Archive for the ‘Flash Fiction’ Category

12 Day Blog Hop: FLOWERS

Day 5 of Stacy Hoyt’s 12 Day Blog Hop.  I’m super late and just winging it at this point. Enjoy!

FLOWERS

by J. Whitworth Hazzard

Samuel never did get on that train.

He got a tiny little flat in Oslo down the street from Sigrdrífa’s hospital. While she worked, caring for the war wounded and sick, he worked odd jobs and tried desperately to learn the language so he could propose to Sigrdrífa in her native tongue.

Three months he carried the ring in his pocket.

It was the first day of spring, when he mustered his courage and laid his heart bare. She said yes.

The day of the wedding he waited for hours in the anteroom of the altar. He showed up at 7am in his best suit, ready to pledge his love.

“You’re eager. I like that,” The old man snuck into the room and smiled. “I’m Sigrdrífa’s Great Uncle.”

“Oh, you’re the florist. Sigrdrífa talks about you all the time. Thank you for the flowers,” Samuel never would have pegged the white-bearded hulk as a man who tended delicate things. “We couldn’t afford much. I wanted her to have…well, I want her to have everything.”

“You’re welcome, Sam. I can see that you really love her,” The old man tapped Sam’s heart with his finger. “And love… love like that is a cause for celebration. Congratulations.”

Samuel stood alone at the altar and gaped as he watched his bride to be walk down the aisle. She was a vision of beauty. He could scarcely believe she would fall for a lug like him. It was a tiny gesture, but Samuel would never forget it. In the back of the Church, emblazoned with the most magnificent array of flowers he’d ever seen, including a bouquet of pure white lillies for Sigrdrífa, her great uncle winked at Samuel with his one good eye.

To be continued…

295 words
@zombiemechanics

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12 Day Blog Hop: REBIRTH

The long overdue continuation of Stacy Hoyt’s 12 Day Blog Hop. Day 4!

REBIRTH

by J. Whitworth Hazzard

The discharge papers came the same day as his release from the hospital. There were no more bandages to change or walking therapy to be done. The doctors were finished with him and so was the Army.
“Sorry, Sam. I’m afraid we just don’t need men without all their toes right now. The war is winding down and you’ve done your part; made your country proud.” Colonel Snodgrass had been blunt but honest. Promoted to Major for bravery and then promptly kicked out, all in the course of weeks.
Samuel spent long hours waiting in the bar for Sigrdrífa, staring at the train ticket that would take him home in twenty-four hours like it was landmine. He didn’t want to touch it.
“Hello, Handsome,” she said, kissing him on the cheek before taking a seat beside him. Her shift at the hospital was over and she knew he’d be here wrestling over his fate. Same as yesterday, and the day before. “You’re overthinking it.”
“What?”
Sigrdrífa pointed at the ticket. “It’s not a death sentence. It’s just a train.”
“I don’t know if I can go back. There’s nothing there for me.” Samuel sipped his whiskey and savored the burn. “I never really expected to survive the war. I never made any plans for after. That must sound really stupid to you.”
“No. You have a warrior’s spirit, Samuel, but that isn’t who you are. You have a chance not many people get. You can choose to be anything you want now. If you could go and be reborn, what would you do with your life?
Samuel took her hand and said in earnest, “spend it with you. At your side.”
Sigrdrífa smiled and blushed. “But doing what, Samuel?”
“Does it matter?”
To be continued…

296 Words

@zombiemechanics

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12 Days Blog Hop: MUSIC

Third verse, same as the first! Day 3 of 300 words on prompt word “music” for the lovely and talented Stacy Bennett-Hoyt’s 12 Days Blog Hop.

MUSIC

by J. Whitworth Hazzard

The USO club was hopping. Captain Helgen felt distinctly out of place in his wheelchair. He didn’t belong here. After his screwup, he hadn’t earned a night of fun, even if Sigrdrífa had insisted on it.

It didn’t seem real, but the big band was setup on stage, and the beer was overflowing in mugs passed out to G.I.s dressed in their best. He had to hand it to the USO, even on the front lines they managed to scrape together events that made the men feel at home.

“Dance with me,” Sigrdrífa whispered in his ear. “You know you want to ask me.”

Samuel smiled and tipped back the last of his beer in one swallow. “My feet are killing me. I wish I could.”

“They are not. You’re afraid to dance. Aren’t you?”

