humor

Citronella (Parts 1-3)

/ Liz H-H / 11 Comments
Apartment building with a gated terrace, and no obvious entry.

© Ayr/Gray

Citronella (Part 1)  

Citronella leaned over the balcony and sighed, staring down at the village parti-gras. Before, she’d been content to lean on the iron parapet, separate from the mad goings-on below. Before, she’d been satisfied with her mother’s witchy warnings of the dangers of joining the sweaty rabble. Before, she’d felt empowered by her choice of who she’d let climb her long, golden braid to the top floor. She’d lived there for as long as she could remember. 
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Quarterly Update

/ Liz H-H / 14 Comments
A bright green food truck reading "Codfather's II"

© Ayr/Gray

Many thanks to Jenne Gray and C.E. Ayr for their photo prompt, The Unicorn Challenge. (07/12/2024). No more than 250 words in length.

It must’ve been destiny. Not one we would’ve immediately predicted, but here we are! Things could have turned out much worse: prison, rehab, unemployability, loss of life-long friends, multiple stretches in rehab, depression, loneliness…All that time we thought they were just screwing around chasing ghosts, they were building the foundations of solid late-life careers.                    Continue reading →

Emily’s Escape

/ Liz H-H / 31 Comments
Sign in French saying no unleashed pets on the beach

© Ayr/Gray

Many thanks to Jenne Gray and C.E. Ayr for their photo prompt, The Unicorn Challenge (05/17/2024). No more than 250 words in length.

Emily knew one thing for sure: she was sick and tired of lassoing sheep in her Midwest town and pined to live on the beaches in France. She didn’t know French, or anyone in France, or anything about France except that she liked their fries, which for some reason, they called “Pomme Frites.” But the country called to her. She had to go, and had to have a job to stay.                        Continue reading →

Savage Starfish

/ Liz H-H / 20 Comments

© Ayr/Gray

From Jenne Gray and C.E. Ayr’s photo prompt, The Unicorn Challenge (03/15/2024). No more than 250 words in length.

Trigger Warning: Do NOT read this before bed!  

Stella Starfish had heard all about it from Momma Bear. While Poppa and Baby built sand castles down the beach, Momma had leaned in, broad, clawed toes in the water and gripping the sand, related how Goldie had lured Poppa Bear into an affair with her golden curls, intense blue eyes, and silky hairless skin. Granted, Poppa wasn’t the brightest — some even said he was a couple sandwiches short of a picnic – but still!                                  Continue reading →