Anna Tishchenko

“Humility” by Anna Tishchenko

Submitted to Contest #96

               It was kind of like a knack. This thing her son could do to people. They simply liked him, wanted to do things for him, take care of him. He was decent looking, but not what you would call traditionally handsome, his hair was dark and his eyes light and that combination was always striking, just like his father he was hard to miss in a crowd.                Ever since he was a child, Grady...

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“The knight we met” by Anna Tishchenko

Submitted to Contest #96

   The story truly began the night Lana found herself at the Medieval Times restaurant. When she had arrived in the big city, she sent her resume to everyone and anyone including the Medieval Times but she did not send just her own. She sent her friends in too, and as luck would have it, Suzanne was the one who got the job. Still, orientation meant that her friend would see the show for free and was expected to br...

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“Right of Passage” by Anna Tishchenko

Submitted to Contest #95

 “Hold still, just like that, don’t move a muscle”, as the little old man weaved among the dancers, lifting an arm here, a leg there, twisting someone just a little higher towards the sky. Arnica was smiling so hard her cheeks began to burn and still the photographer wouldn’t take the picture. He had no idea how painful this process was and had no interest in hearing about it. She counted to 30 in her head, ...

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“Oasis” by Anna Tishchenko

Submitted to Contest #95

It was a choice, he could see that, but he didn’t want to make it. No matter which side he chose, there would be blood, and death and carnage. He just wanted to live a peaceful life, tend to his farm, maybe go fishing from time to time. He wanted to explore, rebuild, but this world had other plans for him.                He sighed as his cleaned his riffle and oiled it, loaded it the bullets and set it against ...

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“Choices” by Anna Tishchenko

Submitted to Contest #95

 The doors stood on the beach like two great sentinels. The one to the left If you stood facing the sea, was made from stone, crudely carved, yet unmistakably a door. A glowing green symbol dominated the upper half. A stone, a circle, and three lines. The other carved from wood, is a work of mastery. Painted and decorated with tiny green leaves, small yellow berries, and hidden animals inlaid in gold around the edges....

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“Ham and Cheese” by Anna Tishchenko

Cam looked at the display screen and pondered the possibilities, before him, the choices seemed endless. Did he want the chicken, the beef? Was he interested in vegetarian option, or perhaps something in between? His stomach gurgled with impatience and he finally made his selection. Three buttons were held down at once in a parody of the three-finger salute of old. To his surprise, the gears began to churn an...

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“Platypus Problems” by Anna Tishchenko

Submitted to Contest #95

        What if? Such an odd question I find myself thinking as I sit on the stony outcrop. Below, the park is full of happy people, walking dogs, playing sports, being together. The sun shines from a brilliantly blue sky and birds sing, It amazes me that I could be here, among them, watching them play and yet feel utterly unattached, lost in endless possibilities of ‘what if’.                Like, what if I hadn’...

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“The Castle” by Anna Tishchenko

Submitted to Contest #94

  It had been a Thursday night at the Hotbox café when the idea first blossomed in Mike’s head. A comedian had been talking about the castle, he had brought a girl up to one of the turrets for some fun, but she kept being distracted by the view. Saying over and over I can see my house from here. It wasn’t a very funny joke; in fact, he was not a very funny comedian, but the story had sparked something, and Mike remembered a friend that used to work at the castle. There were rumors that old tunnels led from the stable...

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“Red Sky in the Morning” by Anna Tishchenko

Submitted to Contest #94

  What is need? She pondered as she walked along the narrow path. A thing required, a state of necessity. What did she need? Well, the basics were obvious, food, shelter, water. She knew those were all things her body needed to live, but what about her heart? Her soul? If she even had a soul she thought with a rueful grin.She imagined for a moment a ghostly version of herself, walking in step with her, wearing the meat and bones like a dress or a suit. She put a hand up to her cheek, imagined what texture the soul would h...

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“The end of the carnival” by Anna Tishchenko

Submitted to Contest #94

  The autumn rain lashed the windows in a serious display of nature's fury. I tried to recall if I had closed all the windows, picturing each in my head until the rain lolled me to a kind of trance. Lightning flashed. I counted the seconds until the thunder boomed overhead. This was my favorite time of the year. It gets darker earlier and earlier every day, the whole hemisphere yawning, getting comfy for the w...

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“The Price of Candy” by Anna Tishchenko

Submitted to Contest #94

“I dare you to lift something from the corner store. Doesn’t have to be big, but we’ll be watching so no cheating, got it?” She stands with her hands on her hips, looking down at me with malice in her pale blue eyes. Matty has always been a bit of a hellcat. Who set fire to the school by trying to use a Bunsen burner to light her cigarette? Matty. Who stole all the liquor from the teacher’s lounge?...

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“Stones Throw” by Anna Tishchenko

Submitted to Contest #94

  The sun is already high by the time I get up. Its summer and the days are long and bright and hot. I escape from the house early in the morning. There is nothing much to do today but I can’t sit around at home. Not after last night. I’m still so raw and angry.               Outside a light breeze is blowing but I don’t appreciate it. Instead, I scowl and put up my hood. My shoulders are slumped, and I can feel my angry walk. At least I’m makin...

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“Unseen Cuisine” by Anna Tishchenko

Submitted to Contest #93

   Moira was not having a good day. The catering company was not doing well, she thought as she sat at her desk going through figures. She rifled through pages, organizing, and reorganizing but the numbers did not lie. If something did not turn around soon, she knew, it would be back to job hunting and selling her soul. She checked her website, no new orders. Not even any inquiries. What was she doing ...

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“Reme” by Anna Tishchenko

Submitted to Contest #93

“There is no way I am letting you cancel this party,” His assistant said, arms crossed over her ample frame, "We have worked too hard for this and she deserves to be seen. Your discoveries will change everything!” “I don’t care” bellowed the doctor, slamming a fist on the table. he was in one of his volatile moods and Carmina rolled her eyes at his tantrum. “She wants to be seen doctor; you know this. Le...

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“Mascot” by Anna Tishchenko

Submitted to Contest #93

            “How on Earth did they manage to get it all the way up there?” I asked, incredulous. A stuffed elephant doll was lodged in the ceiling fan going round and round and around. I closed my eyes and shook my head, clearing the vertigo.                “Vodka?” replied Suzie, before laughing and turning the switch off.                “As in, for rocket fuel? Or d...

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