Tag Archives: Mondays Finish the Story

People, short stories, Stories about people, Writing Stories

The End of a Creative Storyteller – Farewell Barbara

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Dear Readers of Mondays Finish the Story. I am very sad to re-post the news that Barbara who started and ran the Mondays Finish the Story fiction challenge has passed away last Sunday. I saw the message from the late Barbara’s husband when I visited her page this morning. I wanted to share the news with those of you that enjoy my contribution to this fun 100-150 story-telling exercise – created by Barbara W. Beacham. She also supplied all the pictures.

You have helped sharpened my story-telling skills. I will miss the challenge and your wonderful comments Barbara.

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My Life in The Foothills has Passed Away
November 24, 2015 by babso2you

It is with the a sad heart and mind that I let all of the readers of Life In The Foothills know that Barbara who began this a few years back has succumbed to her illnesses and passed away last Sunday. Writing this blog as she dealt with her health issues gave her tremendous pleasure and as she told me many times a purpose to continue and fight the cancer that finally took her.

I shall miss her tremendously as she was my wife, my best friend, and my life’s love. Those that did correspond with her please know you helped her with her fight and added to the pleasure she received as she writing her stories.

To all of you thank you.

I myself do not have the same strength as Barb did at this time. I am in that emotional spot at this time that wants me to run from reality yet it wants me to confront it as well. I know many of you have experienced this as well.

As this will be the final post I ask that no-one reply to this as I will not be monitoring any reply to have it posted. So rather than reply please simply send out a thought or prayer on Barb’s behalf and that will serve a better purpose than a typed message.

God Bless her and keep her safe.

JK. Leahy Short Stories, short stories, TRIBALMYSTIC BLOG, Writing Stories

Amile’s Twins – Short Story

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Picture by Barbara W. Beacham

Mondays Finish the Story

Amile’s Twins – a short story by JK.Leahy

She lived a life that some would describe as being on edge. Amile rubbed the twins in her red Yves St Laurent  coat. She ‘borrowed’ the coat from her one-month-old employer. With minimum wage, Amile was desperate for money. She heard about a game at Vipers, a dingy bar downtown. The stakes were nice and high. Gambling left her habits after Lucas was born, but times were hard.

That night, as the game intensified, all players dropped out except for Snarky Joe and her.  Snarky was rumoured to kill at a drop of a hat.

Grandma Magda’s lucky twin coins made Amile fearless. As the dealer began, Amile winked at Snarky and raised all in. Snarky’s hungry eyes lavished her full honey glossed lips, high cheekbones and large brown eyes. His eyes couldn’t go beyond the poker table; instead, he held Amile’s gaze.

Revealing her win, Amile reached for the chips. Snarky pulled out a .22 calibre.

“I win,” he said.

Click on short stories on triblamysticstories blog, to read more 150 word short stories created for Mondays Finish the Story flash fiction.

short stories, TRIBALMYSTIC BLOG, Writing Stories

In All Eyes – Short Story

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Picture by Barbara W. Beacham

Mondays Finish the Story – Flash Fiction

In All Eyes – JK.Leahy© Short Story

“I watched the vulture looking at me hungrily as I lay on the ground bleeding and injured.” Two thoughts entered my mind. One, it would come for me before the day ended. Two, night would reach me before it did. I shut my eyes and prayed for the night.

“Mama! Mama! Look! A man!… He’s bleeding”.

I wished, that was my son Toby calling his mama, but Toby was no longer five. He turned 17 last June. The Cult dumped my body early this morning and drove away with Toby. I may never see my son again.

“Get back here!” a woman shouted. I opened my eyes. She was closer than I thought, moving cautiously around me.  Her eyes were as sharp as the vulture’s. She was not hungry, hers was a look of horror. What have they done to me, what can she see?

JK. Leahy Short Stories, short stories, writing, Writing Stories

The Fate of Little Luigi – Short Story

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Picture credit: Barbara W. Beacham.

Mondays Finish the Story is a flash fiction challenge by Barbara W. Beacham. The story requires 100-150 words (excluding the first sentence). The challenge runs from Monday to Sunday. Here is my short story for this week’s prompt based on the first sentence below and the picture.

The Fate of Little Luigi – JK.Leahy Short Story©

“The family had no idea that little Luigi would grow up to be a…murderer.” 

The shock was too much to bear as police led Luigi away from the courtroom. He caught his sister’s gaze and his terrifying eyes softened. Martha turned to her mother; they both buried their faces in uncle Dino’s old, smoke-soaked coat.

“It’s not him, it’s not him – I know… I know,” Martha cried. She felt the 65-year-old Dino’s grip tighten as he led them to his car, barreling through the flashing media cameras and the crowd. Many had come to see New York’s District Attorney Martha Luciano’s brother sentenced today.

“Grim Day for Luciano Family”, headlines screamed across the streets in earlier hours.

Three days later, Martha brought Luigi the aged Polaroid of the family that he had asked for.  Her eyes salted as she tried to smile. Trembling, she leaned closer to her beloved 26-year-old brother.

“I can’t Luigi…you can’t go to jail for me,” Martha sobbed.

(You can read my other short stories by clicking on the top menu on Tribalmystic Stories home page)

JK. Leahy Short Stories, short stories, Stories, writing, Writing Stories

The Red Tomb – Short Story

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The Red Tomb – JK.Leahy short stories

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Picture by Barbara W. Beacham

Mondays Finish the Story is a flash fiction challenge by Barbara W. Beacham. The story requires 100-150 words (excluding the first sentence). Here is my short story for this week’s prompt based on the first sentence below and the picture.

The Red Tomb – short story

“Where did they go?”

The two owls following her seemingly disappeared. Together yesterday, they watched the horizon quickly swallow the sun. Now they’re gone.

