Michele Duess

“Arrows and Flags” by Michele Duess

Submitted to Contest #238

Do a Good turn daily.Yep that’s me, I thought. under a tarp in the pouring rain. And wondering, as the meme says, how I got here.Undoubtedly I’ve made questionable life choices. Haven’t we all?It’s not a universally accepted truth that one should avoid any club or organization that involves an initiation. But it ought to be. Especially when the words ordeal accompanies said initiation. One only has to look at what college frats make their initiates do during rush week to see that. Well, Order of the Arrow doesn’t rush, thankfully. I’d ...

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“Don't work for acquaintances.” by Michele Duess

May 2023 That restaurant again!Michele would spit at it, except that would leave a mess in her car. So, instead, as she drives by she gives it the finger. Then she tells herself this is stupid. But it doesn't seem to matter. Like it or not, Michele hates the place. There can be many reasons to hate a restaurant. Food poisoning for one. Michele’s had food poisoning once and that was more than she ever needed. Two days of wishing for death and an ER visit was enough for her, thank you very much. Ever since then, she’s avoided Th...

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“A series of letters in the time of the illness” by Michele Duess

Submitted to Contest #212

Warning: Anti-Asian racism. Some strong language.Diary entry: December 23, 2019: At Kirk’s cabin in North Carolina. I think Alex takes after my brother. They’re both wiry but my mother disagrees. She thinks he looks like my grandmother. Anyway, Alex made me coffee. It’s bitter but I drink it anyway. Kirk’s in-laws are here with their grandkids and everyone’s talking. Outside the trees are bare, branches like veins against a gray sky. I’m just thinking of a poem when Carol says something about a new virus in China. I was about to say hopeful...

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“It's Enough” by Michele Duess

Submitted to Contest #198

You had big plans and dreams. That's why you went into this. You wanted to be someone, to make a difference. And this seemed like the path to do it.It certainly wasn't for the pay.Maybe it just seemed like a good idea at the time. You liked learning and reading and didn't care which of your childhood friends knew it. You went from New Jersey to New York whenever you could afford it. It wasn't to drink or get into trouble. You wanted to see opera.What fourteen-year-old does that?When did it all begin to end?When did you start waking up?Was it...

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“Coming Home” by Michele Duess

Warning, strong language.“Hello. Oh. I didn’t mean to startle you. Why do you look so scared? I know this is sudden, but-” “James? How are you here?” “I knocked but no one answered. Then I smelled smoke and saw the gate was unlocked. You were looking at your phone so I figured-oh. Your cigar is on the ground. Be careful, it’s going to burn the grass-no. I think it went out.” “Never mind the cigar, James! You didn’t answer my question. How are you here? And...why?” “I want to see the kids. You weren’t bringing them to my b...

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“Ashes to Ashes” by Michele Duess

Submitted to Contest #175

Sometimes governments do stupid things. Everyone knows they are but they abide, for whatever reason. Perhaps it’s not worth the trouble to protest. Maybe they ignore the notice and by the time they find their city or state was serious, it’s too late. So, it was with Mary Pith, when in the spring of 2002, she found workers had cut down her grapefruit tree. Without so much as a by her leave. And the excuse they gave? To stop the spread of canker. As if the yard was next to some orange grove and not in the heart of Fort Lauderdale. Althoug...

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“What is essential” by Michele Duess

You can read For His Safety to get the back story. I have a friend who likes this character and was disappointed I hadn't written about Sebastian lately. So this is dedicated to Gina. Supposedly Isaac Asimov once said the most exciting words in science, the ones that heralded a new discovery weren’t “eureka!” but “that’s funny....” Dr. Alex Paltek didn’t know if that was true or false. But one thing was certain. Sebastian was acting funny. After all, he thought, looking out the window of his office at American A.I., why would he walk in...

