Madeline Honig

“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...

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“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...

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“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...

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“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 the...

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“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...

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“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...

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“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 mi...

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“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 ...

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“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, s...

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“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...

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“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, ...

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“Hidden Cravings” by Madeline Honig

Submitted to Contest #226

As Manny spoke, Hannah could not help but glance at the bar.  That single bottle of opened red wine across the room was calling her name.  She wanted to grab that bottle as though it was the last bottle on earth, pour a healthy amount into any cup she could find and guzzle it.  But she knew better. Last year’s Thanksgiving dinner did not end well for Hannah.  By her sixth glass of wine before dinner, she ...

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“Blue Strokes and Broken Shelves” by Madeline Honig

Submitted to Contest #225

“Why does my nose look crooked?  Is my nose that crooked in real life?  Or can I not paint?  Or both?  Do I have a crooked nose and I can’t paint?  I should just kill myself now.”  Flora looked at the painted canvas in front of her, moving her head side to side as though the nose would look better at a different angle. “Relax.  It’s fine.  You need a break.  You have been at this all morning.” Ollie said....

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“A Writer's Nightfall” by Madeline Honig

Clair didn’t need to open her eyes to know that it was not yet morning.  The rays of the sun had not yet peeked through the slotted window blinds yet. She knew that her sleep was over.  She opened her eyes to check the glowing red of the cable television box: 3:03.   Clair gave an audible sigh.  She glanced over at Josh.  He was still asleep and had no signs of waking soon.  It was Saturday morning and Jo...

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“Fateful Results” by Madeline Honig

Submitted to Contest #222

Emily glanced at the analog clock hanging on the wall.  It was time.  She shut the book in front of her and made her way to the front door almost tripping over her roommate’s black cat.   “Roger, why are you always in the way?” She grabbed her overloaded keychain hanging on the key hook, her purse and jacket from the chair she had put out the night before.  She could not afford any mistake...

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