Marissa Brinkman

“The Big Filler” by Marissa Brinkman

Submitted to Contest #290

Christy and Peter's eyes followed the cup as it plummeted in a straight line. There was nothing they could do but wait for the crash of the gas station 32-ounce "Big Filler." It landed upright as if it ready to still pick up and drink. But it wasn't finished. The pressure from the fall pushed the Dr. Pepper upward...and out. The spray covered everything in the hallway of the reception venue. This included Christy and Peter.As the carbonation settled, Christy dove into her purse. "I'm so sorry!" She pulled out a pile of napkins. She scan...

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“Let’s Make Some Noise” by Marissa Brinkman

Submitted to Contest #238

The rounded corner of the clipboard hit the white tile first. It bounced, tilted, and repeated on the opposite corner. The back of the clipboard then slammed into the floor and audibly shook the metal bar as it landed.  “I’m so sorry,” Heather blurted out as the dropped item echoed throughout the barren room. She pressed her lips together in immediate regret, but then kept talking. “And now I’ve spoken. I’m sorry for that too. And that I’m still talking.” STOP TALKING. Stop making noise.  Heather inhaled through her nose. The recep...

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“Plaid Chairs and a Beige Suit” by Marissa Brinkman

Submitted to Contest #200

Georgette ran her fingers under the seat of the chair in the nurse’s office, as she thought about the answer she had just given the woman in the beige suit. “He might knock over a chair.” The underside of the chair was smooth, the opposite of the chairs at home. Georgette’s dad had made the four chairs that surrounded their plastic dining room table. They had plaid green and blue fabric stretched over a soft foam cushion, and black leather on the backs. The underside of the seat had big staples to secure the fabric, but they had rough edges....

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“The Kick” by Marissa Brinkman

Submitted to Contest #198

The rubber toe of her turquoise All Star high tops scooped just under the burgundy rubber and popped the kickball into the air. The kick was a perfect toss back into the pitchers hands.Lenore started to run to the first base anyway, a sight that was uncomfortable on its own. Her growth spurt had started but her weight hadn’t gotten the memo yet, so her scrawny legs seemed too thin to properly carry the rest of her body. A week ago, she and another shorter student had discovered they both weighed the same amount, a mere seventy-five pounds. D...

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“There You Are” by Marissa Brinkman

They say opposites attract. Or at least that’s the phrase I have heard so many times I lost count. Almost every introduction resulted in some combination of words with the same meaning: “You and your wife are complete opposites.” Which translates into, “Do you even like each other?”The answer was yes. More than a yes. We met at an automatic car wash on a Saturday evening. We both had wild social calendars. When I arrived, only one car had been in the wash and there was no line, so I decided to seize the opportunity and pulled in. You ar...

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“Check for Honesty” by Marissa Brinkman

Submitted to Contest #191

The breeze was light that afternoon. Carly and Gerald walked together along the concrete path of the park, the same as they did every Thursday. They always had to shuffle slowly through the park to get all the way to their favorite bench, but they accepted the slow pace over hiring an aid or accepting offers of assistance from younger park-goers.  The bench had a panoramic view that was unmatched by other locations in the park. They knew, because they had tried and tested other areas. Their favored spot allowed them to see the playgro...

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“They Called It Guppy Love” by Marissa Brinkman

Submitted to Contest #188

“So, what’s the catch?”  “Pun intended?” I snorted, as Billy launched his line back into the still lake. There had not been a single fish in our direction the entire morning, and to be honest, I was relieved. I didn’t know what I would do if either of us caught something; I despise fish. I had only agreed to come with Billy because it seemed like the only way, I was going to ever get a date with him was if he was unaware that a date was taking place. I preferred to keep his knowledge that we were on a date with the fish; far away a...

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