Madeline Honig

“A Dish To Die For” by Madeline Honig

Submitted to Contest #204

The woman stood assertively at the entrance of the bustling kitchen, her sharp, piercing eyes commanding attention as they scanned the room with an intense glare. The furrowed lines on her forehead deepened, accentuating the scowl etched on her face. “Attention!”  Her commanding voice cut through the cacophony of noise in the kitchen, rising above the clattering pans and sizzling stovetops. With unwavering authority, she projected her words to be heard by all, asserting her presence in the chaotic culinary realm. The room fell into a ...

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“The Deadly Swipe” by Madeline Honig

Submitted to Contest #203

Myrah crouched as close to the ground as she could against the metal cylinder.  She hoped they could not see her, but that also meant she could not see.  She could smell the trash can beside her horridly, but she feared the horror that it would expose her to if she didn’t hug onto it.  There was a breeze in the air and it was a sunny but not too hot day.  Of course it was a sunny but not too hot day.  No one goes to the local park if it is not a sunny but not too hot day and therefore.  And on a sunny but not to...

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“Acceptance and High School Drama” by Madeline Honig

Submitted to Contest #200

The door slammed and Valorie saw a streak of Sarah’s brown hair wiz through the foyer and up the stairs.  Two seconds later Valorie heard a door slam.  Sarah must have had a bad day at school. Valorie, who was working at the dining room table, stopped clacking away at her keyboard and thought for a moment. She had interfered with Sarah’s life a few times in the past, sometimes it ended well and sometimes not so well.  Now that Sarah was in highschool she didn’t know where she stood in the matter.  If she should come to ...

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“ The Impulsive Act of a Young Mind” by Madeline Honig

Submitted to Contest #198

“Sit down, Billy.  We need to talk about what you did.  This is a very serious matter,” Principal Stevens said with a tone that expressed how severe the situation was. Billy focused his eyes from the beige carpet and onto Principal Stevens.  His fingers set gently on the chair in contemplation.  After a moment’s thought, he complied with Principal Stevens' request and he took the seat opposite Principal Stevens so that the large wood desk sat between them.  Although the desk was only what the district could afford,...

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“The Cycle of Hope and Despair” by Madeline Honig

Submitted to Contest #197

Warning: miscarriage and struggles with pregnancy “I don’t know why we keep trying,” Yolanda said. “We keep trying because it’s something we deeply want,” Thomas replied. “But is it something we deeply want anymore?  I am so sick of this whole thing being so prescriptive and failing every time.” Yolanda put her face in her hands.  Her red curls seemed to swallow her finger tips.  “It wasn’t always so prescriptive, you know?” “I know,”  Thomas laid a thick hand on his wife's back. “We had fun in the beginning.&nb...

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“A Major Decision” by Madeline Honig

Submitted to Contest #196

“I couldn't put it off any longer.  I had to choose,” Victoria said into the phone.  Victoria had called to tell her mother the exciting news. It took her a long time and many pros and cons lists to decide.  But now she was sure, she had finally chosen a major to study in college.  The decision of picking a major had been weighing on her for two years and she couldn’t put it off any longer.  She took classes in as many subjects that interested her.  That is how she knew she didn’t want to study Chemistry, Anthro...

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“The Neuroscientist and the Rockstar” by Madeline Honig

Submitted to Contest #195

Trigger warning: Suicide“And with this new technology, we can obliterate chronic depression and anxiety around the world.  Thank you.” Doctor Martin paused a moment, taking in the applause from the stadium that surrounded him with a smirk.  He then glided off the small stage reuniting with his team of researchers.  “Always leave them wanting more,” he would tell his team every time he gave a talk on the team's newest technology.  Julian always thought that this sounded more like a remark from a rockstar rather than o...

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“The Stick in Lilith's Hair” by Madeline Honig

Submitted to Contest #194

“It’s easy,” Ursula said. “You just need to concentrate harder.”  “I am concentrating harder,” Lilith said through her clenched teeth.  She brushed her black hair away from her big coffee-hued eyes.  She was exhausted and she was done trying.  Concentrating harder was not the problem.  Lilith’s sisters received all the natural ability, leaving Lilith with the short end of the stick.  Lilith couldn’t get her pinky finger to change texture or color.  Lilith couldn’t move a feather an inch off the table.&n...

