tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32000792024-03-19T03:48:34.973-05:00Joyously ProlificCheck out my books at www.Lazette.netZettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01837114270302314607noreply@blogger.comBlogger3288125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200079.post-54895590721268800122024-03-15T03:06:00.005-05:002024-03-15T19:34:33.658-05:00Flash Fiction #606 -- Do Not Waken/1 "You don't have to go," Uncle Tef insisted, even as I packed the last of my belongings in the cloth bag. "We need you, Coln --"I barely kept a snarl from my face as I turned to the stout little man who almost reached my chin. I knew my height annoyed him. Very many things annoyed Uncle Tef, probably everything I did."The commission is only five miles away," I said as I shouldered the Zettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01837114270302314607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200079.post-73921700305261912862024-03-09T19:47:00.002-06:002024-03-09T19:48:04.921-06:00Flash Fiction #605 -- The New Frog (Drabble) A new frog turned up in the pond on a July morning. He simply plopped into the water and began bouncing around, startling everything nearby."Sit down in the mud!" several frogs shouted. "Be still or you'll get us all killed!""I can't be a frog!" he shouted."Looks like a frog.""Sounds like a frog.""Jumps like a frog.""You might as well accept it, son. You are now a frog. Ask the othersZettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01837114270302314607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200079.post-73875103317616264522024-02-29T23:37:00.004-06:002024-02-29T23:37:20.055-06:00Flash Fiction #604 -- Alien (Drabble) Humans have strange ideas about aliens. They imagine us as ugly, bug-eyed creatures with razor teeth (humans have a fascination with teeth), or we are tall, beautiful humanoids who often turn out to be evil.Been there. Done that.Pretending to be human is an infuriating act of self-inflicted insanity. I decided I would try a different approach. I would study the humans from the Zettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01837114270302314607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200079.post-80841713144830959032024-02-23T01:06:00.001-06:002024-02-23T01:06:04.534-06:00Flash Fiction #603 -- A Dog's Dictionary of Squirrels Zettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01837114270302314607noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200079.post-4838013346873366882024-02-17T23:56:00.004-06:002024-02-17T23:56:56.620-06:00Flash Fiction #602 -- Winter Tale/4 (Drabble) Albert the snowman watched cars whiz by on the nearby road. One day he did something daring. He saw a car racing along the cross street and knew what would happen. He waved his stick-arms, drew a young child to run to him, and the others followed.The car spun on ice, jumped the curb, and smashed into the bus stop where the family would have been sitting. No one believed Zettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01837114270302314607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200079.post-54929796389085092842024-02-09T03:33:00.002-06:002024-02-09T03:33:24.420-06:00Flash Fiction #601 -- A Change of Lace The humans were getting rowdy again, barely six thousand years after the Trojan Fiasco. Apollo turned over in bed, mumbling something impolite and crude about humans. Still, it didn't stop them from getting louder.Getting sleep was proving more difficult by the century. Even fluffy, soft white clouds couldn't muffle the noise. Apollo went so far as to kick at the closest clouds and Zettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01837114270302314607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200079.post-81620392162183697532024-02-02T23:46:00.002-06:002024-02-09T03:36:06.036-06:00Flash Fiction #600-- Introducing... Welcome to the world of Macready and LeeLee, two cat private detectives determined to make the world a better place -- at least for cats. Working out of a mostly abandoned office building in downtown, they do their best not to draw human attention while solving crimes in the animal world.Dealing with the underground network of rats or rival raccoon street gangs is no easy task for two smallZettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01837114270302314607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200079.post-65312373001132609822024-01-26T22:57:00.002-06:002024-02-09T03:35:42.687-06:00Flash Fiction 599 -- Winter Tales/3 (Drabble) A cranky, old dragon heats my house. I realized this the first winter. We set the temperature and could hear him in the basement: click, clack, click, rumble, squeal -- and heat.Despite the rumbles and squeals, the old dragon worked well. However, you could tell the days when he wasn't happy. His squeals grew louder and stopped in mid-shriek.BANGThe door to his secret room Zettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01837114270302314607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200079.post-42716017800883969172024-01-18T23:16:00.005-06:002024-01-18T23:16:34.030-06:00Flash Fiction #598 -- Winter Tale /2 (Drabble) Winter came late that year. The Autumn Sprites had collaborated with their Summer cousins and