Day Williams

“Time-Twister” by Day Williams

Submitted to Contest #273

Time-Twister Mavis leaned on her broom and looked over her cleaning cart to Marla. “Do you know what time it is?”Marla glanced at her watch and said, “Quarter of four.”“I hate cleaning Dr. Hammer’s lab,” Mavis said, “ever since that fire.”“What fire?” Marla asked.“That’s right. You weren’t here when that occurred. He had a Bunsen burner lit up and his cat knocked it over. It burnt half his lab and scared the university that they would lose the building. But did they do anything? No, they love Dr. Hammer because he goes on the news. The unive...

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“Courthouse Whispers” by Day Williams

Submitted to Contest #272

Tree roots had pushed and cracked the sidewalk and the surface of the parking lot, and weeds had filled in many cracks. A tumbleweed rolled across the walkway to the double doors at the entrance and nestled in a corner. The cracked glass in the doors glinted in the light from the sunset. Each of the three floors had broken windows, and the shards remained in the shrubs and weeds along the perimeter of the building. Potted plants, dried up, leaned with cracked leaves. A small furry animal scurried from the bushes by the boys’ feet, hurried ac...

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“Serendipitous Encounters” by Day Williams

Submitted to Contest #271

(Sensitive content: Suggestion of molestation)As Sarah slipped into her business suit, she had an odd thought—what if she saw the woman again today? For the past few weeks, the stranger had appeared as she went about her business. The woman had stood on the subway during her commute, sat in the corner of her favorite café, and attended the same concert as Sarah. The woman, about Sarah’s age, who always dressed in professional clothes, had become a fixture in her thoughts. Her black hair was neatly tied back, her glasses framing sharp, o...

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“Ultra Nova Root” by Day Williams

Submitted to Contest #270

Mira Kalihar stood expectantly by the Czar’s table. The large man sat on a throne, and the Empress, a slim woman with long red hair who loved to wear her crown, sat at the opposite end of the long table on an ornate chair. Between them sat emissaries and ambassadors from other solar systems, each one present to petition the Czar for a favor.  The Czar, who stood six and a half feet tall and weighed as much as an adult gorilla, was used to getting his way. He tried to show compassion in front of his dinner guests by saying, “Your husband...

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“Payback in the Zamborini Desert” by Day Williams

Submitted to Contest #268

Payback in the Zamborini Desert “We have all the supplies we need,” said Jonas. “Let’s get going.” He zipped up his spacesuit. “Let’s see the inventories,” said Dr. Grant. Dr. Evelyn Grant led the group. She was a renowned archaeologist known for her unending pursuit of historical truths, and she took her responsibilities seriously. She inspected the readout on her visor. “We should bring extra oxygen, just in case,” said Dr. Samuel North, the project engineer. He pointed to the endless sands of the Zamborini Desert and the rock format...

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“Homer and Clarence” by Day Williams

Submitted to Contest #267

Homer wore a frayed army jacket to keep the cold out. He dived into the dumpster behind the grocery store, a place where employees came out to smoke and no cops patrolled. He dug through stinky messes and found a blanket and a half-full box of cereal. At least he would have something to eat for dinner. He pushed his way out, stood on the pavement, and shoved his finds into a battered backpack. He plodded north. He had no idea where he would spend the night, and the cold was pressing on him. “How ya doin’, old man?” a store employee called to...

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“I DO” by Day Williams

I DO I do not like you and your attention-grabbing ways.  I do like that one joke you told. I do like that drink you brought me. I do see that you can have your pick of the ladies. I do not want you to pick me. I do work out each day, and it keeps my figure slim. I do thank you for saying hello and chatting with me. I do not need a ride, thank you. I do remember you from the Christmas party last year. I do know Nathanael and Molly from school. I do know they’re having a baby soon. I do want to get married and have children someday.&nb...

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“Turn Up the Heat” by Day Williams

Submitted to Contest #262

Turn Up the Heat “Turn up the heat,” Phantom said. Phantom was a small thin man, 25 years old, who fiddled with his hands as though he would perform a magic trick. “We can’t afford it, not until we sell those jewels,” said Jigsaw, a big man with a small moustache and a large paunch. “Put on a coat. You’ll warm up.” He went back to his soap opera. “It’s snowing outside. We have icicles on the eaves,” Phantom pleaded. They had rented a two-story house 10 miles outside the town. The tap water, if it ran, came out brown. The place had no storm ...

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“Peril in London” by Day Williams

Submitted to Contest #261

Peril in London I loved my girlfriend, Regina. We had been together for two years. I wanted to show my gratitude to her. She had taught me how to paint better, how to write better, how to kiss better. She had made me feel like a prince in his castle. I knew little before she came along, I was humbled to admit.  Yet she flew to England to study literature, and I missed her so much my bones ached. I stared out the window for hours on end. Now I had only a few days before classes started for the semester. If I missed one class, I would b...

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