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Gordon Lawrie

A Political Misjudgement

30/11/2017

 
On the day that a major political leader – yet again – demonstrated his crass insensitive and racist bigotry. I know he's not representative of Americans, but he is America's representative.

I appreciate this is childish but I need to let off steam somehow...

Having only recently elected Struan Spade as President, the voters were reluctant to admit any misjudgement. Even when Spade mistook the German Chancellor for Lara Croft, called the Israelis "Muslims in disguise", or when CCTV captured him sexually molesting a major European ally's PM.
 
Then Spade blundered by introducing compulsory daily stand-to-attentions for the national anthem. That December, one department store's Santa "took the knee" in protest at Spade's policies.
 
Spade, who still believed in Father Christmas, banned all Santas and cancelled Christmas. It was too much for the voters, who sent him to the naughty step, appointing President Coyne instead.

Inside The Black Bag

24/11/2017

 
On the Friday he was born, an elderly aunt gave James Milverton Wilson a large black cloth bag with tie-string fastening. Inside was a folded note, and another identical bag.
 
His parents were instructed to read him the note's contents (a 100-word-long fairy story), and retain only the inner bag.
 
Each Friday thereafter revealed another 100 words, plus another bag. Eventually, he read the notes himself – stories, advice on spending or girls, recipes, anything at all.
 
Exactly 4,253 Fridays later James Milverton Wilson was found slumped in his armchair. On his lap sat a black bag – and a blank note.

A Thanksgiving Grace

23/11/2017

 
Posted on Thanksgiving Day, 2017
Dear Lord
 
Today we give thanks for being American, and to give thanks for those early days when the settlers were grateful for the assistance of the Native Americans: when they we were nicer to us than we are to them now.
 
We give thanks that America is less in want than any other nation on Earth, albeit that many Americans seem to not to receive their fair share.
 
We give thanks that that America is safer through possessing more and better weapons than any of our enemies.
 
Most of all, Lord, we thank you that we are not turkeys.
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Royal Flash Fiction

10/11/2017

 
That Friday night, Scheherazade rose to tell the king another tale. As on the previous Friday, she spun a story so beguiling that the king hung on every word. Her story might be an adventure, a romance, or an amusing anecdote that made the king roar with laughter.
 
But 100 words doesn't last long, even at half speed. Each week, Scheherazade would end her tale and the king wasn't satisfied.
 
"OK, then," she said, "it's sex you want."
 
"Of course," he said. 'It's Friday. It's what you want, too. I don't know why you insist on this storytelling nonsense."

Choosing The Next US President

3/11/2017

 
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The candidates were ready, and a hush descended in the hall. Globally, one billion viewers watched on anxiously. Opinion was sharply divided whether the Republican or Democrat would be the next US President.
 
CNN's Jim Acosta, who had been selected as referee, began his job slowly and methodically. He had around fifty questions, but knew he wouldn't get through them all. No chance.
 
One hour later, time was up. Acosta paused for effect, then turned to the camera.
 
"Ladies and gentlemen, the results are in. The winner, and the next President, with an IQ score of 62 to 59, is..."
Free IQ Test
Free IQ Test

    Flash Fiction

    Flash fiction is very, very short fiction indeed - short stories of any sort of length from a Haiku to ten minutes' reading. Good for when you're in a hurry. This series is a selection of contributions to Friday Flash Fiction, where there's a limit of 100 words. I try to make all mine exactly 100 words.


    Collections
    (FREE!)
    Click on image

    If you enjoy these stories, why not download Gordon's first two collections of these, called '100 Not Out' and '200 Not Out'? Available for all types of e-readers including Kindle and iPad, for free. Completely free, no strings.

    Click on one of the images below...

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