The day started at 4 a.m., waking up in the humid, July heat, on the road to Raleigheven before the fast food restaurants opened. During the drive he thought about the day she gave him the painting. Senile, angry about something — not him, thank God — but raging nonetheless. It was Mother’s Day and [...]
Posts Tagged ‘Grift Flash’
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Grift Flash: Everybody Walks in New Orleans by Matthew C. Funk
Posted by John on January 25th, 2012
Stagger Lee walked tall as a drive-in movie outlaw to Markey’s Bar. The noon sun ricocheted off his aviators, drizzled a shine over his silk shirt—he smiled to think he could see its eye and it couldn’t see his. Even when a cruiser passed by, Stagger’s grin strengthened with the knowledge that the metal in [...]
Grift Flash: Nicole by Andrew Stancek
Posted by John on December 21st, 2011
On my third Chivas, I stare at the reflection of the door in the mirror. When she strides in, all conversation stops; every eye goes to the door. She tosses her head, red hair cascading below bare shoulders, black knit dress filled to perfection. She takes the stool next to mine. Her husky voice says, [...]
Grift Flash: What is Your Emergency? by Chris Rhatigan
Posted by John on December 14th, 2011
Lynn hunched over her desk, a slab of industrial grey metal. With a red pen as her weapon, she slashed her way through yet another student’s “essay” on the causes of the Civil War. Passive voice, run-on sentences, the particularly infuriating text-message language – all manner of sins graced these pages. Lynn didn’t buy the [...]
Grift Flash: We Three Kings by Jim Harrington
Posted by John on December 8th, 2011
The plan was simple. We’d play the parts of the three Magi in the living nativity at St. Bart’s. Then we’d steal the week’s donations, while the parishioners partied with birthday cake, homemade cookies, and cider. Like I said, simple. Bernie and I kinda looked the part. Alice not so much, but her mustache helped. [...]
Grift Flash: The Purple House by Janet Freeman
Posted by John on November 30th, 2011
Mickey G. and I were cleaning up after group session, punishment for cocking fists at each other after he misinterpreted a crack I made about fat people. Mickey G. is in here for binge eating and doesn’t take too kindly to being slighted. It wasn’t like I was trying to be offensive. Then again, I’m [...]
Grift Flash: The Smooth Shoulder by Court Merrigan
Posted by John on November 23rd, 2011
Lou watched the orange calico cat across the street. “Look at it nosing the front door,” he said to Merilyn. “Poor thing must be starving,” said Merilyn, rocking the squalling baby. Cheeks twitching, Lou looked at his screeching son. Four months now the baby hadn’t stopped screaming. Lou had developed this tic. Couldn’t make it [...]
Grift Flash: Candle by Thomas Pluck
Posted by John on November 16th, 2011
After inaugurating GRIFT FLASH, our weekly flash fiction offering here at Griftmagazine.com, with Matthew C. Funk’s fine story “The Town They Earned,” we continue this week with a new one from Thomas Pluck. So I was parked by the lake, lovely bit of water, when I started thinking fractions. I was never good at maths, [...]
Grift Flash: The Town They Earned by Matthew C. Funk
Posted by John on November 9th, 2011
Today marks the debut of GRIFT FLASH, our weekly flash fiction offering here at Griftmagazine.com. I couldn’t be happier to start this series off with a tale from Matthew C. Funk. I first read Matthew’s work last year, and haven’t been disappointed by anything since. His eye for detail and gritty reality make everything he [...]
