Lump

Author’s Note I DON’T KNOW ABOUT you, but when we sit down to watch TV in the evening after a busy day, we choose what to watch depending on how much time we have before our self-inflicted bedtime. Sometimes we have time for two long shows, sometimes a long show and a short show. I set this book up with the binge-watching craze in mind. Choose the length of story you want to read, depending on the time you have. Got a few minutes before a meeting? Stuck in the exam room while you wait for the doctor to check out the strange bite mark on your shoulder? Scratch some Bug Bites. These stories are all under 500 words and include my very first story featuring the title character, Lump. He shows up a lot throughout the book, sometimes despicable, other times piteous. In all instances, he is someone’s pawn, doing mindless, senseless, and horrific work. Maybe you’re at the DMV or waiting in the security line at the airport with suspicious contents in your carry on. Squeeze in a Furuncle or two. They range from 501-1,000 words. There’s something for everyone here, as long as everyone has a twisty mind. Are you on the train? A plane? In the trunk of someone’s car? Goiters are enlarged tales over 1,001 words. The feature is Lump’s expanded story, "Lump’s Dream," in which we learn his true motivation. A few of these stories have been published, and one of my personal favorites, which was short-listed for a “binge-reading” anthology, is "Old O." Grab some tissues. This one’s a tear jerker. Enjoy! Claire L. Fishback “Short stories are tiny windows into other worlds and other minds and other dreams. They are journeys you can make to the far side of the universe and still be back in time for dinner.” – Neil Gaiman