Cindy Strube

“Musca Depicta ~ or ~ A Renaissance Fly” by Cindy Strube

Submitted to Contest #243

 Musca Depicta~ or ~A Renaissance FlyThe system is broken. Angelo discovered it yesterday. “Fix it,” Dr. Groskopf ordered.“It’s not that simple,” Angelo started, but the director brushed him off.“Fix it. That’s your job. Overseeing the entire institution is my job.”I’ve only been hanging around here for a few weeks, but I’ve observed a lot. For instance, I’ve learned that Angelo has more practical knowledge than Dr. Groskopf does. Dr. Groskopf wears custom suits. He has four degrees. He knows who painted what, in which period,...

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“Ygnacia’s Hoard” by Cindy Strube

Submitted to Contest #217

Ygnacia’s Hoard “They’re mine! You can’t have them!” Ygnacia shrieked, striking viciously. “Owww!” The Littlest Giant sucked the back of her hand, whimpering.  “Did she get you? I’m sorry, Dumplin’! Move away from her… Yggi, you’re being naughty!… She’s a dragon, that one! Look at her, guarding her treasure. She can’t even cover all of it!” “A-a dragon?” The child-giant’s mouth made an O. “Yes, lately she’s turned into one.” Mouth still agape, the youngster took three more quick backward steps and bumped into the far wall....

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“Prose and Considerations” by Cindy Strube

Submitted to Contest #216

Prose and Considerations  The odors of calfskin and parchment tickle my nose, blending into an intoxicating perfume that beguiles me.  I shall endeavor, in this fresh journal, to set forth that which I cannot otherwise communicate. The book is almost too lovely to use… but now I have begun, there is no going back.  The last gift from my poor Horace before his untimely departure from this earth, this slim volume seems a most appropriate vehicle to convey my deepest—and darkest—thoughts and feelings. The supple hide, a...

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“Blood and Cookies” by Cindy Strube

Submitted to Contest #213

Blood and Cookies “So what do you think?” The two Tamsins speak in unison. I’m dumbstruck, looking from one to the other like a cat tracking a laser.“Come on, which is which?”I’ve known Tamsin for years, and she’s never had a twin. But now she does. It’s thoroughly unnerving, and I don’t like it.I look at the one to my left.“What’s your name?”“Tamsin!” they both claim. And the one to my right.“Gemma!” they answer.“Here, touch us.” Each extends a hand. I close my eyes to enhance my sense of touch, and put out my own hands ...

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“Going Postal” by Cindy Strube

Submitted to Contest #212

Going PostalIt wasn’t Mattie’s fault.Put it down to a chain of events. Circumstances. An uneven floor; a wobbly cart; a gap under a cabinet. Perhaps slipshod maintenance, or a less-than-diligent cleaning crew.Mattie was a temporary employee. A college student, home for the holiday break. His job was to roll a canvas cart full of mail from the receiving room to the sorting center, and it was not his fault that the cart had a wonky wheel. Certainly it wasn’t Mattie’s fault that the wonky wheel caught on a floorboard which sat just a bit t...

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“Arthur ” by Cindy Strube

[DRAFT - incomplete]ArthurOld people smell funny. I don’t know what causes it, but they all seem to have this weird odor. Kinda sweet and musty, like cucumbers and old books. Not that I’m around them much. Thing is, I don’t have any grandparents or anything. I mean, I did, of course, but they all died. I only have this vague memory of one grandma, from when I was really little. She had that same smell.I didn’t want to do this project. Not because of the smell. It’s just, to be honest, old people make me uncomfortable. I’m not used to them, l...

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“Good Bones ” by Cindy Strube

Submitted to Contest #208

Good Bones“It’s a girl!” announces Dr. Jones. “Or rather, a woman.” The mottled remains, painstakingly arranged by his team, lay against fresh white paper; yellowish-brown cantles of humanity, poised to give up their secrets to the renowned forensic anthropologist.“Some of the most critical bones are here. They will tell us a story!” Dr. Jones beams, rubbing his hands together. “Due to the burial method and environmental circumstances, they are in astonishingly good condition.” “Come closer,” he beckons. “You see this? Tony, zoom i...

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“Aurora Magna” by Cindy Strube

Submitted to Contest #206

Aurora MagnaSomething…? surging through her body brought Celia to consciousness with a jolt. Her eyes flew open, meeting the pitch blackness of pre-dawn hours. She lay still, feeling her pulse jump in her throat. There was no sound but Finn's regular breathing. Celia tried to reason with herself: Might it have been the vestige of a dream? Or a phantom perception?She inhaled deeply, let it out slowly, closed her eyes. Panic subsided. She started to drift…“Er-er-ER-errrr!” Clyde. His shrill alarm carried through the surrounding silen...

