Flash Fiction
Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2010 12:00 am
((Here's a piece of flash fiction I wrote for my friend's upcoming birthday. I'm actually kind of pleased with it but if you're willing I'll let you all be the judge.))
Hushed whispers flowed through the crowd in a cacophony of vulturous musing. The last harbinger had brought with him an enslaved animal for everyone to enjoy; it was widely speculated on what sort of peace offering his successor would make.
The whispers fell silent with the announcement that “Anthony Stadler” would be taking the stage to share a very special gift. Though the crowd’s anticipation grew there were only knots forming in Anthony’s stomach. Today he’d become a man and show them all what truly lay within his heart.
There was a certain caution to the way he presented himself to those assembled. While his arms were outstretched with an inviting fashion the mere fact he wouldnÂ’t make eye contact with anyone betrayed him. He was losing their interest swiftly and he knew it; for Anthony however the challenge would only spur him forward.
In one hand he held a small sphere of varying colors. Perfectly formed and smaller than the palm of his hand he held it up for all to see. The mysterious presence of the orb baffled the gathering and a few of them shouted questions out of turn. Anthony merely waved them off as though his actions would explain everything in time.
He drew the sphere up high and let it fall towards the ground. Some clasped their mouths in horror, some hid their eyes in fear... Something was about to happen and thatÂ’s all they truly knew for certain. When the sphere hit the ground it made kind of a dry popping noise and bounced back up high, higher than Anthony himself. Each passing bounce to the ground made it climb less than the last until finally it lay silent on the floor.
The woman of beastly proportions who had announced Anthony’s arrival spoke after a brief time. “Thank you for sharing that with us Anthony. Susan? You’re up for next week’s show and tell.”
Hushed whispers flowed through the crowd in a cacophony of vulturous musing. The last harbinger had brought with him an enslaved animal for everyone to enjoy; it was widely speculated on what sort of peace offering his successor would make.
The whispers fell silent with the announcement that “Anthony Stadler” would be taking the stage to share a very special gift. Though the crowd’s anticipation grew there were only knots forming in Anthony’s stomach. Today he’d become a man and show them all what truly lay within his heart.
There was a certain caution to the way he presented himself to those assembled. While his arms were outstretched with an inviting fashion the mere fact he wouldnÂ’t make eye contact with anyone betrayed him. He was losing their interest swiftly and he knew it; for Anthony however the challenge would only spur him forward.
In one hand he held a small sphere of varying colors. Perfectly formed and smaller than the palm of his hand he held it up for all to see. The mysterious presence of the orb baffled the gathering and a few of them shouted questions out of turn. Anthony merely waved them off as though his actions would explain everything in time.
He drew the sphere up high and let it fall towards the ground. Some clasped their mouths in horror, some hid their eyes in fear... Something was about to happen and thatÂ’s all they truly knew for certain. When the sphere hit the ground it made kind of a dry popping noise and bounced back up high, higher than Anthony himself. Each passing bounce to the ground made it climb less than the last until finally it lay silent on the floor.
The woman of beastly proportions who had announced Anthony’s arrival spoke after a brief time. “Thank you for sharing that with us Anthony. Susan? You’re up for next week’s show and tell.”