"Two wrongs may not make a right but a thousand wrongs make a writer.”

Saturday, October 19, 2013

After The Knifing

he avoided her father.  
But when the wound started to heal,
he knew he’d be left with a scar.
He’d never been cut,
and he wondered why
his uncle, a veteran of undeclared war,
hadn’t warned him about the aftermath of that.
The crushing humiliation of having one’s mortality
laid open for all to see.


It's Friday. It's the mean season (the writing season), and time for a Flash 55. If you have written a short story in a sparse 55 words, post it and let the world know. Or at least let the G-Man know.

Hello fifty-fivers!! TGIF!

After I posted this, I realized I was a day late, lost in time . . . but not a word shy. So, TGIS!

20 comments:

Grace said...

What a title and story ~ It would be interesting to see the back story of this ~ Happy weekend ~

Anonymous said...

This is just wonderful, Yvonne. A real short story--very poignant and compelling. k.

Yvonne Osborne said...

Grace,
Thank you. There is actually quite a bit of backstory!

K.,
Thank you so much!

Steven J. Wangsness said...

Very complex story for such few words. Makes you wonder how everyone got there.

Yvonne Osborne said...

Hi Steven,
I reckon that's the nature of the 55-Beast. But I'm glad it left you wondering....

Thanks!

Kerry O'Connor said...

You are a fine story-teller. I found this tale to be gripping and intense, for all it is told in 55 words.

TALON said...

You had me at the title, Yvonne! Perfect 55! Loved it. And now I want to learn what happened...how it all transpired.

Brian Miller said...

ouch....nice...i like how the title plays with this....also having yourself laid bare before everyone can certainly not be much fun...

Grandmother Mary said...

Has a kind of Halloween feel to it and leaves me wanting more.

Anthony Duce said...

This is great. I think I’ve found a story, if not yours, as I read.

Yvonne Osborne said...

Kerry,
Thank you! Nice running into you on the 55 circuit.

Talon,
Thanks! It wasn't originally the title but working under the constraints of 55 words, something had to give. I'm glad it worked.

Brian,
Thank you very much. You see, I just couldn't condense this into 55words so I cheated....a little bit.

Mary,
H. is just around the corner....can't believe it. Thank you.

Tony,
Thanks so much. Yes, you're right. The story is there. Or...here, somewhere in this cluttered dining room/office/hideaway.
Thanks again.

Alice Audrey said...

The aftermath can indeed last the rest of a lifetime. Excellent slice of life. :)

hedgewitch said...

An excellent use of metaphor, and all the ways we can be diced and sliced. Great to have you with us 55-ing, Yvonne.

Yvonne Osborne said...

Alice,
Hi! And thank you.

Hedge,
Thanks! Yes...diced and sliced....isn't that the truth?

Liza said...

Would love to know the story that was in your head as you wrote this!

G-Man said...

YVONNE!!!!!!!!!
Now that Harvest is over, I hope to see MUCH more of your beautiful smiling face.
Sharply written 55 Sister!
Loved it.
Thanks for playing, The new Calendar I bought for you is on the way...:P
Have a Kick Ass Week-End

Anonymous said...

mysterious; dangerous perhaps - yes, leaves me wanting more. effective write ~ M

Yvonne Osborne said...

Liza,
Hi! It's just a snippet, for sure. Thanks!

G-Man! I'm blushing. You're so sweet. I figured I was so late you weren't even going to stop by. I'll look for my calendar!

Grapeling,
Thank you so much. It's so nice to see some new faces this time around. Or maybe you aren't new, I've just been absent.

Margaret said...

Very interesting, Yvonne! I read all sorts of things into this.

Yvonne Osborne said...

Thanks Margaret!!!