Write A Really Short Story In 50 Words Or Less

Lovin all these shorts...keep em' comin'. :hurray:

Approximately 1000 years ago in the Dark Ages, an unnamed, faceless blacksmith sits in his forge. Empty mugs once holding mead lay on the ground as he drinks away his sorrows. Dead wife, dead children, a bloodline ended, all violently ripped from his arms by the Black Death. Tax Collectors banging on the door. In a fit of rage he screams as he swipes a shelf of tin and iron into the forge. He sits back down and drives a dagger into his own heart, not knowing that simple fit of rage changed the world forever... Steel.

Sorry, went a little over 50 got carried away. I still kept it short though.

Election Bet

The winner made the loser park smack in front of the joint. In brazen daylight the neon promised “Adult Videos - Magazines–XXX.” Inside the store the wife watched her husband sheepishly approach the clerk and ask for The New York Review of Books.

The two men stood by the car looking across the endless sea of waving grass.
“Nothing can live here?”
“The odd insect. No idea how they’ve adapted, what they’ve become.” The scientist replied.
“Damn, 20 years wasted. The shareholders won’t like it.”
“We can’t kill it, it just chokes out everything and keeps spreading.
“OK, sell this to the military and use Brazil next, it’s cheaper.”
The biotech executive scratched, missing the small wasp-like thing that had just stung him.


OK, it's actually 81words but all my stories are 81words to submit to the 81 word short story site.
I love this thread. If fiction under 1000 words is flash fiction, is fiction under 100 words deci-flash fiction or tithe-flash fiction? Any suggestions?

Dan read the explanation why the movie was rated R, "For language and offensive scenes throughout...".

In its defense, aren't all movies made out of "language" except those artsy, foreign ones he's not likely to rent?

He continued reading, "...and brief nudity."

Just "brief"? That did disappoint him somewhat.

The jardinière fell on the floor.
It crashed a soil hardened to stored.
The buds floored all over the tiles. The dried old soil scattered like piles.
About time air entered its layers.
To germinate is to riot.

Spoke to a woman, now harmed is my ramshackle pride: I saw the sublime sublimated by the prosaic, the palearctic modality of rejection.

''the substitute to love is a masquerade of sorts and mezzanine has loads '' said the chaperon to the musician.
''oh yes...'' replied the musician
''and the substitute to music is a harmonica without accord. try it and see if it mords. satirical applauds.''

once upone a time the end

Quote:

---

Begin Transmission:
Yes. Yes, it's me! I know you're busy, I'm sorry, but something's come up. It's about Earth. Someone just took a human starbound, and - Of course I'm sure! I saw it! Okay. I'll... take care of him. No, I can handle it! Sometimes, sir, I think you don't even trust me...
End Transmission

---

ARRGGHH it's 50 words and I can't trim off more. And I'm not counting, "Begin Transmission" and "End Transmission" as words.

A guy walks into the bar and looks around. "Maggie, where's Betty?"

"I don't know, Pete. She could be anywhere."

"The app I installed on her phone says she's right here. Do you girls really think I'm that stupid?"

"Oh. Did you install that on this phone?"

I find 50 just too short to allow for plot development

“It’s an offering cup to Ca-Col” said the archeologist “Found at a temple that escaped the destruction of planetary suicide.”
The minister for alien civilisations rotated the image of the staggeringly ancient artefact. Some faint, red pigmentation remained outlining the flowing lettering on the fine, cylindrical alloy vessel.
“Fantastic preservation.” murmured the politician “This discovery will assure your continued funding.”
Was that a very faint ‘a’ outlined at the end of the newly identified god’s name? Maybe an ‘o’ in front?

that's 81. Anyone who wants a few extra words could post on www.81words.net where you can rate peoples stories as well. Have a look!

An alien surveyed the humanoids watching it from the bar, "Ex...ter...mi...nate...them...all."

A red laser beam from its head, slowly, methodically, moved across the crowd, left to right.

When it finished, the bartender asked, "You do remember what happened the last time you tried that, Charlie?"

"But can we trust him?"
"Of course we can't. He'll turn on us the second we give him the chance."
"So?"
"So don't give him the chance. Once we don't need him anymore, you drop him."
"Kill him?"
"There's no choice."
The third man eavesdropped quietly from the shadows.

Billy got a Christmas card from his Aunt Petula and Uncle Clive.

"God! They're so irrational. Don't they know I'm an atheist now?"

He almost pitched it, but maybe they sent money?

Nope.

Inside he read, "Sorry, sweetie, no money. At least you're still scientific enough to check."