A hearty congrats to A.V. Carden, whose entry won this week’s Indies Unlimited Flash Fiction Challenge.
The voter-selected story is recognized with a special feature here today and wins a place in our 2015 Flash Fiction Anthology, which will be published as an eBook when this year’s challenges are completed.
Without further ado, here’s the winning story:
Lost Footing
by A.V. Carden
Jason continued to climb easily with the speed and agility of Spiderman.
I, on the other hand, was clinging on for dear life, red faced and puffing and wheezing like I had a 40 a day smoking habit. I wasn’t simply perspiring, no sir. I felt as though Niagara Falls was leaking from every pore.
I was still smiling inanely and gawping at Jason’s totally awesome physique as he flew up the wall with Spidy grace, when I felt my foot slipping.
I heaved myself up with a deep grunt and stretched my leg wider than seemed physically possible.
A thunderous noise emitted from my rear- end and I fell from the wall, issuing an ear piercing shriek.
“Woahhhh aaarrrgghhhh whaaarhhhh!”
Raucous laughter wafted up from the mean girls below who had been fervently hoping for this moment.
I was spinning this way and that, dangling from the safety rope 20 feet above the ground.
To my relief, it had been my lycra shorts splitting, which had made such a racket and I didn’t break wind as I had first feared.
I was lowered unceremoniously to the ground and landed heavily on my butt.
Oh, the shame.
“You okay?” Jason said, standing coolly before me.
“I meant to do that!” I quipped defensively.
Jason threw his head back and roared with laughter.
“That’s what I love about you Wendy, you’re so funny.”
He hugged me tightly and at the envy of the mean girls, we went for a soda.
Congratulations.
Fun story! Way to go. Both with the contest win and with Jason.