In my last post, I revealed a Flash Fiction Challenge my coworker and I underwent. We created a 350-word (or less) story per day based off of Dictionary.com’s Word of the Day. The word had to either be mentioned in the story somewhere or the story could be centered around the word.
I’ve shared three of my stories. Here are three of his.
The Word: Cynosure
Cynosure: something that strongly attracts attention by its brilliance, interest, etc.
Blinded By The Light
Sean tossed a large chunk of wood in the campfire, gave the glowing coals a stir, and sat back in the Adirondack chair near his three friends. “Time?” he asked.
“Two more minutes,” Jenna replied as she looked up from her phone for a second.
Eric took a glance at the cloudless night sky. “Are you sure? What’s that?” He pointed above the cabin toward a set of blinking lights traveling across a starry path.
“That’s an airplane,” I said.
“Oh.” Eric turned his phone back on. “Guess the space station’s not here yet.”
Taking out his own phone, Sean opened his International Space Station tracking app to see the latest update. Yes, in less than two minutes, six people who were sleeping, eating, or maybe even running on a treadmill 254 miles away would be passing by right over their heads. It was crazy to think about.
Sean turned to the group. “Did you know the ISS is actually the size of a football field?”
“Oh yeah, it says that right here” Jenna. She pointed at her screen “And it orbits the Earth 16 times a day!”
“You just can’t see it every time,” Greg piped in at the other end of the campfire. “Well, not in real life.” He held his phone up, showing a little space station icon moving on a world map. He then took his phone down and started typing away at some text message.
“30 seconds!” Sean said. He shut off his phone and stood up, checking the sky for any mysteriously moving lights.
“Hey Jenna, think you can answer this space station quiz?” Eric asked.
“Try me.”
“Hey, I think that might be it,” Sean said. He pointed at a particularly bright light that came out of nowhere. Wow, there it goes.”
He watched over the next minute as it traveled overhead and then out of view, like a specter slowly fading into the shadows of the night.
Sean looked back at the group, and all eyes were facing down at illuminated screens, which cast a pale light upon their faces.
The Word: Ferly
Ferly: something unusual, strange, or causing wonder or terror
The Time Machine
Today, I witnessed magic. Real life magic.
Earlier this morning, a traveling magician rolled his caravan into our little village. Some of his troupe juggled fire, others ate it, while one balanced a sword on a knife in their mouth. But those were tricks, skills they had mastered.
I normally wouldn’t leave the house for such an occasion, but I could only resist my grandchildren’s pleas for so long. While I carefully stepped outside, little Sam and Jenny ran down the street where a crowd had gathered.
Minutes later, I made it over. On a makeshift stage, a tall man with a booming voice said, “And this, ladies (he glanced in my direction) and gentlemen, is a time machine.” He stepped aside to reveal a large wooden box, almost like a coffin.
“That’s a box,” Jenny exclaimed.
“No my child, this is not your ordinary box. In here, things…transform. Watch.”
The tall man tilted the box to show it was empty. Then, he held up a tiny seed, gently placed it inside, and shut the lid. He tapped thrice, opened the box, and showed the crowd once more. There was a bright red apple.
Shouts of excitement filled the air, and the man bowed. I frowned, thinking the apple was simply hidden in a secret compartment.
“Thank you! But, I see you are all not convinced…so I will show you the real power of my machine.
The magician bowed, stepped inside the box himself, and shut the lid. We waited.
Suddenly, the lid burst open, and a man who looked half the magician’s age appeared. He stood and said, “This, is my time machine.” Everyone applauded at the ferly change, including me.
***
I couldn’t believe it. A box that could reverse one’s age; it seemed impossible, but I couldn’t deny what I saw. If I could become younger, then maybe I could run down the street again, get excited by simple things like little tricks.
Now, I stand in front of the time machine, which was left unguarded near the caravan. I step inside, and close the lid.
The Word: Lateritious
Lateritious: of the color of brick; brick-red
Burnt Out
“Is that a steampunk praying mantis on top of a temple?” Steve asked.
I glanced over the growing crowd to see a moving metal monstrosity that certainly looked like a giant bug on top of a building with eight wheels. Steam poured out a fake chimney in a way that reminded me of Howl’s Moving Castle.
“You know, I believe it is,” I replied.
“Too cool,” he said. “Come on, we can get a better view of the Mutant Vehicles over there.” Steve held out his hand, I grasped it, and he guided us across the sandy ground. We weaved our way to the front past people on stilts, women with feathery dresses, and a pirate.
“I’ve been thinking. They call it Burning Man because of the huge sculpture that gets set on fire. But I think it should be called Burning Men. Steve held out his arms, which had turned all lateritious since our arrival yesterday.
“Burning Women would work too,” I said, and held out my arms. We shared a laugh. The short parade of vehicles neared its end.
I waited, and then asked, “So what should we do after?”
“Maybe a drink at the Camp Cafe?”
“That’d be nice, it’s been a long afternoon.”
We watched until the last vehicle – a spiky contraption straight out of Mad Max. The crowd began to disperse, some heading toward the heart-pounding music in one area, others checking out the bizarre art displays.
Steve turned to me and asked, “What’s your favorite part been?”
I wiped my brow and readjusted my green bandana. “I actually really like the whole sense of community. Everyone is just settling in together, like this is their home.”
He smiled. “I hear ya. But what I really like is the freedom. I don’t have to be anywhere, and I could do anything. Like this!” He ripped off his shirt right there and tied it around his head, looking like a goofball in an XXL bandana.
We laughed again. Then I stepped aside as a big pink ball rolled between us.
“How about that drink that now?”