chased their colder winter relatives back to the secret caves.They frolicked and played through November and into December, chasing away Winter at every chance.Soon, though, the plants, trees, and even the animals began to complain. It was not that they disliked the warmth, but this wasZettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01837114270302314607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200079.post-11829546807729772372024-01-12T22:01:00.001-06:002024-02-09T03:33:46.610-06:00Flash Fiction # 597 -- Winter Tale/1 (Drabble) Yuki sat on the stairs leading to the rundown apartment. Icy rain fell giving a slight sparkle to the breeze. Others hurried to be indoors, but not her.A long time ago, she had walked in an enchanted woods while rain turned to ice, and ice to snow. She'd fallen and cried, but no one heard.She died cold and alone, and became a Yukionna. Some called her a winter demon, but she Zettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01837114270302314607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200079.post-68441637633617613802024-01-05T02:06:00.003-06:002024-01-05T02:06:40.204-06:00Flash Fiction # 596 -- Resolutions Make Believe was a rare fae business located in a human realm. Most humans who noticed it at all thought it was the headquarters for a toy maker. Make Believe actually dealt with the occasional magic humans faced in their otherwise mundane (though exciting) world. The fae handled things like imagination, dreams, and wishes.They also assigned the rare Fairy Godmother Zettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01837114270302314607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200079.post-19116324629796607302023-12-30T19:40:00.003-06:002023-12-30T19:40:28.058-06:00Flash Fiction #595 --Buffy the Princess/12 The herald was about to formally introduce them when the trouble began. Serena felt a prick of magic somewhere to the right and then another to the left --"Buffy -- up and pinpoint them!" she shouted, grabbing the cat and tossing her into the air.Buffy spread her wings, used some of her own magic, and sailed up into the high ceiling rafters. By then, Serena felt another four spots."Zettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01837114270302314607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200079.post-22517916626812266022023-12-22T21:12:00.003-06:002023-12-22T21:12:20.684-06:00Flash Fiction #594 -- Buffy the Princess/11 As Serena and her group continued, the guards began to check all the scones."Well done," Mistress Tillie said. "And usually only the king comes this way."They walked in silence. Did Serena just save their magic-less King's life? Someone's life, maybe, since it had been triggered by movement and not by recognition of a specific target. Dangerous and inefficient. Zettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01837114270302314607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200079.post-64304523693931363562023-12-15T21:18:00.000-06:002023-12-15T21:18:05.310-06:00Flash Fiction # 593 --Princess Buffy/10 Thomas's plan worked. They were soon in the warehouse area, just three more ragged-looking people. This was not how Serena -- Princess Serena -- had imagined entering the royal city.Serena had to admit she was tired of adventures just now. She wanted to go back home. At least Thomas got them through the Sea Gate and the Inner East Gate with no trouble. People walked Zettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01837114270302314607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200079.post-90845538646783113202023-12-09T01:38:00.000-06:002023-12-09T01:38:03.536-06:00Flash Fiction #592 -- Buffy the Princess/9 Serena screamed, spun in the air, and threw herself at the area where Buffy had disappeared. She hit Thomas, who held an already sputtering and enraged Buffy.All three of them ended up underwater. At least it wasn't deep. Thomas grabbed Buffy and surged back to the surface before Serena pushed off the sandy bottom and shot back to the surface."I've got her. She's fine," Zettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01837114270302314607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200079.post-57551388786366684222023-12-01T22:47:00.002-06:002023-12-01T22:47:16.786-06:00Flash Fiction #591 -- Buffy the Princess/8 Under other circumstances, the early morning flight would have been perfect. Light clouds and a pleasant breeze kept them from getting too hot. The calmness of the day finally gave Serena a chance to think clearly about what had happened.Serena went through everything she remembered of the disaster and afterward. This included the storm (magical), the ship coming apart (also magical),Zettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01837114270302314607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200079.post-34362809591937040172023-11-25T21:05:00.003-06:002023-11-27T04:17:28.789-06:00Flash Fiction #590 -- Buffy the Princess/7 Serena would have preferred something softer, but that was just feeling sorry for herself. Besides, they found several pleasant areas filled with sand and as comfortable as anywhere they had slept in the last couple of days. It was easy enough to get rid of little biting bugs. It was one of the first spells mom