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“Cootie Catcher” by Cindy Strube

Submitted to Contest #205

Cootie Catcher“Sheena has cooties.”I’m playing Cat’s Cradle with Allie on the bus ride home when she all of a sudden looks at me kind of stern and says that. “Don’t talk to her.”“Why not? Mrs. Dawson said we should be nice to her. ‘Cause she’s new.”“She. Has. Coo-ties.” “Who told you that? She just seems like any other eight-year-old.”“She’s nine already.” Allie tosses her ponytail, smug as anything. “That means she’s behind. Which means she’s dumb! Duh-humb! We don’t need her.” She yanks the string off my fingers. It kin...

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“Will o’ the Wisp” by Cindy Strube

Submitted to Contest #204

Will o’ the WispPerhaps it wasn’t the wisest decision I’ve ever made, taking that cutoff. Ten miles. That didn’t sound so bad.And so, even though it’s already midafternoon—and blazing hot—I turn off the clogged main highway onto a narrow but well-paved road. There’s not another vehicle in sight. After a quarter mile or so, the smooth asphalt comes to an abrupt end. Oh, well—can’t expect backroads to be well maintained. I bump along for about another mile, over ruts and through potholes. Up ahead, I spot a yellow sign. The...

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“Don’t, Sue!” by Cindy Strube

Submitted to Contest #203

Don’t, Sue!At 11:49 a.m., Sue plowed into the back of a bus.WHUMP!And just like that, lunch was delayed for the entire office.  A witness called 9-1-1. Voices… sound urgent… Something going on?… doesn’t matter… Sirens?… accident?... Let them deal with it… Drift away… and back… Sue opened one eye, just a slit. The other one didn’t want to cooperate.“There you are, back with us!”Fuzzy woman… blonde hair… no, blonde woman… fuzzy hair… but she IS fuzzy… face blurry… focus, brain…Cool hands brushed lightly around Sue’s face an...

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“Earworm” by Cindy Strube

Submitted to Contest #201

Earworm I’m  not a pop fan.  Make it stop, man.  Can’t you stop it?  In a shop, it  was the first time  that I heard it  (heard it for the first time),  Yeah, and it’s catchy.  Who’s the tune by?  It’s a loop now— still repeating  when I’m eating,  when I’m sleeping. Words are kinda sketchy;  little bits of nonsense put together with this: Cling-clang boom-boom Shaka-shaka snap-snap!  It’s a mind trap.  Shaka-shaka snap-snap!  Shaka-shaka snap-snap!&nbs...

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“Littlest Bear’s Big Adventures ” by Cindy Strube

Submitted to Contest #194

Littlest Bear’s Big Adventures As soon as Beginning of Time had begun, Bears ambled traipsily hither and yon. Bigger and small of them, shorter and tall of them, furrily all of them—all, except one.Bigger Bear, chuffing and snuffily shuffling, waddled and waded in water so crystalline. Wishfully, fishingly, ever more cleverly snatching and catching the slippery prey, Bigger Bear—robust and pridefully powerful—routed his cowerful rivals away.Tauntingly, flauntingly, flourishing famously, growling and gloatsome or sleepily still, Bear was...

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“Wabi Sabi” by Cindy Strube

Submitted to Contest #192

Wabi SabiCherry blossoms float  Carpeting the earth in pink    Spring is here again.桜A flash of distinctive bright plumage draws my attention to a robin. Landing lightly on a branch, he dislodges a shower of petals. Throws back his head. Warbles his set piece: Cheerily-cheer-up, cheer-up, cheerily-cheer-up! A dusky companion joins him, and they flutter down to the ground to pull worms together.Harbingers, I say to myself. Cherry blossoms, robins, even earthworms. Walt, up the hill, mowing the field. A subtle shi...

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“Somebody Else’s Shoes” by Cindy Strube

Submitted to Contest #190

Somebody Else’s Shoes We’re both short, with wide feet. Other than that, Gigi and I have nothing in common. Dad jokes that the wide feet should give us “good understanding”.  It doesn’t. Don’t get me wrong, I love her. But it’s like we’re from two different worlds! Oh, sure, technically we’re from the same bloodline, but we’re like night and day. Honestly, she’s a little loony. “If I were you, Girl, I’d…” “No. You wouldn’t. Whatever it is, Gigi, if you were me, you’d do exactly what I’d do.”  I’m all about logic. Scienc...

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