Sadie Black

“Scones” by Sadie Black

Submitted to Contest #60

Author's note: This is one part of the Melted collection. These stories can be read individually or in any order.Hours before the birds began their song, a baker whistled to himself as he unlocked the front door of his shop. The air was crisp and cool, but only because it was so early. These days, one could reasonably expect the temperatures to soar to the upper 70s in January. It was weird, the baker admitted, but he was never a fan of shovelling snow anyway.Today, he shovelled flour into mass...

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“The Sample” by Sadie Black

Submitted to Contest #60

Author's note: This is one part of the Melted collection. These stories can be read individually or in any order. Dr. Eleanor Lee stepped outside of the Amundsen-Scott compound and felt the icy wind chill the sensitive membranes in her nostrils. She was accustomed to the cold and although it was -12 degrees celsius, she quickly felt overheated in her thick orange suit. It was a balmy day in Janua...

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“The Plunge” by Sadie Black

Submitted to Contest #60

Author's note: This is one part of the Melted collection. These stories can be read individually or in any order."Got everything?" asked Tucker yet again."And then some!" Christina had been prepared for years. Like any sane person (and there would be very few of them left now) she was upset that the Doomsday Clock had struck midnight. Despite herself, Christina was almost excited. For years, she had carefully stocked the bunker with canned goods, food, water, entertainment, and first aid kits. ...

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“Human Nature” by Sadie Black

Submitted to Contest #60

Author's note: This is one part of the Melted collection. These stories can be read individually or in any order. Harlan was a hermit, but preferred the term solitudinarian. Some called him Sasquatch or even Bigfoot, but that was a bit offensive. Yes, he was over seven feet tall and yes, he was an exceptionally hairy man who lived in the woods of the Pacific Northwest. He was in harmony with the ...

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“Nothing to see ” by Sadie Black

Submitted to Contest #59

“Did I ever tell you about the time I went to Atlantis?” Grandpa asked.  Benji’s eyes bulged. “You didn’t go to Atlantis! Did you, Grandpa?” "Sure I did! I wasn’t much older than you, Vicky.”“It’s Victoria, Grandfather.”“Right, right.” He grinned.“Grandpa!” Benji shouted. “Tell us! Tell us about Atlantis.”“Benjamin. Grandfather did not go to Atlantis because Atlantis does not exist.” She rolled her brown eyes...

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“Granite Countertops” by Sadie Black

Submitted to Contest #59

“You got the keys?”“Unfortunately.”“Come on, don't be like that. It’s gorgeous!”“I mean, yeah, it’s gorgeous. That’s why we bought it. That and they were practically giving it away.”“Look at it! It's huge! It has a stained glass window, for goodness sake. It even has a red door. I always heard red doors were lucky.”“Do you even hear yourself right now?”“Whatever. Just open the door.”“Yes, dear.”“L...

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“Operation Sunflower” by Sadie Black

Submitted to Contest #58

Mr. Hernandez sipped his afternoon tea and stared out the window contentedly, unaware that a hoard of squirrels was actively plotting against him. One of life’s greatest pleasures could be found right in his backyard. The red hummingbird feeders buzzed with tiny glittering birds, rainbows of light dancing on their shining breasts. A block of peanut suet enticed several varieties of redheaded woodpeckers, their rhythmic tapping as sweet as any birdsong. Cheerful finches and a painter's palette of buntings crusted the...

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“What's in a Name?” by Sadie Black

Submitted to Contest #57

"So, ah, there's something you should know before we go through with this," said Clyde as he knelt in the soggy grass."Oh god, anything, Clyde! I love you so much!" Jessica cried, mascara streaking down her face. "I can't wait to be Mrs. Packer!""Yeah see that's the thing," he began tentatively. "My name isn't Clyde Packer."Jessica's bloodshot eyes widened and the grin fixed on her face. Her voice shook. "What?"Her mind brimmed with horrible scenarios. Had he been lyi...

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“4%” by Sadie Black

My new lungs burned. My untrained limbs flailed as I tried to scramble to the surface, desperate for a gulp of air. The water was too heavy, too viscous, but urgency propelled me upward. The moment I burst through the surface, I gasped to inhale cold chemical oxygen. I opened my eyes. I swiped my hand across my face to clear away the liquid, feeling my overlong fingernails scratch deep grooves into my cheek. There was no...

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“Weekend Getaway: Sunday” by Sadie Black

Submitted to Contest #55

Jake went home to sulk. He thought things were going well with Riley, but with the other three Musketeers causing a scene, the night was a bust. By the time he got home, it was getting late on Saturday afternoon and he didn’t have the energy to drive out to the roadhouse again. He was still stirred up by the antics of Zoe, Mackayla, and Mackenna. He had hoped they would have matured since high school, but it seemed their...

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“Weekend Getaway: Saturday Afternoon” by Sadie Black

Submitted to Contest #55

It watched.  The mass of seaweed and twigs rose out of the water and slithered through the underbrush. Its luminous gray eyes would be visible to those who looked, but the rest of the sloppy creature was indistinguishable from the forest floor. Scales glittered between globs of muck, sodden reeds, and dead insects. Birds ceased their songs to watch and squirrels moved to higher ground as the creature crep...

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“Weekend Getaway: Saturday Morning” by Sadie Black

Submitted to Contest #54

Riley walked into the gas station with low expectations. She was looking for silverware, but didn't expect to find it. The store sold little more than chewing tobacco, energy drinks, and condoms, but her shopping alternatives were few. Without forks, knives, and spoons, how would she serve - and more importantly eat - Mackayla and Mackenna's birthday cake? Her friends were likely starving back at the rental cottage while...

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“Weekend Getaway: Friday” by Sadie Black

Submitted to Contest #53

“Ugh finally. That drive was absolute murder,” moaned Zoe as she shoved printed-out directions into the glove compartment.“It was only 3 hours, Zo,” said Riley, carefully navigating the car past the house sign and down a winding gravel path. The lowering sun cast long ribbons of light through the tall, bare-trunked pine trees."Yeah, but unlike somebody, I couldn't get off work early so after I did an entire shift, I had to listen to your singing for three hours. You guys tortured me to death wi...

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“The Haunting of Atterbury Manor” by Sadie Black

Submitted to Contest #51

The estate of Mme. Robichaux, neé Atterbury, was situated at the apex of a small rise which one could not quite call a hill, and was surrounded by an ancient forest carrying nearly as much weighty tenebrosity as the manor itself. Holmes and I had been invited to a luncheon one Friday afternoon by the lady of the house herself, and though I understood the social value of attendance, my companion did not. "...

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“Sweetie” by Sadie Black

Submitted to Contest #50

"Sweetie!" you scream. You've been screaming that name so much your throat is getting hoarse. Your legs are burning, your sides are aching, you're sweaty, and now your throat is going hoarse. You're starting to wonder just how much you want that stupid dog back.Said stupid dog ran out the door almost an hour ago. Okay, maybe it's only been a few minutes, but it really feels a lot longer. Chasing after a loose dog feels like an eternity to anyone, but imagine chasing after a loose dog wearing a diaper. And a pink bow. And...

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