30. My Dear Girl, Samantha

We’d waited so long for a donor match.  Samantha appeared much younger than her seven years—frail, bony.  She silently passed away during surgery.  Her angelic face still haunts me when I sleep. 


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Don't worry:  this story is FICTION!  (Although, sadly, I am sure this type of tragedy has happened to other people.)  This piece of writing is all part of the trifecta challenge:  write a horror story in 33 words.

29. House Story

For Sale

Saw listing

Made offer
Declined
Negotiated
Rejected
Negotiated
Accepted
Inspection not good
Bought anyway
Mold
Cracked foundation
Faulty electrical
Drainage issues
Permits pulled
Money
Money
Love
Accidental fire
House in ashes. 


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trifecta challenge:  horror story in 33 words

28. The Horror, The Horror

The plain white envelope was buried in the rest of the mail; I didn’t even notice it at first.  I tore it open, casually glancing at the words.  My heart stopped:  IRS audit.  
 

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trifecta challenge:  write a horror story in 33 words

27. Wrapped Around Her Little Finger

“There’s nothing cute about it,” he said. The register of his voice indicated decision more so than discussion.  “A kitten, Jenna?  Another one?  Who will take care of it?  Me?  Your mother?” 

“Daddy, please?” 

“I said no.” 

She disagreed heartily and privately, staring past his head and out the window behind him.

Then she smiled that angelic smile of hers. 

“Well, all right.”

She always won. 

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trifecta challenge:  add 33 words to their 33 (I split up the phrase) 

26. Bingo Goes To The Beach

The trifecta instuctions said something about completing the story that was started with 33 words with 33 of my own.  I give you their 33 words SCRAMBLED and mixed with my own 33 words.  A slight deviation from their intention (I'm sure), but fun nonetheless.  Read on:  
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He tilted his head out the car window, staring past behind him instead of ahead like most dogs.  “You’re so cute!” said the voice heartily.  His fur ocean-wet and matted, yet he never disagreed.  She made every decision.  Bingo was nothing without her, no discussion about it.  And privately he knew it.  “There’s home!”  Bingo indicated delight, his wag a register of more love than ever.    

   

    

25. Losing My Religion

I read about him in the newspaper the other day, I think it was Tuesday’s Washington Post.  His first name was Aaron—which the world will likely forget by next week—and he was molested by his rabbi. 

When Aaron was in 7^th grade, his parents hired the rabbi to tutor him in religion.  Aaron complained to his parents after the rabbi fondled him.  His parents did not believe him.  They actually wanted Aaron to continue with the tutoring.  The tutoring and the abuse continued for over a year.    

How must that feel:  to not be heard?  to be ignored?  You have a problem that you cannot face alone, so you seek help and support by taking the situation to the people you trust most—your parents—only to be treated as if you made the whole thing up?

Aaron, who previously had been a straight A student and natural athlete, began to withdraw.  His self-esteem, along with his grades, plummeted.  He began to hang out with the wrong crowd.  He dabbled in drugs.  His parents continued to pretend that nothing was wrong.    

On his 18^th birthday, Aaron lay across railroad tracks under the dark of night, waiting for salvation.  His suicide note read: “I did not want things to end this way.  I feel dirty.  I feel ashamed.”

Aaron’s devastated parents now devote their withered lives to fighting sexual abuse in temples and churches.  The newspaper gave one last quote from Aaron’s father:  “He did not deserve this.  His heart was clean.”      

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trifecta challenge.  the word is "clean"

24. LOST

I wish he’d call me, does he like me? He is so cute.  Wow.  I wonder if he’s thinking about me right now, I hope that—

“Caitlyn?  The answer to number 33 please?” 

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trifecta challenge, 33 words imply LOST 

23. LOST

trifecta challenge write a story with the title "LOST," just 33 words

22. Come Back To Me

Hans was the child we thought we’d never have.  We endured fertility treatments for eight years before getting pregnant.  Tom was watching him that day, when the ball rolled in the street.  “Hans!”   

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33 words, show us you need that exclamation point, click HERE to got back to Trifecta

21. The Marathon

Training

Running

Sweating

Hours every day hours bleeding together

My head pounding

My feet pounding

Gravel

Grass

Asphalt

Hours every day bleeding together

Pain

Tylenol

Sleep

Water

Nervous

Anticipation

Race day

Is here!

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story in 33 words, with an exclamation point that "deserves" to be there 

click HERE to be transported back to Trifecta to read the other contestants' submissions

20. What Luck Looks Like

14, 17, 26, 9, 11, 43.  Six numbers.  Numbers that I didn’t even pick, the computer picked them.  Two dollars, dug from the bottom of my purse.  My life changed forever:  I won!

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33 words, with an exclamation point that "deserves" to be there; click HERE to go to Trifecta

19. The Flight Attendant

The phone rang at 4am.   

“Hello?”

“Crew Desk.  We have your assignment.”

Paris, please be Paris.  Or Sydney, oh, God, Sydney.  Early calls meant international trips. 

“Flight 1382.  L.A. to Detroit.  Layover 20 hours.  Have a safe flight.”

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33 words, starting with "The phone rang at 4am."

18. Life and Death

The phone rang at 4am.   

“You’re a grandpa!”

“Oh!  Really?”

“A girl.  We named her Iris … after Mom.”

He held back his tears.  “Thank you.  That means a lot.”

He was glad he’d left the phone on. 

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33 words, starting with "The phone rang at 4am."

17. Missed Opportunities and Lame Excuses

The phone rang at 4am, jolting me awake.  No, wait, 4pm.  Huh?  Had I slept that long?  Jason was going to kill me.  He’d lined up another job interview for me, and I was a perpetual no show. 

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33 words, start it off with "The phone rang at 4am."