“I don’t know how.” Samuel admitted to the leggy blonde. All it took was a look. A certain wanting look in her eye—a dare almost—and he bolted out of his chair and pulled her onto the dance floor.

The band played and he danced Sigrdrífa around the sawdust floor like an idiot, smiling and ignoring everything but her for hours. When the band wrapped up their last song, the USO hostess took the microphone.

“Ladies and gentleman, for our last song of the night we have a special treat for you. By request, a dedication.”

Sigrdrífa slipped away from Captain Helgen’s arms and took the stage. She didn’t say a word to Samuel, but looked into his eyes and sang alone. Words he didn’t recognize or understand formed melodies that told stories of the birth of worlds, of Gods and grand battles, and realms beyond the stars.

When the song ended, Captain Helgen wept—though he did not know why.

To be continued…
299 words
@zombiemechanics

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12 Days Blog Hop: LOVE

Day 2 of Stacy Bennett-Hoyt’s 12 Day Blog Hop.  Yes, I’m still late. Catching up slowly…

LOVE

by J. Whitworth Hazzard

Voices crept in around the edge of Samuel’s consciousness. A woman and a man with fair, calm voices. The words gained clarity as the light behind his eyelids gathered strength. They conversed in a language he didn’t understand, but stopped abruptly when he opened his eyes.

“Welcome back, Captain.”

Bright white light streamed through the windows of a hospital ward. Samuel’s eyes focused on the beautiful blonde standing at the side of his bed in a crisp white uniform. His hands and feet were wrapped in gauze, but he felt no pain.

Her smile blocked out every other sensation in the world.

“Hello, Beautiful.” His raw throat croaked the words. “How long was I out?”

“Three days,” The doctor at the foot of the bed diverted his attention from his savior. “Your lucky, Captain. If Sigrdrífa hadn’t found you when she did…“

His accent placed him as Scandinavian; Finnish or maybe Swedish. His Midwestern upbringing couldn’t tell the difference.

“What happened to my company?” Captain Helgen asked. Three days or three months, he had to know how badly he screwed the pooch.

“They turned back when the storm peaked and were rescued. Your stubbornness is what landed you in this ward.”

“It’s not the first time,” Samuel said. “Probably not the last, either.”

“So brave,” Sigrdrifa whispered. Her voice was music to his ears. She put her hand on his bandaged fingers and he could feel the warmth radiate through the gauze. When he looked into her pale blue eyes, he felt… whole.

“Do you believe in love at first sight?” Samuel had his share of trouble talking to women, but he felt unusually at ease with Sigrdrifa. In his heart he knew. Like a hammer to the heart, his shattered when she replied.

“I do.”

To be continued…

 
299 words

@zombiemechanics

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12 Days Blog Hop: SNOW

Yes, I’m late. I realize that. Thanks for noticing.

Now that we’ve got that out of the way, Stacy Bennett-Hoyt (@Rowanwolf66) if running a blog hop for flash fictioneers that should interest everyone. 12 tasty daily little morsels (300 word max) with a single word theme/prompt for each day. See complete details HERE.

SNOW

by J. Whitworth Hazzard

The freak blizzard threatened to alter the course of the war. Captain Helgen’s company were two hours away from their target when the winds rose to a howl and the snow began to fall. In a bunker less than six miles away, a General and three of the top enemy scientists were sitting unprotected—just waiting to be captured.

“Sir, I think we should turn back,” Sergeant Boyd’s voice strained to cut through the wind. “Rendevous with Charlie Company and bring in the half-tracks. There’s no way we can make it in on foot this weather.”

“No go. The road is mined from here to the Arden. We have to keep moving. We’ll cut deeper into the forest for some shelter from the wind.”

But the ancient forest was not kind to the invaders. The snow piled into deep drifts and the temperature dropped rapidly as the sky darkened to night. After two hours the company was no closer to the bunker than when the blizzard broke upon them.

The forest swallowed the men one-by-one. First a straggler or two, then the point men. then the man beside Captain Helgen. They disappeared into the raging torrent of snow and darkness and were lost. Still he battled on, his fingers and toes numb, thinking only about the mission.

“Damn you!” He shouted to heaven. He was lost and alone. “I’m not giving up. I’m going to fight. Fight! Forever!”

His spirit fought, but his body succumbed to the cold and dark. He lay against a tree and saw her, moving untouched through the storm. The woman in the long fur cloak crouched over his body, cold blue eyes locking onto his.

“It is not your time, Samuel.”

To be continued…

292 words

@zombiemechanics

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