The mud on her feet lifted a coat of ochre from the red track. Dusk soaked and chilled her body, while blood from cuts drawn on her bare arms and legs marked her run through the arid country in search of the Red Tomb.

Tia stopped. The wind tapped her silky hair gently against her waist.  Beyond the treetops, the sun stretched the shadows of the peaks, reaching to clutch her.

At last, she had reached the Red Tomb. She must borrow from her ancestors to save her five-year-old daughter.

“Go to the Red Tomb. Collect red dust from your ancestors’ graves. Their spirits will travel with you. When I bath Luhana in that dust, she will return to us”, the witch doctor whispered, before Tia left her dying child.

……………………………

(Click on short story category to read my other stories)

blogging, JK. Leahy Short Stories, short stories, Writing Stories

A Friendly Visit – Short Story

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2015-07-27-bw-beacham

Mondays Finish the Story

This is a unique flash fiction challenge where Barbara W. Beacham provides a new photo and the first sentence of a story each week. The challenge is to finish the story using 100-150 words. This challenge runs from Monday to Sunday.

A Friendly Visit – JK.Leahy Short Story©

He thought he found the perfect hiding spot.

Near dad’s cabinet, the curtains moved.

Black feet peeked from under and two green eyes pierced through the curtain. It was a dog. We didn’t have a dog, and neither did Jessy.

My mind went back to yesterday.

“I don’t want you to play with Jessy”

Why not mother?”

“You are eight and he’s 16, and there is something weird about that boy”.

“Like what mother?”

“Those large green eyes – when he grins, I cringe”.

“That’s not fair mother!” I yelled and ran to my room.

Today, my parents went to dad’s work party. Aunty Anne was coming over, but she was late. Jessy stopped by. We played video games and then I went to the toilet. When I returned, Jessy was nowhere to be found…

“Jessy! Where are you?”

“I’m right here”.

The lounge was not big at all. I shivered.

“I’m here stupid! Find me!” Jessy growled.

Art, blogging, Life, Living, Nature and Environment, Stories, writing, Writing Stories

The Looming – Short Story

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2015-07-20-bw-beacham
Picture by Barbara W. Beacham

Mondays Finish the Story

This is a unique flash fiction challenge where Barbara W. Beacham provides a new photo and the first sentence of a story each week. The challenge is to finish the story using 100-150 words. This challenge runs from Monday to Sunday.

The Looming JK.Leahy short story ©

The petroglyphs told the story of an unusual event.

The old man’s eyes widened. He blinked from the petroglyphs and stared into the sky. The interpretation led to the present. Something was happening. Yawing, seven, could sense the fear in his grandfather’s voice.

Yawing followed Old Manu’s eyes; the clouds gathered into a thick dark cover.

“What is it, grandpa?”

“There’s no time”

“No time for what?”

“Go! Get your mother!” Old Manu ordered Yawing. “We need to move quickly. It is coming for us”.

“What is coming for us?”, Yawing asked, wide-eyed. He reversed to the door.

“Go!”

Yawing quickly turned and ran to find his mother among the women at the river. He tripped and fell.

“Mother! We must leave, now”, Yawing shouted with a mouthful of sand.  He spat.

“They are coming for us!”

Yawing’s alarmed voice chilled into silence, his three little sisters, playing outside their house. As they watched, he ran to their mother.

 

authors, blogging, JK. Leahy Short Stories, Life, Living, People, short stories, Stories, Women, writing

Mind Games – Short Story

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2015-05-04-bw-beacham

Picture by Barbara W. Beacham

 Mondays Finish the Story by Barbara W. Beacham

This is a unique flash fiction challenge where Barbara provides a new photo each week, and the first sentence of a story. The challenge is to finish the story using 100-150 words, not including the sentence provided. The challenge runs from Monday to Sunday! 

Mind Games  ©JLeahy

“After losing her head, she realised that the rest of her body was falling apart”, Joe would mimic a psychiatrist.

I sat by the window. The sun warmed my scalp and shadows danced on my hands. In hiding, I watched police take Joe away last night. He would have calmed down, but only he and I knew that; not our new neighbours.

We could have lasted in this abandoned house. If only Joe stayed quiet. My thoughts hurt my head.

“Ava! Ava! Where is your doll?”

Over the low white fence were a lilac doll pantsuit and two doll hands.

I had watched Ava at work yesterday. The toddler first ripped the doll’s head and legs, which she threw towards me. Ava caught me watching her. She laid the doll arms and pantsuit down, and dropping the body, she ran to the house. My eyes salted, thinking how scary I must have looked to her. I must leave before the Johnson Mental Health party arrives.

(150 words excluding the opening quote)

authors, blogging, Life, Living, People, Stories, Women, writing

Pizza Anyone? Short Story

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Barbara W. Beacham

Mondays Finish the Story (Host: Barbara W. Beacham)

“Pizza anyone?” James grinned and set the pizza on the table.

“Rusty!” I called my Chihuahua.

Rusty chewed all of James’ shoes yesterday. Last night, James threatened to drop him off at RSPCA. I lost my appetite for 24-hours. Starving, I grabbed the pizza.

“Wait, I need to cut it” he said and produced a large kitchen knife. He sliced the pizza and I noticed an odd smell. Perhaps it was our compost that smelt. I quickly ate three slices. It was delicious, yet I could taste something else apart from the cheesy mushroom.

“You having any?” I asked reaching for the fourth slice. “I’m not hungry”. Then, I stopped. There was brown fur on the meaty medallions. I picked it with my fingernail. “What’s this?”

“It’s Rusty! He tastes good huh?” James said. I dropped the slice and ran with my hands on my mouth. (150 words)