Stories and thoughts about being a queer girl geek in the 21st Century.
Yonder
“Over yonder hill is the way to Faerie.” my guide said pointing the way. “And over yonder river is your way home.”
“You really like the word yonder don’t you?” I laughed. They seemed displeased.
“And yonder road is where you can go to Hell.”
Joanne Fisher
Word count: 44 + prompt
This was written with the prompt yonder provided by Sammi Cox’s Weekend Writing Prompt #202.
©️2021 Joanne Fisher
Breaking Away
Laura hated living in her small town. It was difficult to be yourself when everyone thought they knew you. She knew if she ever dared to tell her rather conservative Christian parents that she was really a lesbian they would probably throw her out of the house or send her to one of those camps that attempt to turn you straight, and everyone would know.
She decided to grit her teeth and wait the year out. Once school ended, she decided she would escape to the city where she could be herself and love who she wanted to love.
Joanne Fisher
This was written with the prompt daring escape provided by the Carrot Ranch March 25 Flash Fiction Challenge.
©️2021 Joanne Fisher
Flight
It was down the steps and then into the shed, and then down some more steps. Even as a child Stacey had known about this. It was her “secret” place she would run off to be alone when she stayed with her grandparents. She never thought she would have to come back here again, but when the sirens had suddenly sounded she grabbed what she could and fled the city in terror. Once in the country she made for her grandparents farm knowing the one place where she might be safe.
In reality the place wasn’t a secret. All of her family knew about it. As Stacey quickly went down the steps, she wondered how many other family members had got away in time and ended up here too. Was she going to face the long dark on her own or would there be others? She slowly opened the door…
Joanne Fisher
Word count: 150
This was written with the photo prompt provided by Crimson’s Creative Challenge #124.
©️2021 Joanne Fisher
Beyond the Limits
“Fascinating!” He said examining the black hole’s structure.
“Was it worth it?” I asked.
“Orbiting this black hole so we could study it? Why yes!”
“We’re not so much orbiting it, but slowly falling into it’s event horizon.”
“We can still escape.” He claimed. I knew we didn’t stand a chance.
Joanne Fisher
Word count: 50 + prompt
This was written with the prompt orbit provided by Sammi Cox’s Weekend Writing Prompt #201.
©️2021 Joanne Fisher
The Victory
Meredith suddenly realised a year had passed since the zombie apocalypse. It had been close, but they had prevailed in the end and now things had finally settled down.
So many were missing, she thought as she went into the town centre. She had a busy day today of wandering mindlessly through town with all the others. She might be a zombie now, but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t put in a full day of shambling. She mused it was such a shame they couldn’t get fresh human meat anymore, they all had to make do with livestock now.
Joanne Fisher
This was written with the prompt to write a story that takes place a year later provided by the Carrot Ranch March 18 Flash Fiction Challenge.
PSA: Please don’t mistake my penchant for absurdist humour for social commentary. Please ensure you all get fully vaccinated for coronavirus. It’s the best way we can defeat the current pandemic.
©️2021 Joanne Fisher
You Are Here
I squeezed through the cave making for the sunlight. Once out, I beheld a wondrous vista of mountains, but to my horror I realised I wasn’t on Earth anymore.
Joanne Fisher
Word count: 29
This was written with the prompt vista provided by Sammi Cox’s Weekend Writing Prompt #200.
I’ve been in an odd funk the last few days. The 15th was the two year anniversary of the Christchurch Mosque Shootings. Fifty one people were killed, many of them not far from where I lived at the time. I still vividly remember all the police cars speeding down the road I lived on and the sense of horror and incredulity following it. I’ve been mulling on this lately. Two years later it still feels unreal and still doesn’t make any sense to me how something of this scale could have happened in my city.
©️2021 Joanne Fisher
The Bargain
“And do you have a wish?”
“I deeply wish the killer comes to know what he took away from me. The love I shared with her. I want him to know the wonderful person she was and the light she brought into other people’s lives. I want him to know that; to finally understand what he took away from us all as he rots away in the darkness of a cell. That’s what I want.”
