Adrift

The sun is strong on my emaciated face. It’s been days, weeks, adrift at sea, my dry lips ache for water and my only companions are sea creatures.

The fire onboard my ship took out the entire crew. I still hear the screams of my men as they flailed and jumped into the seawater to no avail. It’s a miracle I survived. I have minor burns on my hands from trying to put out the flames, but it spread too quickly and a gust threw me overboard.

I hear something, could it be a boat?

I may just make it.

From Guest Contributor Lisa M. Scuderi-Burkimsher

Woodlands

My emaciated body shook in the cold air. I trembled in the woods alone and I am so hungry and thirsty, my stomach churned.

After my family was taken by the Nazis, and I escaped by sheer fortune, I made my way to the forest hoping to find others. I heard families were hiding in the woodlands, but I lost hope and cowered against a tree waiting to die.

I heard rustling and there stood two men and one woman with guns. They lowered their weapons.

The man with the scar on his face spoke. “Come.”

I nodded and followed.

From Guest Contributor Lisa M. Scuderi-Burkimsher

Baby Boy

When you opened the door, Rob stood with a bouquet of red roses and a smile on his face. He had been deployed over a year ago, and you didn’t know anything about his mission, only surmised the danger.

You greeted him with a hug and kiss, crushing the bouquet, then stood back and clutched your chest, while tears streamed down your cheeks. “I can’t believe you’re home!”

You took him by the hand, pulled him into the house and hugged him again fiercely this time.

You had something wonderful to show him.

The baby boy upstairs in his crib.

From Guest Contributor Lisa M. Scuderi-Burkimsher

A Dozen

Mort motioned to the waitress who took her time getting to the booth.

“Is this place okay?”

“Okay?”

“Yeah. I just saw a fly.”

The waitress, with the name ‘Marge’ stenciled on her food-stained uniform, twisted her face.

“Are you sure?”

“I know a fly when I see one. And Claudette saw another one over there.”

Claudette nodded, pointing to the empty counter where a bulbous-headed insect stumbled erratically.

“Only two?”

“What’d you mean ‘only?’”

“Look, I get your point. A dozen or more flies aren't going to be wrong about a diner. But you saw only two in here…

From Guest Contributor David Sydney

Upon The Blasted Heath

The three witches planned a hell-broth for Macbeth. Their boiling cauldron was ready for the eye of newt, toe of frog, wool of bat, tongue of dog…

“Wait a minute.”

Hecate, the main chef, added extra frown lines to her wrinkled face.

“Look at the flies on the newt’s eye and frog's toe.”

The dog’s tongue, lizard’s leg, and Howlett's wing were also covered.

“The recipe doesn't call for that many flies.”

So Macbeth passed, on his way to Duncan's camp, undisturbed by the Weird Sisters, but swallowing flies. The bulbous-headed insects were murderously thick that night on the heath.

From Guest Contributor David Sydney

Evening Walk

I still smelled the floral scent of my wife’s perfume and dreamed of her laughing, a soft cackle that used to bring a smile to my face. Her beautiful complexion used to turn heads wherever we went. She was flawless.

One evening the air was perfect for a walk, or so we thought.

That was the evening a man wearing a mask robbed my wallet. When my wife called him a coward, he shot her in the stomach. When she laid on the ground, my hand cupping her head, she whispered, “I love you.”

My world was never the same.

From Guest Contributor Lisa M. Scuderi-Burkimsher

Fur Baby

My small fur baby, fifteen-years-old, passed away gently in my arms. Before she closed her lids for the final time, she looked at me with her big brown eyes and gently patted my arm, as if to say thank you for the years of love and care.

As I held her softly, I whispered that she was a joy and gave my life purpose as only a sweet dog can do.

I brushed her ear forward, kissed her tiny head and her hair tickled my face.

Goodbye my cute one, you were loved and will be forever in my heart.

From Guest Contributor Lisa M. Scuderi-Burkimsher

When Life Gives You Lemons

While Burt created a wedding cake, the radio crackled. “Evacuate, citizens!” a voice shouted. “An asteroid will hit us in ninety minutes and could flatten the town!”

“I’ve never let a bride down,” Burt muttered. “However, my notes are unclear on whether to do strawberry or lemon filling.”

The asteroid lowered itself through the clouds, blocking out the sun; its cratered face peered through the bakery’s window.

“Lemon,” it rumbled. “Bride not coming.”

“Okay,” Burt said.

When the cake was finished, it slipped through a sinkhole.

After the dust cleared, parts of the town were destroyed. The bakery remained standing.

From Guest Contributor Susmita Ramani

Problems With The Ark

Anyone who builds an Ark can expect complaints, and not just from the animals.

“This’s your stupidest idea yet, Noah.”

She got right to the point.

Not only was his wife seasick after 40 days and allergic to the weasels, but now she had to squeeze between two rhinos to sleep.

“Look, I'm only following orders.”

Orders – that was always his excuse.

Mrs. Noah added more frown lines to her face.

“Well, here's my order. From now on you’re sleeping between the two rhinos.”

“What?”

“No, forget the rhinoceroses.” She knew ‘rhinoceri’ was an improper term. “Make that the hippos.”

From Guest Contributor David Sydney

Sweet World

"I agree. I do find the world very sweet. I know there's a lot of ugliness in the world, and not everyone is as fortunate as we are, but there's always a bright side, even at the darkest moments. Like puppies. If there's one thing that we can all agree on it's that puppies are the sweetest thing under the sun. Nothing can be so bad that a litter full of puppies won't bring a smile to your face. Know what I mean?"

After a long awkward pause...

"I was talking about 'Sweet World.' The candy shop. I'm craving sugar."