The Ocean

It was an overcast humid morning and the church bells mingled with the foghorn. It was warm. Uncharacteristically so. This was his usual return time from fishing and his favorite time of day to be at sea. He skillfully edged his lobster boat along the dock, then stepped onto it holding the bow line. A practiced hand tied the cleat knot efficiently. He went up the gangway empty handed, unusual for him. The ocean had always been good to him and never gave up their secrets. He needed it to continue. His cheap wife will never cheat on him again.

From Guest Contributor N.T. Franklin

NT Franklin has been published in Page and Spine, Fiction on the Web, 101 Words, Friday Flash Fiction, CafeLit, Madswirl, Postcard Shorts, 404 Words, Scarlet Leaf Review, Freedom Fiction, Burrst, Entropy, Alsina Publishing, Fifty-word stories, Dime Show Review, among others.

Dead Weight

Eloise had been silent the whole trip back.

“If you’re still upset about what we revealed on Pan-Gu, all’s golden, alright?”

She stared at Armand blankly. The whole galley did. He pulled the craft into the space station miles above Jupiter. A station security officer greeted them.

“No one talking to me? Suit yourselves,” and Armand stepped down the gangway, past the security officer. “One of my crew will sign your documents.”

He stormed off.

The young officer leaned inside the craft. The stench made his eyes water. He saw five pairs of eyes staring around him, jaws hanging slack.

From Guest Contributor S.R Malone