Announcement: I got an award! (Well, a tiny one, but still...)

I got an award, I got an award! Fellow-hubber (as in: active on HubPages.com) Kirutaye in her New Year’s post, ‘The Kirutaye Online Awards’, awarded me ‘One to Watch’. I’m so psyched... *wipes tears away and burst into an emotional speech that has too much stammering to be well-understood and is therefore better left omitted*

I guess I’m going to have to step up to the title now though. Well, after exams, that is.

Thanks to the universe and everybody in it.

series of 100 words short stories, theme: bullying

Here’s another ‘100 series’, inspired by Scott’s blog. This time, they aren’t funny, or witty, but they’re not supposed to be. I hope you like them.

I. WHENG

He was always in the back of the class. Head low, silent, face hidden away in his palm. His clothes smelled funny. I’m sure that was what set it off. He said it was gasoline, an accident, we knew he didn’t wash them. Who doesn’t wash their clothes? It’s only plain courtesy not to stink, right? We didn’t know he couldn’t afford it, he never told us. We didn’t ask, but still. He kept smiling, no matter how bad it got. How could we possibly know he cried about it at home or that he would... It’s not our fault.

II. Cause He Loved Other Ellens

She looked at her reflection in the mirror and pulled up her shirt. Maybe if she lost a few pounds, she wouldn’t be so invisible then. Be more like everyone else. Not having to be ashamed in the locker-room. She knew they were laughing behind her back. Sometimes not even waiting till she turned her back either. She’d skip desert. And dinner. That way, she’d lose a pound by morning. Wouldn’t she? She’d be sure to catch his attention, this time. She ignored the distressed alarm signals from her stomach. She’d be so much thinner for it. So much prettier.

III. Mania

It was hurtful to see him come in. He was upset, it was all over his face, but he didn’t say anything, not a word. I had to hear from others, teachers, principals... It made me afraid to pick up the phone or go to that school, that office yet again and listen to the awful things they did to him. While not being able to do a single thing about it. I tried talking it over with him, but he kept his mouth shut, pretending everything was alright, hiding his intentions. That must be when he bought the gun.

Announcement: list of recent posts that aren't on this blog

Here’s a list of all the new short stories I’ve posted since ‘Peter is a cheater’, for those of you who’d like some more ;). I hope there are some of you out there, otherwise I’ve done a pretty poor job. I’ve decided to post them on my HubPages account – you get bad scores if you post your stories elsewhere too and I get more views there, somehow – but I’ll add titles, teasers and links here, so you can easily keep track of them. You can see the two blogs as complementary. When I get around to it, I’ll update the ‘poetry’ page on a more regular basis. That one is supposed to be exclusive for blogger, since only blogger always me to use whatever font and layout I want. However, due to the recent rise in traffic to this account – which I had been neglecting for total (!) lack of traffic – it was time for some updating measures. I’m going to try to keep this listing up to date.

Anyway, here are the posts, hot from the press:

On the corner (short story): minors are strongly advised not to read this one. I think you can guess the setting pretty much from the title: it’s set on the street corner, about a character doing what women do on street corners if they’re out to make a buck in a semi-legal way. I suppose that made you click the link, didn’t it? Don’t even have to give a real summary.

Humility (short story): this is a bit of a weird one and I don’t know what to tell you about it. It’s very short, so it will be no trouble to read it and make it out for yourself. I had originally believed it was just my own twisted little sense of humour that would not appeal to anyone shining through in it, but from the (be it few) responses I got, it’s apparently quite funny. Which is even stranger because I wasn’t trying to funny. When I did, I was the only one laughing about it. And here I was thinking my life on the internet would be different from my real life. Guess not...

The Witch of Dreiden (short story): I’m sure you never would’ve guessed, but it’s about a witch. In Dreiden. Just kidding, I don’t want to insult your intelligence. I really like this one myself, I think it’s my favourite up to now. Got good reviews too, so I’m not the only one. For those who’ve read more of my stories, this one is quite different all round, I believe. I was slightly inspired to  write it (though not exclusively) by the Queens of the Stone Age song Burn the witch. Hope you like it and let me know what you think.

A Halloween horror special, short stories Beware I and Beware II

Some of you may already have read the short story Beware on this blog. I mentioned in a comment to it that I was thinking of writing a prequel. Well, I did and this link is where you’ll find the complete two-parter. I hope it’s frightening. I love things that are frightening. Don’t you? If you do, click it. It’s funny too. I hope (see note above about intentional/non-intentional humour never working out for me).

100 WORDS:

Inspired by Scott’s blog, www.adayisworth100words.blospot.com (see blog list below), where he posts a story comprising of exactly 100 words each day, I tried the concept myself too. I find it fun to use and a great way to quickly improve your writing, since I’m not always successful in sticking to the point (don’t worry, I’ll learn. Someday). So far, I’ve posted the following two sets of four and three stories respectably to a certain theme. The first of the ‘restaurant set’ is actually featured on Scott’s blog as guest submission. Scott’s very good at what he does by the way, so I’d really recommend taking a look at his blog.

short story set: 100 words (theme: restaurant, recurring element: wine)

Fairytale Parodies: 100 words poetic short stories

I suppose the titles pretty much speak for themselves.

Doggy bath time: a tale of dogs and why we love them (short story):  Last but not least, the most recent story. I dedicated this one to me dearly departed German Sheppard who sadly passed away last year. I still miss him every day, but it took this long to bring myself to write about (or rather based on) my wonderful time with him. He was such a wonderful creature. But he did have his ways. He was sweet and loving and caring, but also too smart and too strong-willed for all our sakes sometimes. I’m sure many dog owners will recognise a few things in this tale. And to all the rest of you, it will be plain entertaining. At least that was what I was going for. I’m ready to be judged.

So, that’s it for now. Let me know what you guys think.

All best wishes,

Stories Inc.

(By the way, I’ll be very glad if you tell me if – and you will undoubtedly – you find any spelling or grammar mistakes, so I can correct them and not look a total illiterate blabbering fool. Thanks already.)