Fernando César

“The Prison Cell” by Fernando César

Submitted to Contest #219

Seven o’clock. The morning automation for the downtown Spellnorth building kicked in. The main floor doors unlocked, the common area lights came on, the air conditioner brought the temperature up from the freezing night to a more comfortable twenty-one degrees. There’s an electronic hum throughout the building, transforming the dark, cold skyscraper into a more human-friendly environment. All except the thirteenth floor. The ceiling lights never come on there. The air conditioning only works manually. Even the door to the floor requires a ke...

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“The Spy Game” by Fernando César

Submitted to Contest #216

A couple. Caucasian. Probably Eastern European. Dark hair. I'm guessing Russian. Oh! They have a small person with them... But they're spies. No question about it! The short man passing as a kid: fabulous disguise!"Three tickets, please.""Certainly. Nine euros, please," I reply.I take my time, meticulously cutting the perforated pieces of paper. I am, of course, just provoking them. Rattling them into an involuntary lapse. I discreetly slip the money into the open drawer below the counter."From Russia, are you?" I ask, already teasing them w...

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“My Dad, the Politician” by Fernando César

Submitted to Contest #212

Dear Mister President Daddy, Mummy pointed you out on the TV yesterday. I’d been asking forever to meet my dad! I said “nice to meet you”, but now I’m sending it so you can hear it too. Mummy says you can't come to my birthday party, ‘cos you’re very busy, solving all the problems. She says I should be lucky I don't have any problems, but I wish I did so you could come to my party. Love you, Daddy, Dear Mr. Senator Daddy, Mummy says you’re not President, but a Senator. I’m sorry I called you President. I think you didn’t answer before ...

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“Peer Pressure” by Fernando César

Submitted to Contest #210

Trigger Warnings: mental illness, swearing. “We’re not alone.” “Don’t be crazy. There’s no one else around.” “They’re watching us. I'm sure of it." “Well, they watch us on the security cameras, but that’s just for security … they said.” “They don’t trust us, we can’t trust them either.” “Well…” “Oh, my dear, nothing bad’s gonna happen. Everything will be alright, my love.” “Thanks, Honey. Can you keep talking to him, to calm him down?” “We should prepare for when they attack. We need weapons and a plan. They can’t know we’re on to the...

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“Where your happiness is” by Fernando César

3 450 kilometers. Berlin to Lisbon, stopping in Genoa, Monaco, all along the south coast of France, Nice, Saint-Tropez, Toulon, Marseille, Montpellier, following the Mediterranean to Barcelona, Valencia, and finally accross all of Spain to the end of Europe, in Lisbon, where the land ends and the sea begins. What an amazing journey! But it was made shorter by 300 kilometers. The car hit the tree at about 90 Km/h. The stench of burned rubber dangled above the asphalt, the sidewalk, and even a bit of the brown terrain where the oak trees ...

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