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“The Used Toaster” by Madeline Honig

Submitted to Contest #193

“So… he gave you a used toaster?” I asked Emma.   I met Emma at my last company.  She was smart and ambitious and I befriended her when I realized I could learn a thing or two from her.  It appeared she felt the same and we became fast friends.  Now that both have moved on in our careers, Emma and I make a point of doing brunch at least once a month to catch up.  This keeps us connected in our busy lives.    “It wasn’t used.” Emma took a sip of her orange tinted mimosa and avoided eye contact ...

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“The Bucket List Runner” by Madeline Honig

Submitted to Contest #191

Warning: Discussion of Breast Cancer Lisa balances on one foot and pulls the other one behind her grasping onto her electric blue tennis shoes.  She feels the stretch on top of her thigh.  She holds it there for a bit and then lets her foot go and does the same with the other one.  She crouched on one foot, leaving the other foot on the ground, and felt the stretch on her inner thigh.  She switches her position again so she is crouched on the other foot.  Her orange pants were a little obnoxious, but Lisa didn’t c...

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“The Truth Comes Out” by Madeline Honig

Submitted to Contest #190

“Speak now,” I commanded Anne.  I needed her to talk to me.  To know she was okay.  That she was breathing.  And that she would not pull the Kultro chef knife out of the round block on the marble countertop and stab me in the neck. “What do you want me to say?”  Anne twisted her wedding ring on her finger.  Four carat solitaire surrounded by another six carats on a platinum band.  It was not the first ring I bought for Anne.  The first ring I bought Anne was simple.  It was a gold band with a sm...

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“Michael's Birthday” by Madeline Honig

Submitted to Contest #188

Michael woke up and stretched his arms above his head. “Happy birthday to me.  Happy birthday to me.  Happy birthday dear me.  Happy birthday to me.” He sang to himself with a smile.  “Today will be a good day.” He placed one foot on the soft rug next to his bed.  As he stood, he lost his balance.  He caught himself on the corner of the bedside table.  “That was a close one,” Micheal said to himself. Michael entered the tiled bathroom.  He did his business.  He brushed his teeth, gagging on th...

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“When Cats Save Lives” by Madeline Honig

“Oliver, what are you doing here?” Genevieve said to the Siamese cat she nearly tripped over.  Genevieve recognized the cat as belonging to her elderly upstairs neighbor, Mrs. Singh.  She had never seen the cat outside the apartment building and thought it odd that it chose such a frosty morning to come out.  He would roam the halls and occasionally perch himself on the fire escape.  But never when it was this dark or this cold.  The cat rubbed up against her leg and glanced up at her.  She didn’t know Mrs. Si...

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“Nine Years With Liam” by Madeline Honig

Submitted to Contest #185

Emma sat on the hardwood of her living room floor, but she could not feel the numbness in her bottom.  She took another sip of red wine and wiped away a single tear from her face.  She put down the photo in her hand and swapped it for another photo from the Amazon box.   In this photo, Liam, Emma’s ex-boyfriend, had both arms around Emma.  Looking at the photo, it brought Emma back to that day.  It was Liam’s cousin, Noah’s wedding.  She didn’t know if it was wedding vibes, but Liam could not keep his han...

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“Fiona's Father: The Riverville Hero” by Madeline Honig

Submitted to Contest #184

Warning: Mention of the murder of a child “Houston, we have a problem,” Fiona rolled her eyes at her father’s comment.  The two were sitting at her play table, surrounded by stuffed animals and dolls.  The tea set was a birthday gift from Fiona’s parents, and her father was desperate to see it in action.  He had no idea that a real tea party didn’t include any tea.    Fiona wore a light blue lace dress that was ten sizes too big.  She found it on top of her dress-up box of her mother’s hand-me-downs.&nb...

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