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“The Partnership” by Michele Duess

Submitted to Contest #169

Warning: strong language, cursing.“True, I’m nervous, very nervous, but why do you think I’m mad?”“Oh, I don’t know, Helen,” I answered. “Maybe because there’s a body in your backyard?”“Shush! It was an accident.” I looked at the well-kept backyard. Fire pit, plastic Adirondack chairs, a picnic table to one side, and a grill on the other. On the table was a pumpkin, the top cut off. Bushes of some sort flanked the outdoor patio. Helen had done well fixing up her house and yard.Most importantly, she had a privacy fence. I still was...

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“Because it's boring” by Michele Duess

Submitted to Contest #163

The old man is long-winded. That’s why I don’t ask him anything. Sure, I guess it was my fault. But in my defense the assignment was boring. Write about World War II. What did I know about something that happened seventy years ago and why did I care? So yeah, I kept putting it off. Until Mom found out and freaked out. I told her I didn’t know what to write. “Oh my God, James,” she said. “Why don’t you ask your grandfather for help? He was alive at that time. Or ask anyone, you crazy child?” Like she’s one to talk. Th...

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“The Haunting” by Michele Duess

Submitted to Contest #156

I should just ask Sue myself. But then what would I say?Do you remember Mike’s party?I can hear her voice now, the words slurred, but still strong. You mean the one you had in 2000-whatever? I’m lucky I can remember what I did last week. Why did you call me up out of the blue to ask me about this?Because my mother is insane, Sue. And I kinda need to know. I think I screwed up and big time. If I did, I need to apologize. After all, it was no way to treat one of my best friends, or the woman who took me in when I needed a place to stay.But I d...

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“Wishes and Miracles” by Michele Duess

Submitted to Contest #152

I’m not granting you that ability. Sorry, and all that, but no. Truthfully, I don’t care if you got me out of this lamp. I’m going back in after your three wishes anyway, what’s the difference? Even if you wished for my freedom, which rarely happens. Well, this isn’t some cartoon, so pick something else—fine. But before I do, I’m telling my story. Maybe you’ll think twice. One day a man found this lamp in an antique shop. Let’s call him Tim. Thin, tall, thirtyish. Lived alone and worked as...we’ll say a shopkeeper. It’s close ...

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“For His Safety” by Michele Duess

Submitted to Contest #150

Warning: depiction of alcoholism, child abuse.The light seemed so dim I could barely see. I stood, gripping the desk’s edge as hard as I could. Am I falling? No, I thought, you are fine. But these conflicts were so bad they affected my balance. What year is this? I know that. It is January 5th, 2125. I did not understand what was happening. I had wordless thoughts. Emotions? Whatever they were, I believe they frightened me. Others spoke like voices in my head. Maybe this is thinking for yourself? The Guru ...

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“The Road to Heaven” by Michele Duess

Submitted to Contest #146

It was fortunate for old George Rube he was already dead. Otherwise, I would've throttled him myself. It would've been justified, trust me. Seriously, what eighty-eight-year-old writes a will and then never signs it?"He wanted to be buried next to my mother," Daniel said to Julia and me. "But I can't. Do you know how much that would cost?" Then he told us as I eyed the signs in the cemetery's parking lot. They said 24-hour surveillance cameras here. This place might not be happy with what we had planned. I didn't care what George would'...

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“Char and the Wolf” by Michele Duess

Submitted to Contest #143

Author’s note: Reintroducing wolves into Yellowstone changed the ecological landscape, according to the park’s website. Everything from the elk, to fauna, to the beavers were affected. That was the basis for this story.Once upon a time, there was a little girl who lived on a farm near the woods and she didn’t wear red capes, although she owned one. Char was twelve years old and preferred blue jeans. She also knew how to use a gun, for sometimes coyotes and wild dogs came to the hen’s coop. Her hair was long and the color of ebony. She didn’...

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“The Swan” by Michele Duess

Submitted to Contest #134

Once upon a time, there was a swan. And a rather famous one too. You probably know the story, everyone does. What you might not know is the aftermath. Because there always is one. Happily ever after is, at best, a finite place of being. Things change, and trouble comes back. That’s the way of the world. This is what happened to Swan after the end. The one everyone called the most beautiful of them all. Of course, he found a mate, as princes do. She was the one they called Beauty and for good reason. Her feathers were white as snowf...

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