Madeline Honig

“For Love, Not Show” by Madeline Honig

Submitted to Contest #264

Becca raised her arms above her head as the white gown came down over her head and around her body, carefully avoiding her fresh hair and makeup.  She was already dressed in a corset and a skimpy thong.  Her modesty had gone out the window.  Her sister-in-law-to-be, Trina, buttoned all the tiny little buttons on the back of the princess dress, taking time with each one.  Nicole, Becca’s best friend from college, watched impatiently, taking sips of mimosa, arm across her chest, to pass the time.  Becca already felt ov...

11 likes 2 comments 2

Read story

“The Man from Cabin A” by Madeline Honig

Submitted to Contest #262

Hannah hauled her suitcase up the last step and took in the sights.  It surely was a beautiful place, just as Edmund, her Airbnb host, had promised.  Trees surrounded the area and, although she could see a few other cabins nearby, it felt secluded.  Hannah considered having some company during the summer to prevent loneliness.  She hoped Edmund might be nearby, but when he sent the code to the cabin instead of a face to face key handover, her hopes had dwindled.  She had gained a bit of a crush on her host, send...

4 likes 0 comments 0

Read story

“Arnold's Guardian Angel” by Madeline Honig

Submitted to Contest #261

I set the last dog of my evening into the recovery cage, on the thin yellow blanket, I prepared specifically for him.  The animal was still relatively lifeless, but that would change within the hour.   The anesthesia would wear off, the dog would be groggy for an hour or two, opening his eyes for a moment before closing them again, but should be back to his happy dog self in less than a day.   Someone, in the last twenty-four hours, had named the gray and black wired hair terrier, Arnold.  I didn’t feel that the name...

6 likes 1 comment 1

Read story

“Remembering Mary” by Madeline Honig

Submitted to Contest #259

The air was crisp and clean as Ally stepped out of the driver's side of the silver Honda Accord she had been driving for over four hours.  She pulled the wool black peacoat around her a little tighter and glanced around where she had parked.  The road she stood on was rocky, the concrete probably poured many decades ago when they extended this cemetery.  For as far as Ally could see, there was grass with the occasional stone protruding from the grass, but she knew with logic that there were plenty of tombstones laying flat. Fa...

4 likes 1 comment 1

Read story

“The Fate of Andrew Jackson” by Madeline Honig

Submitted to Contest #243

(Brief mentions of drugs and sex) It is dark and it has been for some time.  I don’t know how long I have been in this location.  I have to say though; it is quite comfortable, being between two soft pieces of fabric.  I’m okay being here.  I am not being man handled like I was before.   Although, I do miss my friends.  I had plenty of friends before someone placed me here.  I had all kinds of friends.  There were usually a few of me, but Abraham Lincoln and George Washington were always there and...

13 likes 6 comments 6

Read story

“When Iced Coffee Meets Fine Art” by Madeline Honig

Submitted to Contest #242

There were people everywhere on the sidewalks.  Everyone seemed the same in that they didn’t belong here.  They had phones out and were taking pictures.  They wore shorts, backpacks, and t-shirts they bought in the last 24-hours at a souvenir shop.  Some had ice cream in their hands, some were caring babies, and some with shopping bags.  It was the usual mark of any tourist area and that did not exclude Cannery Row in Monterey Bay, California.   Ever since Fynn and Courtney were small children, their parent...

16 likes 5 comments 5

Read story

“A Mother's Dilemma” by Madeline Honig

Submitted to Contest #241

Maya sat on the hard floor with a box full of polaroid pictures in her lap.  What was she going to do with this information?  It was too much for her to swallow.  She was only looking for the Easter decorations she bought for Anthony last year and instead she found this. She picked up a polaroid and examined it.  It was hard to look at but she could not look away.  How could Anthony do this to her?  She did nothing but give him the best life.  She loved him unconditionally.  She sent him to the best sc...

13 likes 6 comments 6

Read story

“From Commis to Concept” by Madeline Honig

Submitted to Contest #239

Ever since I can remember, I loved cooking shows.  I loved shows where the producers determined the ingredients the contestants would need to use.  There was always one ingredient that was a gotcha like sardines in a dessert.  I liked shows where they traveled to taste food like the locals, regardless of the odd foods they would have to try.  I liked the shows where they would tell you what to do and how to cook what they were making.  I rarely made the meals they taught but I always marveled at the technique. &...