had ever taught her, and Serena could see now why it was always so Zettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01837114270302314607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200079.post-9952682738881598732023-11-17T02:21:00.002-06:002023-11-27T04:18:05.196-06:00Flash Fiction #589 -- Buffy the Princess/6The sun was starting to go down. Where were they even going to sleep tonight? She looked around and decided some big leaves would make beds and blankets. It wasn't that cold, after all.Thomas returned first. She saw him stand and fight past the waves and up to the sand. He looked pleased to see her."Buffy should be back soon," Serena said. "I should have told her to come back before sunset.""Zettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01837114270302314607noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200079.post-71691274391588406552023-11-10T21:02:00.004-06:002023-11-10T21:02:40.100-06:00Flash Fiction #588 -- Buffy the Princess/5 It seemed to take forever, but the island finally grew closer. Serena paused to look at it sometimes and give herself a brief break. Thomas had gone ahead as a fish, intending to ensure it was a safe haven.Not that it mattered. Even Thomas was starting to show signs of exhaustion. Buffy had slipped off twice, but at least she could swim until one of them grabbed her.The island looked like Zettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01837114270302314607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200079.post-10300370360154851342023-11-03T02:00:00.003-05:002023-11-03T02:00:20.145-05:00Flash Fiction #587 -- Buffy the Princess/4 And that is what he became, his fishy tail splashing Buffy."He did that on purpose!" she growled."Yes, I think he did."She grumbled but stopped as the light came back, the bright circle swinging over them and back again. The wind picked up and had a definite feel of magic and anger. Even Buffy knew that wasn't a good mix. The rowboat bounced on the waves, splashing into their little Zettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01837114270302314607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200079.post-70326119001040166832023-10-27T23:55:00.002-05:002023-11-10T21:03:19.508-06:00Flash Fiction #586 -- Buffy the Princess/3 Thump, thump, thump."Your cousins know all about your adventures. You two are legends at court --""ACK!" Serena and Buffy chorused.Thump-thump-thump-thump --Mom threw open the door. Water and a single fish washed in on them. Mom grabbed the startled fish and held it in front of her face. "What the hell do you think you are doing, Thomas?""Warning?" the fish squeaked and Zettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01837114270302314607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200079.post-45931971165187960752023-10-21T00:11:00.003-05:002023-11-10T21:03:34.402-06:00Flash Fiction #585 -- Buffy the Princess/2 Later...The bunk jumped upward and came down violently, which meant no sleep for anyone. Buffy mumbled something so low that it might as well have been a growl. She snarled at Serena as they both tried to untangle the blanket and get up.Serena bounced once more and unintentionally rolled off the bed. "Ow"The door crashed open, and Dad stood there, his hair dripping and his face grim. She Zettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01837114270302314607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200079.post-12945032983653946532023-10-13T23:34:00.002-05:002023-10-13T23:34:44.055-05:00Flash Fiction #584 -- Buffy the Princess/1 Although she didn't say so aloud, Serena agreed with Buffy, her cat familiar, that they should have taken a flying carpet to the capital rather than her father's pirate ship. Serena had never realized how boring life could be on a boat or how long a journey could take. Serena's mother, who was determined that Buffy would know every nuance of court etiquette and every tedious detail ofZettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01837114270302314607noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200079.post-54178518030565714192023-10-07T00:28:00.000-05:002023-10-07T00:28:03.615-05:00Flash Fiction #583 -- Neko's Vacation/9 "Ocean!" Neko threw himself onto the dashboard and flattened his face against the glass. They were driving through a canyon, working their way downhill, and the ocean came in and out of sight so often it made Neko breathless.Colin found the first spot he could park and they headed down to the golden beach. Neko dashed out into a retreating wave and back again to grab Luna's Zettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01837114270302314607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200079.post-80061768978590617932023-09-30T02:11:00.005-05:002023-09-30T02:27:37.385-05:00Flash Fiction #582 -- Neko's Vacation/8 Colin shook his head at the suggestion. "Not until we're certain of what we've found. That might only take a few more minutes."Neko thought that sounded reasonable. Luna must have as well. She drove on, and magically (thanks to Colin) found a good parking spot. Neko put the halter and leash on with Colin in 'control' of him.Some people didn't approve. Zettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01837114270302314607noreply@blogger.com0