Annette C

“Sleeping Demons” by Annette C

It was an endless night of rain. Wait! Scratch that. It was a sunny, blissful day. The birds were… Okay, okay, let’s start this right. Get a steaming cup of hot chocolate, cozy with a warm blanket, and settle in for a story to ease your day. Let’s set the scene first. We have our protagonist in a small, stained-covered, ten-by-ten office. A steel door encapsulates his retreat. As soon as you enter his space to the right is a wall covered, from the ceiling to his desk height, with screens showing every corner of the department store he works ...

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“I Quit!” by Annette C

“Please don’t do it,” cried Mom as I closed the door behind me. But I needed to; I couldn’t continue living like this. She didn’t know the truth behind my decision. Outside, the world welcomes me with open arms. I walk towards the outside entryway of the house and toward the sidewalk. The sun is beaming his love upon my face, and immediately, I am warmed, taking away the frost from the central air my mother has running constantly. She’s not a fan of summer; it could be because of the hot flashes she’s been getting recently.  The town wa...

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“Play With Me” by Annette C

Submitted to Contest #149

“Why are you insisting we play a game when our friend has been missing for days? Not to mention that your little sister is missing as well,” said Jona frustrated that Jinórilie didn’t seem fazed by the current events. “I just want to play, is all. It’s…um, my coping mechanism. I know my sister is missing, but what can I do? There are police searching for her everywhere. As for Derihia, he’s probably at his girlfriend’s,” Jinorilie stood with the controller in his hand, extending it over to Jona. Jona slapped the controller out of his hand, s...

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“Casa Del Mal” by Annette C

Submitted to Contest #148

I needed this apartment, not for me, but for my mind. I didn’t push her, she fell. The demolishing was said to start at 1030 on the dot so I decided to miss work to witness its demise. Actually, I haven’t been to work in over five years. At 4 am I arose from a restless night. Unable to sleep I decided to start my day, washes of memory flood my mind and drench me with mortification. She wanted to die.  When I was growing up, I always wanted to live across the street in the beautiful “Casa del Mar”, but more so after the incident. She d...

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“Writer's Block” by Annette C

Submitted to Contest #147

Another day another dollar or penny I should say commented Barry to himself as he walked yet again in the rain to his office. For over a year Barry suffered from writer’s block. He wanted to quit and just find another job, but he knew that his father would throw it in his face about his choice of flushing his money down the toilet when he graduated with a degree in writing.  “Why’d you need a degree in writing? Just write you damn loser,” said his father the last time he spoke to him. Things spiraled out of control as his mother tried c...

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“In The Sleepy Town I Lay” by Annette C

Submitted to Contest #146

Winter had left the sleepy town in a daze. Spring was approaching lazily, letting winter make an appearance every so often. Ric had been tired of one day sporting a winter coat, but the very next day he had to wear a tee shirt because the weather drastically changed. This day seemed to be a hot one again so Ric wore his jogging gear to go for his daily exercise.  The sun was really making a number on his tan, the many tan lines he had made him feel weird –he even had tan lines on his face from wearing his sunglasses on his jogs. This da...

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“Shh Don't Tell Anyone” by Annette C

Submitted to Contest #144

Dear Reader, I have a secret to tell everyone. It could seem as though I am crazy, but I will give examples of my findings. I would also appreciate it if you tell no one about my findings because then I will be forced into an insane asylum. I will commence my telling.  A few years ago I was given a camera, and not long after that camera’s digital imprint was copied into all cell phones. They said it was to drastically improve photo resolution. Little did they know that I had insider information on how that was possible. These scientists...

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“The Door” by Annette C

Submitted to Contest #143

 The weather had been frightful the night prior, leaving basements flooded and denizens in a snare. Rue was not spared: her basement was less flooded than her neighbors, but still a nuisance. In the early morning, Rue quickly rushed to the basement with cement and tools in tow. Her plan: to seal any leaks she sees. In hand were a three inch steel pointed trowel, a bag filled with cement, a gallon of water, and an empty bucket along with a mixing stick.  As to not disturb her children, she swiftly laid her tarp and started mixing in...

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“The Book” by Annette C

Submitted to Contest #142

The sun was shining brightly in an endless blue sky while Evaness and Verna were in front of their house giving away free books to anyone who walked by. Faun stood at the door keeping a watchful eye. She preferred that they sell the books to make some money, but her daughters were more of a donate type. As Evaness spoke to a lovely couple that stopped by to pick up some books for their children, Verna kneeled to pet their dog. Faun smiled at the young couple then was momentarily distracted by what seemed to be a homeless man approaching the ...

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“Isla Luna” by Annette C

Submitted to Contest #141

The restaurant was located near the river. Out-front Tim, the owner and chef, planted a flower garden with several evergreens to give the restaurant a look of hominess. In the middle of the parking area was a willow tree big enough to cover all parked cars from the direct rays of the sun—all two cars, one belonging to Tim, the other to his cousin Marge. The dated outdoor seating reeked of river water. It was said that the river drew its malodour from the many bodies that were dumped into it by the local mobster who owned half the restaurants...

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“I Smile” by Annette C

Submitted to Contest #140

contains sensitive content about cancer and its struggle I remember when my aunt actually said that she went through cancer. Ok, she was diagnosed with cancer, but it was stage ZERO. Are you kidding me? I sat there listening to her ordeal as she cried when she was told that she had cancer stage ZERO. The family support for her was enormous. Meanwhile, I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer, but she was the one with the attention. Fine! I really don’t need attention. My aunt posted a picture of extra hair on her brush due to pills that ...

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“Hey God” by Annette C

Submitted to Contest #139

Good morning God,                                                              03/20/2017 Today is a beautiful day. The sun actually woke me up, lol. Mitzy was lying beside me purring like usual. I think I’m going to wear something to welcome in the spring and pair it with my new Gucci bag. Spring is in the air. Bye, write you later xoxo Good evening God,         ...

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“Jackson's Dilemma” by Annette C

Submitted to Contest #138

The bills kept on piling up. It seemed that everyday some new creditor was sending a letter of foreclosure or worse—incarceration. Jackson felt the choke-hold of debt ever so slightly constricting his breathing, but he couldn’t let his family down. He was a new father —just barely six weeks—and facing homelessness.  Jackson couldn’t tell his wife, Rose, she would be devastated. He decided to give one last try at work and ask for a raise. He wasn’t the type to demand, let alone ask for a raise, he was more of a “my work speaks for its...

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“300 Feet Down” by Annette C

The wind in my hair, freedom surrounding me as I plunged 300 feet down to the ravine—or was it 301 feet? The sudden impact brought me back to why I just jumped off a cliff, thought Winters.  Winters didn’t know why she decided to pay attention to Bear when he suggested she enter her 30s with a bang and go bungee jumping with him.  The morning started off beautifully, but ended in torrential rains with 80 mile per hour winds. Winters was tucked in her bed with a book and some hot chocolate while her housemate, Bear, was out ra...

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