Idle hands

What happens when there’s nothing left to hold on to?

Hey, you little Firecracker 🧨

You’re doing such a great job! I’m so proud of you. ☺️

Here’s the best of this week’s micro-fiction. The paranthetical reference at the end of each story is the word count. Most are (50) word stories, but let’s kick it off with a doozie (100).

Here we go! 🚀

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Idle Hands

Step down from Level V Max to medium security, and you think life gets easier—your reward for good behavior.

No.

In Max you had 48 colored pencils, 72 crayons, and an 11“ x 24“, 24-sheet sketchpad.

But here, only 12 colored pencils, 24 crayons, and no sketch pads allowed. Sheet paper only.

And all your clothes, books, cards, letters, and photos must fit into a standard-issue duffel bag.

"What about the rest of it?" you ask. "My Art?"

"Send it home or throw it away," the guard says. "Up to you."

"But there's no one to send it to."

(100)

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No place like home

Boneless. Weak. No character. Nothing of substance. You're a dark, hollowed out shell—a shriveled corpse.

You flail and cling like a helpless child. Whine for pity and whiskey enough to drown your sorrows.

Leach. Loser. Freeloader. Nothing but a goddamm parasite.

I miss you. When are you coming home?

(50)

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Honest

“Have you ever been convicted of a felony?”

The hiring manager looked offscreen. Nodded.

"You will be evaluated on many criteria. Your answer does not exclude you from consideration.”

"Yes," I looked down. Looked up again. "I am a felon. But I've changed. Honest, I have."

"I'm sorry,” he smiled.

(50)

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AI AI oh

They let us go in batches. “AI can do it faster, cheaper.”

I got desperate. Applied to an AI-run company. The interview went well.

"Congratulations!" The bot said. "You are 97.8% qualified."

I sighed with relief.

Then it added, "We have found a 98% match. Thank you for your time."

(50)

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It’s your dream job, Dummy.

"What do you want to be when you grow up?"

"A cinematographer? What's that?"

So dumb. Nobody understands me. They don't get it.

My Dad tried. He arranged an internship at the local public access cable TV station.

I quit after my first day.

Now who doesn’t get it? Dummy.

(50)

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Shhh

“A single wish. Anything you desire is yours. Choose wisely.”

He didn't have to think. “I wish to be free from all this pain,” he whimpered.

The genie smiled. "And so it shall be."

The next morning, his inner voice was gone.

No regrets. No past. No pain.

Nothing.

Forever.

(50)

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And that’s all folks! 👋

That’s it for this week.

If you like my work, please take a second to give it a ♥️. I would also be ever so grateful if you shared it with someone else.

Thanks for being there.

You’re just the best! 🤗

—Paul