drop to his knees, the loud wail out of his mouth bearing an uncanny resemblance to the animal.

This story is linked with Six Sentence Stories where word prompt of the week is "TRICK"

Elijah's Lake

Elijah's Lake

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Elijah never had a friend and regarded true friendship as an artform, like so many things people around him took for granted.

His only comfort was the way the sun shined over his scarred face while on a path to a lake and the way its gleam showered over the beautiful trees that flanked the lonely road like a loving mother.

Every moment by the lake felt new and inspiring, blessing him with lucid creativity that helped fill his notebook with characters that spoke to him through nature.

He closed his notebook when light began to wane and started a mile-long walk home.

"I'm proud of you, son," a voice came through a gust of wind before a tear rolled down his face.

This story is linked with Lillie Mcferrin's Five Sentence Fiction 

Dance of Doom

Late to the challenge, he weeped,
until offered one more chance to take.

With his sleek hat and steady feet,
he gave his best under the ominous rain.

He fell once, but later found the beat,
oblivious to tides of boiling rage.

A filthy rat licked at his tired soles,
all while he looked around this newfound murky cell.

He found no crowds, no stage, no claims of gold,
only a shockscape made of everlasting hell.

~*~

This story is linked with Lillie McFerrin's Five Sentence Fiction.

Invisible Games

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"What are you looking at, honey?"

Molly looked back at her mother, Sylvia. "Nothing."

Sylvia held up a yellow dress on its hanger. "Well don't you want to try on this dress?

Molly wrinkled her nose. "Not really."

Sylvia lowered the dress with her other hand on her hip. "Don't use that tone with me, young lady!"

Molly looked back at the mirror. "Im sorry. Monica says the dress is too bright for me."

"Monica?"

"Are you alright, ma'am?" the store lady asked.

"I'm sorry," a man said as he slowly started ushering Sylvia toward the door and added, "She's been through quite a lot these last couple of days."

Molly giggled, still turned toward Monica. "Daddy is being weird again."

Monica shook her head. "Don't you know anything? Daddy can't see us," she said with a hint of resentment. "But at least Mommy can see you."
150 Words

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I am linking this story with Angela Goff's VisDare , a weekly writing challenge of giving your best story in 150 words or less.