U is for . . . UPWARD MOBILITY

Welcome to The Blogging from A-Z Challenge April 2014! This year, I’m offering up a story – each one 100 words or fewer - for each letter of the alphabet.

Some are heartfelt, poignant, sweet. Others are…not. 

I hope you enjoy them.

*****

UPWARD MOBILITY

Like litter, dirty and crumpled, she skitters down the sidewalk, passing the homeless shelter she slept in before the apocalypse.

She was once a creature of alleys and underpasses. She was once a victim, a survivor, a thief, a murderer.

She still is.

Inside The Tivoli Tower, she hurries through the ravaged lobby. The stairwell’s dark throat spews her out onto the highest floor. She barricades the penthouse’s door, puts away her supplies. She wraps herself in a burgundy cashmere robe.

On the balcony, she pours herself a drink from a bottle older and more expensive than she’ll ever be.

*****

T is for . . . TROPHY WIFE

Welcome to The Blogging from A-Z Challenge April 2014! This year, I’m offering up a story – each one 100 words or fewer - for each letter of the alphabet.

Some are heartfelt, poignant, sweet. Others are…not. 

I hope you enjoy them.

*****

TROPHY WIFE

Paul wanted younger, prettier. Linda never measured up.

Until now.

He buffed her urn then stepped back, admiring how she looked beside his new TV.

*****

S is for . . . SACRIFICE

Welcome to The Blogging from A-Z Challenge April 2014! This year, I’m offering up a story – each one 100 words or fewer - for each letter of the alphabet.

Some are heartfelt, poignant, sweet. Others are…not. 

I hope you enjoy them.

*****

SACRIFICE

Lena thought Mark was chivalrous, heroic. She felt protected, a lit match cupped inside his palm.

Now Mark says her lot in life is to be his. Their son cries, clings to her, alert to his father’s jealousy.

Mark slams her down, slaps her, beyond caring about the neighbors. She’s thankful the baby is far away, safe.

He whispers, “You’re the light in my darkness. You burn only for me.”

But Lena’s not the only flammable one. Pinned beneath him, she flicks the lighter she hid earlier. She smiles even as Mark screams, even as her own skin sizzles.

*****

R is for . . . NO RETURN

Welcome to The Blogging from A-Z Challenge April 2014! This year, I’m offering up a story – each one 100 words or fewer - for each letter of the alphabet.

Some are heartfelt, poignant, sweet. Others are…not. 

I hope you enjoy them.

*****

NO RETURN

The sleek, blood-red convertible was rented, as was the boy toy behind the wheel, but I had no intention of bringing either of them back.

*****

Q is for . . . A QUESTION OF WHEN

Welcome to The Blogging from A-Z Challenge April 2014! This year, I’m offering up a story – each one 100 words or fewer - for each letter of the alphabet.

Some are heartfelt, poignant, sweet. Others are…not. 

I hope you enjoy them.

*****

A QUESTION OF WHEN

The battle - Bad Thing versus Brian - rages constantly inside Brian’s mind. He stares at his army men lined up on the floor. He’s supposed to ignore bullies. Bad Thing is a bully.

But Bad Thing whispers, itchy words that make Brian want to scratch his brain until it bleeds. He smacks two soldiers across the room instead.

Bad Thing jeers, goads.

Brian kicks away all the army men.

Bad Thing licks underneath Brian’s skin, laps up all his strength.

Brian moans, crawls under his bed.

Bad Thing is going to win. It’s only a question of when.

*****

P is for . . . POWERLESS

Welcome to The Blogging from A-Z Challenge April 2014! This year, I’m offering up a story – each one 100 words or fewer - for each letter of the alphabet.

Some are heartfelt, poignant, sweet. Others are…not. 

I hope you enjoy them.

*****

POWERLESS

The power goes out with a pop. Darkness descends hard, fast. Agnes stumbles from the shower. She wraps herself in a towel, awaits the return of light, of beautiful normalcy.

She squints through the rain-streaked window. Shadows shift in the night. Who’s out there now, in the rain?

Moonlight licks the window like a lover’s tongue. It is then Agnes realizes it’s not raining.

Saliva slicks the glass. Rotting fingers smear the shining trails like a child crafting a message in paints. A runny egg yolk yellow eye blinks.

Behind her, the bathroom doorknob rattles.

Agnes lives alone.

***** 

O is for . . . THE ORNAMENT

Welcome to The Blogging from A-Z Challenge April 2014! This year, I’m offering up a story – each one 100 words or fewer - for each letter of the alphabet.

Some are heartfelt, poignant, sweet. Others are…not. 

I hope you enjoy them.

*****

THE ORNAMENT

At the party, she hangs from his arm like a sparkly bauble. First mistress, now second wife.

Accusations, sneers shatter her into shards of shame.

*****