"The Screw" by
Christina Nordlander
"The Screw" by
Eerie, futuristic, and dystopian, our Story of the Week explores what might happen if our happiness is tied not to the joy brought by natural experiences, but rather a screw strategically placed in our bodies.
The Screw
- 4.9
After cleaning the cleared-out flat I turned off the remote control. I went one last round to see whether there was anything left for me
Contemporary Fiction
Coughing Fit
- 5
I was annoyed when my husband started referring to our book group as “The Cult”, but mostly because part of me knew he was right.
Santa’s Resignation Letter
I have debated whether or not to begin with my trademarked “Ho Ho Ho”, but I wish to convey the gravity of the matter. Let
A Night of Passionfruit
A 500 word first date flash fiction. Pasito is an Australian passionfruit soft drink. “Tomato sauce?” “Prefer barbecue.” “Summer or winter?” “Winter. I like watching
Romance
A Garter Snake and a Python
“Have you thought about herpetology?” the academic advisor said, looking at his reflection in sunglasses. If he shifted his gaze a little, he’d be looking
Sun, Sea, Desert, Sky
The world above the rocks that ringed their green deep was small and scorched with summer heat, and Clytie’s sisters would have called her foolish
Matchmakers | Episode 3 | The Gaysian
Photo by Greta Hoffman from Pexels Getting off the trolley in downtown Ybor City, Maisie takes a gulp of her water bottle filled with chilled
Sci Fi
Planet B
- 5
As the G-forces pinned her to her assigned seat, Astrid felt as though this was all a grand mistake. Maybe it was the unimaginable pressure,
The Wrath of Grapes, or, The Sweet Smell of Success
It all happened because of the grapes. It wasn’t often that any fresh fruit at all was sent to the Issap Station. Oh, the diplomats
I Do Have Half of an Octopus, I Believe It Is
“Bella! Bella!” The horrible screech caused Dr. Crawley to fumble the test tube, and a single drop flew out and hit the surface of the
Horror
New Trick
The phone rang. Actually, it didn’t ring. It played that stupid “Who Let the Dogs Out” song. Jesse had made it do that, had downloaded
It Is Up To You
The notion of love and beauty is still there right? One might start to believe, especially with the last few years, that it’s an outmoded
In The Foothills (Story Cubes #4)
Nestled in the foothills of the Front Range sits a compound. This compound has sprawling concrete walkways connecting the various buildings and cages. Buildings dotted
True Story
I’m Never Going to Forget the Dead Man in the Freezer
Or the request his family had that I did my best to honor. Image by Pexels from Pixabay Please note, I have omitted or altered
When the Puppet Strings Break – Chapter 8 – The Puppet Strings Are Breaking
Image by Stephen Keller from Pixabay Willow had always been a free-spirit, believing in her dreams, following signs along the way and celebrating simple ways
Did I Play in the First Roleplaying Game EVER?
Despite the fact that I have attended GenCon for more years than you have probably been alive and that I was the world’s top-ranked player of
Humor
My First Time Trying Pozole
The pristine light of the summer sun smacked me across the face. The massive jackhammer in my head told me we had danced in the
The New Kid
It started in the seventh grade. That was when the new kid came to our school, the antichrist I mean, and he sat right behind
Squeaky Toy, the Teddy Bear Prince, July 24, and the Lure of Slag
Lady Ashleigh closed her eyes to the sunshine and strummed her lute. Her father, the duke, would not have liked the idea of his only
Poetry
TIME ROLLS ON
- 1.5
Each person has their day in the sun, so to speak. But time keeps rolling on. You can’t stop time, no matter what you do.
Rise & Shine On Christmas Morning
Another Christmas morning has come, but the experience feels new My entire body becomes conscious I don’t know what to do Well, I have an
The Call
Calling in the night, He stands in the open, Howling at the moon, A silhouette in your sight. Every evening is the same, The climb
Drama
August 20: Today In HistoryFIRST AFRICAN SLAVES ARRIVE IN JAMESTOWN
On August 20, 1619, the Portuguese arrived in the British colony of Virginia with 20 enslaved Angolans and others who they sold to the English
August 25: Today In History:THE NEW YORK SUN PUBLISHED PART ONE OF “THE GREAT MOON HOAX!”
On August 25, 1835, The New York Sun newspaper published the first article proclaiming the discovery of life on the moon. The six-part series, known
The Demonic Boyfriend: A Short Story
Three months earlier, a mutual friend introduced me to Ron Turner at a charity gala auction for cancer research. We had both bids on the