Eileen Turner

“Back to Bed Now” by Eileen Turner

Submitted to Contest #224

Back to Bed Now            Oma was cutting lard into the flour. Oma made the best biscuits. There was only a little bacon frying in the pan on the stove, but the flavor from the fat would become a thick gravy to spread on the biscuits. She had saved up some eggs from the slow laying winter hens and there’d be eggs and biscuits with bacon gravy for breakfast.            “Clive,” Grandma pointed the fork she was using toward the pant...

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“AN ISLAND OF HER OWN” by Eileen Turner

Submitted to Contest #181

AN ISLAND OF HER OWN “I’m not parting with it. I’ll squeeze it in somewhere even if I have to climb over it.” “You’re being ridiculous.” Sonya’s sister-in- law was packing the nice dishes, carefully wrapping each item in newspaper. Sonya was being allowed by her in-laws to keep the every-day dishes, the flatware, and her kitchen things that she had not already moved out. Her in-laws went through the house like vampires looking for blood. Sonya was allowed only the inexpensive, non-antique items. She clutched at the figurine that had be...

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“COOKING FOR ONE” by Eileen Turner

Submitted to Contest #174

(Relies heavily on having seen ‘Aliens’.) COOKING FOR ONE            Scrambled eggs and toast. She actually cooked for a change, but only because she was out of cold cereal. Gloria took the dish to the couch where she was now in the habit of eating. She put her feet up, pushed play on the remote control, and settled in to watch ‘Aliens’ for the third time. Or was it the fourth? If anyone asked me why I like this movie, she caught herself thinking, I really couldn’t give them ...

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“A FULL LIFE” by Eileen Turner

Submitted to Contest #172

A FULL LIFE            Dr. Samuel swished the dividing curtain closed as he left. Nolla straightened the sheets and folded the frail hands over the ribcage. She reached in the bedside table for a comb and tried to arrange the hair. Nolla tidied the bedside area and made the woman’s remains as presentable as possible; it had been a long battle and Mrs. Grant’s gaunt face looked battle worn.            “Mrs. Grant’s family will ...

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“NO FUEL - NO FIRE” by Eileen Turner

foul language, emotional abuse NO FUEL - NO FIRE. “I’ve got a plan . . . There you go again – that look on your face. Why’d you marry me if you don’t believe in me?”            “I wasn’t making a face. I’m in the middle of making dinner, changing a diaper, and helping with this stupid, illogical new-math homework. My face is tired.” It was a lie, well, it was true, but the not part about making a face in reaction to his new plan. That was a bold-faced lie. She had rolled her eyes and ...

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“He Turned” by Eileen Turner

Submitted to Contest #169

He Turned            Sweat trickled down from the crease in his forehead, first to the corner of his right eye, then down past his nose onto his lip. He wanted to wipe it away. But he didn’t dare. His hands clenched the sides of his jacket – tightly, to stop them from trembling. Controlling even the depth of his respirations to limit the movement of his ribcage, he stood facing the wall.            Just a whisp of a shadow, ever ...

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