3 likes 0 comments 0

Read story

“The Sorry Standoff” by Madeline Honig

Submitted to Contest #238

“How could you do something like that to me?  I am your wife.”   “Can you please keep your voice down?  It is embarrassing when you get angry like this.  The neighbors can hear you through the walls.  Remember the fight the people next to us had last Christmas Eve.  We could hear every word.  The walls in this apartment are thin as paper.” “I don’t care if the neighbors hear me yelling at you.  They should probably know how much of a fool you are, anyway.”  “But you shouldn’t be yelling at me...

5 likes 0 comments 0

Read story

“Behind the Fence” by Madeline Honig

Submitted to Contest #237

Dear George, I hope this email finds you well.  I don’t think we have met but I am your neighbor from the back of your property.  I hope you don’t mind but I got your email address from Tina, the HOA president.  I was hoping to replace the fence that borders our two respective properties, on the back side.  After that last wind storm that fence is bound to come down at any moment.  I was going to get some estimates, but given this fence is half yours, I wanted to see if you could pay for half the cost.  Please l...

9 likes 1 comment 1

Read story

“Regretful Texts” by Madeline Honig

Submitted to Contest #234

Trigger Warning: Gruesome untimely death of a child “If I could turn back time I would.  You don’t think there is not a single day that goes by that I don’t think about what I did?  I know what I did and I have to live every day with it.”  “You may have to live with it but you don’t need to beat yourself up over it.  It was an honest mistake.”  “It was an honest mistake that caused someone to lose their life.”  “Kathrine, you didn’t put a cold hard gun to her head and pull the trigger.  It was a gen...

4 likes 0 comments 0

Read story

“Biting the Habit” by Madeline Honig

Ever since Tiana could remember she would chew her nails down to the nub, as far as she could.  She didn’t know why she had the habit.  One minute she would perfectly compose herself and the next, her fingers were in her mouth and her teeth were chomping.   Her mother told her it was a nervous habit.  Her father told her it was her own type of self care.  But whatever it was, it made her hands look nasty and they hurt from biting down too far.  She had become self conscious about her ugly hands and freque...

1 like 0 comments 0

Read story

“New Year's Nightmare” by Madeline Honig

Submitted to Contest #231

Katie lurched awake in a gasp.  She clinched at her throat, sitting straight up in bed, looking around the dark room.  The red numbers on the cable box clock read 6:03.  She put her icy fingers to her forehead.  Her head was pounding and her throat was dry as sand.   She squinted her eyes and glanced at the nearest bedside table.  Did she remember to put water next to her bed?  Even in a drunken stupor, she knows that after a night of drinking she needs water for when she wakes up.   Why ...

6 likes 1 comment 1

Read story

“Lumberjacks and Louis Vuitton” by Madeline Honig

Submitted to Contest #229

Maya dropped her monogrammed Louis Vuitton duffle bag on the wide front porch of the old Victorian house belonging to the Myer’s family.  Maya gave her older sister, Trina, a hug, embracing her niece she had never met, propped on her sister’s hip. “Welcome home, sis,” Trina said, bouncing the baby up higher on her hip.  Trina dressed herself in blue Wrangler denims and a blue sweater that likely came from Sears over a decade ago.  Maya noted her own attire, a Fendi velour sweatsuit and Gucci sneakers.  It was the first ...

4 likes 1 comment 1

Read story

“Frozen Memories” by Madeline Honig

Submitted to Contest #227

Warning: Sensitive content regarding gruesome death “Maya, wake up,”  Maya’s Sarah, Sarah, stood over her bed.  A cup of coffee in her hands but still dressed in her red plaid sleepwear set with slippers on her feet.   “I’m still sleeping,” Maya said, yawning and tossing over.  “I know, but I want to show you something.”  Maya forced her eyes open, wiping at them with the back of both hands.   “What do you want to show me?”  “Look,” Sarah said, pointing out the window. She climbed out ...

4 likes 2 comments 2

Read story