Pat Mills is the Readers’ Choice in this week’s Indies Unlimited Flash Fiction Challenge. The winning entry is decided by the popular vote and rewarded with a special feature here today. (In the case of a tie, the writer who submitted an entry first is the winner per our rules.) Without further ado, here’s the winning story:
Homestead
by Pat Mills
Susan’s jet black hair was a rumpled mess as she awakened from a dream that has tortured her since she was four years old.
Flashes of sounds from that fateful night: Susan’s father’s voice, “We should at least try to get to the hospital, even in this terrible storm.” Then, her mother’s voice, “We don’t have enough time, it’s too late.”
***
Susan meets her younger brother Kyle for coffee, before visiting the homestead, as their deceased parents called their house built on 150 acres.
“I can’t believe they’re gone, and now the homestead” Kyle said quietly.
“Majestic houses built in its place,” Susan said.
***
Driving up in front of the homestead, Kyle immediately remembers the fun times from his charmed childhood: cowboy parties and riding his beloved horse. He walks toward the stables.
Susan knew what she had to do; so, she sprinted from the car, walked to the back hall, knelt down and lifted five boards. She reaches into the cavity below the flooring and pulls out a small package wrapped in a blanket.
***
Kyle came back to the car and noticed the sweat on his sister’s brow,” Why are you so sweaty?”
“I went into the house ; there are too many memories…”
“Mom and Dad’s alcoholism really did a number on you… ” Kyle said and squeezed her hand.
“We’re lucky they decided to sober up. Then, you came along.” She smiled at him.
They drove away, each holding onto their own memories of the homestead.
Congratulations, Pat. I think this is one of your best stories. It has a lot of mystery!
Thank-you Mary Kay!
I really enjoyed trying to write something different. I had a sentence in the beginning that said Susan, the main character, also heard the sounds of a baby crying, but my husband talked me into taking it out. He thought it made the story too creepy. Lol!
I really enjoyed your stories in the past weeks but I’ve been challenged to communicate because my phone screen was broken; I couldn’t type on it. I’m away from my computer most of the day and evenings. Your story about the memorial for the firefighter had such a unique ending. I shared it with my friends , and they loved the ending.
Happy writing!
Pat
Congratulations on the win! I agree with Mary Kay. One of your best here.
Hi again Pat. Thanks for your reply. The story could have worked either way, with or without the crying baby at the beginning – but it’s definitely more subtle without it. Sometimes I read my stories to my husband (or my mother), too.
Thanks especially for your compliments on my writing. Encouragement is always appreciated! I often enjoy reading the work of the other writers here, and I find that I can learn from it.
– Mary Kay
Thank-you Dale! I wasn’t sure if this story would work. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
I really look forward to trying to meet the challenge every week, and read what the other writers come up with.