“I understand. Consider it done, though you have paid a great price.” the voice said. I stared at the pale reflection in the mirror.
Joanne Fisher
This was written with the prompt deep wishes provided by the Carrot Ranch March 11 Flash Fiction Challenge.
©️2021 Joanne Fisher
Bookwyrm
I was traveling into the town of Framsburg, after being in the wilderness for some time. As I got nearer the town, the more people I saw running in the opposite direction. I ended up stopping a person and asking what was wrong.
“A dragon has invaded our town. It’s settled itself in the library.” he told me. That’s a shame, I thought. Framsburg was known for its great library and now it was probably going to all end up in flames from the dragon’s breath. Fancying myself to be a hero, I drew my sword and walked purposefully into the town.
When I got to the town’s centre, sure enough the Great Library had a hole in its side and smoke was drifting out. I inhaled slowly to settle my nerves and then strode in to the building. There in the centre all the books had been gathered into a vast pile, and a bronze dragon was sitting on top reading a book. The dragon looked down on me.
“This is the hero they send to chase me away? A young blonde-haired girl with a sword? Oh I’m so afraid.” the dragon said as he rolled his eyes. He then returned to his book.
“I thought dragons liked to sit on a vast horde of treasure.” I said to him.
“And I am. Take a look girl.”
“I don’t understand.” I replied. The dragon sighed and put his book down again.
“All books are treasures. Inside they contain knowledge not found anywhere else, or stories and poems that are unique and may never be seen again. It’s all worth far more than mere jewels or gold.” I pouted at his words. I had never read a book. I always left that to the wizards or clerics.
“You can’t eat a book, or buy weapons with it.” I argued.
“Yet a book can instruct you how to grow food, or even make your own weapons.” the dragon countered.
“So you like books.” I stated, only because I couldn’t think of anything else to say.
“Like? I love books. I adore them. You could say I’m a bookworm.” the dragon replied.
“Or maybe a book-wyrm.” I quipped.The dragon laughed.
“Yes I see what you did there. Very funny. Now run along and let me continue reading, or I’ll eat you.” the dragon said.
I knew there was little I could do. I couldn’t defeat him on my own and there was no point in dying needlessly, so I left the dragon to his books. Maybe I should find some books to read myself, I pondered as I walked away.
Joanne Fisher
This was written with the prompt bookworm provided by Mindlovemisery’s Menagerie Tale Weaver #318.
©️2021 Joanne Fisher
Risk
Tania took a deep breath and rang Vanessa’s number. She was going to ask her out. There was an element of risk involved as she had no idea of Vanessa’s sexuality, but she thought direct action was better than constantly wondering if it could ever happen between them.
Joanne Fisher
Word count: 47 + prompt
This was written with the prompt element provided by Sammi Cox’s Weekend Writing Prompt #199.
©️2021 Joanne Fisher
The Detective
Raewyn was about to close the shop. It was dark outside and it had been a slow day with few customers. A man suddenly walked through the door and flashed her some identification.
“Hi ma’am, I’m Detective Jones. We’re checking the area as one of the world’s most notorious serial killers has escaped from a prison nearby. We need everyone to keep an eye out for anyone acting suspiciously, as the killer will be dangerous.” He told her. Raewyn put her hand up to her mouth in shock.
“That’s terrible. What do they look like?”
“He has short brown hair, is of medium height, and prefers to wear suits.”
“So he sort of looks like you.” she replied. The Detective smiled.
“I guess so ma’am.”
“Does he have a name?” Raewyn asked.
“He’s known as The Detective.”
“The Detective?”
“Yes. He likes to impersonate police detectives to put his victims at ease. Then he kills them horribly.” he replied. Raewyn went pale and slowly backed away from him. He smiled at her as he began to remove something from his coat pocket…
Joanne Fisher
©️2021 Joanne Fisher
