Thomas Marston

“A Filthy Car” by Thomas Marston

My father told me you can tell a lot by someone’s car. He said if it looks like they can’t be bothered with the outside, means there’s a hell of a lot more going on inside. The interior of Nickolas’s little Jeep Liberty, for example, was filthy. For every scratch, for every busted part, for every rusted part, outside, there were two dozen pieces of shit inside. He was late for the funeral of his grandfather’s brother. His Liberty, once bright silver, now rusted, struggled down the old road. He was driving fast. Slow enough he migh...

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“A Bird Named Robert” by Thomas Marston

Submitted to Contest #102

A bird flew past the tall window. The therapist’s office was hot. “You had mentioned someone named Robert last session. I apologize that our time ended before we were able to get into it, but regarding that, was there anything else you wanted to talk about?” “Robert? Yeah – I mean, there’s lots I could talk about... Where should I start?” “Well, you had mentioned that you two were friends for some time. How about a memory you have, of the two of you?” “Okay. Sure. Uh… yeah, I have a memory I think’d be good.” The therapist’s office was ...

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“Singing Frogs” by Thomas Marston

Submitted to Contest #74

Day 1            Brett came home today and he got into a fight with Mom. He’s been away for a long time. No-one will say where he went.            Dad’s left the porchlight on for Brett for weeks. I asked him and he said it was so Brett could find his way home. So he could know there were people inside. I told Dad he would know there were people home because Mom’s car was in the driveway. Dad told me not to argue and go to bed and h...

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“The Little Red Door” by Thomas Marston

Submitted to Contest #55

Fine! Fine! Fine. I will say, if you insist it cannot be helped, if you must witness me so. Gods! Fine. If I must.Well, I suppose you might remember from the news, it was some time ago now, but you just might remember… how he died. The basics, at least, a sketch, a tracing of the general outline. You must’ve heard about it! It was all over that summer. Yea, it was a while ago… I can forgive the fog, for you were distant from it– but gods, when an image burns that bright, that dark! it sears, forever, a branding iron upon your soul, if only y...

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“Bad Luck” by Thomas Marston

Submitted to Contest #44

It slithered, a snake in a stained white t-shirt, through the white doorway and into the room, on wobbling, swaying, swirling legs. Tom, it said, Tom, it added again, thoughtfully, Tom… My heart felt like a firetruck, Hey, yeah man what’s up? Tom, I’m leaving I’ll see ya later, it said, yeah, yeah, I said back, and it slithered away and I didn’t know it’s name.A knot in my chest, a hole in my chest, pulling me down, endlessly huh? I was in the bathroom, a small room with blue walls and while linoleum floor that made me think of my parents ho...

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