My Usual Jog

I stretch my legs inhaling and exhaling. It’s a beautiful abundant sunshiny day, and I’m ready for my jog. Not many people are out and that’s normal nowadays.

Each day I pass the same houses. My favorite is the one with the bright yellow sunflowers along the front walkway. What else do people have to do in the spring, so why not make their yards look nice?

Since jogging, my legs have strengthened and I’m more energetic. I’ve been working from home and cooking more, but I miss the previous world. However, I won’t let Covid-19 take away my jogging.

From Guest Contributor Lisa M. Scuderi-Burkimsher

New Year's Resolutions

A new year. Time to make new, exciting changes.

Shall I spend more time writing, or perhaps make time to relax with a cup of coffee next to the warmth of the fireplace with a good book. I could clean out the basement and get rid of old Christmas ornaments I never use. How about jogging or enrolling in a paint class. Joining a book club could be fun. I would love to discuss “To Kill A Mockingbird.” Skydiving, snorkeling, traveling the world. Maybe.

Or maybe this is all wishful thinking, since I only have a short time to
live.

From Guest Contributor Lisa M. Scuderi-Burkimsher

Murderous Intentions

He sat on the park bench. Waiting to find his next victim. Women pass by as they take their morning jog.

A woman with meaty thighs and blonde hair grabs his attention. Not too slim, not too heavy. Right in the middle. She is the one. Time to work his magic. He jogs beside her.

“Hi I’m John. Let me just say that even if there wasn’t gravity on earth, I would still fall for you.”

“Smooth, but cute. I’m Kathy.”

They jog together. His mind wanders. How is he going to kill her? Stabbing? Poison?

So many endless possibilities.

From Guest Contributor Alexa Findlay

Alexa is a Creative Writing Major at the University of California, Riverside. She spends her time writing fiction and poetry. Her work has been featured in Pomona Valley Review, Better than Starbucks Magazine, Adelaide Literary Magazine, Halcyon Days, Grotesque Magazine, Blood Moon Rising Magazine, Scarlet Leaf Review, and A Story in 100 words, amongst others.

Running Man

I stroll around the park, mulling over my next 100-word story.

A scrawny bald man hurtles towards me.

“Ian?”

“Bill?”

He stops.

“10K training, 8 laps of the park - my 99th half-marathon’s on Sunday.”

“Wow!”

“But no full marathons now after my knee surgeries.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, impact injuries.”

Divorced, kids grown up, running has been the constant in his life.

“Still running, Ian?”

“Just jogging and some yoga.”

“Get back into it!” he says fervently.

Telling me his Facebook address he sprints off.

Leaving the park, I watch him running around in circles, the perfect subject for my story.

From Guest Contributor Ian Fletcher

Born and raised in Cardiff, Wales, Ian has an MA in English from Oxford University. He has had poems and short stories published in Schlock! Webzine, 1947 A Literary Journal, Dead Snakes, Short-story.me, Anotherealm, Under the Bed, A Story In 100 Words, Poems and Poetry, Friday Flash Fiction, and in various anthologies.