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Latest Stories

March 19, 2024
Fantasy Stories Wondering Monk

Just My Imagination

The alarm clock went off and started playing an awful tune. Tom opened his eyes and closed them back, squinting. He reopened one eye and stood up to stop the torture. The phone was on the desk, in the furthest spot from the bed. Although he changed his way of…
March 19, 2024
Science Fiction Stories Ocelotlzin

Earth Is Dead

Recording… It doesn't matter who I was; I probably lived a long time ago, and I am now just a voice someone added to the audio-visual records. What is essential is the recollection of events that lead to the current state. So, a little history needs to be…
March 08, 2024
Flash Fiction Benoit

Some Enchanted Evening

It was a rugby tackle with tears: Chrissy burst in, sobbing and babbling, hugging James. Her face was all wet, eyes wild. What…? My parents split up, Dad has moved in with his boyfriend and I cannot join them. I am shut out. I have lost my dad. Torrent of…
March 08, 2024
Horror Stories Marvel Chukwudi Pephel

In The Hands Of My Legs

The car pulled up in front of the large salon. The neon sign, that sexy broad thing, on the salon'sroof read "Mr. Gil's All-night Salon". The exhaust pipe of the car was pumping solid smoke, theswirls moving from the car and towards the salon.…
March 07, 2024
Mystery Stories Vanessa Leigh Giles

Casualty of Love in the Time of Coronavirus

Chapter 1 Until Death do us Part ‘Ring, ring!’. I answered the telephone and asked, “Hello, good evening. Who’s this? “Hello.” This is Dr. Smith from Red Cross hospital. “Is this Mr. Locke, John?”, he asked, hesitantly scratching his bald head. “Yes, doctor.…
March 07, 2024
Crime Stories Robert Pook

Bar Room Trigger

Another return journey on footpaths so familiar. He strides across each crack in each paving stone. Regular loose drain covers sidestepped. Mapping long ago mapped in Richard’s desolate mind. His pace hastened by the sight of the oncoming storm. Quickening…
March 04, 2024
Horror Stories Ano Chinemerem

Sanctity

Where should I begin? I could begin by telling you about this comely boy, whom every notable person around the streets agrees his smile could charm the bills off one. Between one smile, there was his goodness, his dreams and humanity—a little far ahead?— but…
March 04, 2024
Flash Fiction Emanuel Diaz

Et Mortui Partium

As Rafael stepped out into the rain, it wasn't the ordinary drops that fell from the sky. Instead, it was a storm of souls, each one taking the form of shimmering jewelry as it cascaded toward the ground. Rubies, diamonds, and sapphires twinkled amidst the…
February 29, 2024
Poetry Jing Li Ava

London

‘Am I in London?’ "I am." Where is Elizabeth? Happy living story All of your chapter Bounlance joy Please my heart Power hand Wise mind Our baby Vow vow Love all love Miss I miss Endless wonder Bring us together Love all love Miss I miss For everything My…
February 29, 2024
Flash Fiction Rob Pook

Life Sentence of The Smith

Born nine months after his country won the World Cup.A child prodigy.Cast off at age twenty-four.Husband, father, emigree, away on the other side of the world.The blue-collar life.The dreams of success.The search for fulfillment.The long years of empty…
February 29, 2024
Mystery Stories Joshua Lowther

The Operator

Jason looked over to his right, his eyes barely able to focus themselves on the subject of his attention. His neck ached terribly from the strenuous movement. He was tired. The captain’s gaze came to rest on the rookie sonar operator sitting tense at his…
February 29, 2024
Flash Fiction Salvatore Difalco

The Chute

At dusk, we left our unit with a soft pink bundle. I carried it through the wet streets and into the black woods. I said I’d take it all the way, the bundle, but that we had to drop it in together. My wife’s green eyes flashed. “Don’t make me do that.” I…

Ellen Gable, an advertising executive, arrived home from work later than usual.  “Hi, honey,” her husband, Dale, said, went to her and hugged her.  “Did you have a rough day?”

“Not too bad.  How about you?”

“There were kids, lots and lots of kids who needed shots and physicals before going to camp.  Come sit down. I made spaghetti and meat balls and garlic bread. Speaking of kids, how’s our baby?

“Dry and fed. Now let’s eat,” he said, and they went to the dining room and ate.

As she was chewing, she looked across the table, gasped, and jumped to her feet.

Her husband dropped his fork and stood.  Ellen, what’s wrong?”

She pointed to the end of the table. “Look,” she said staring.

Dale looked where she was pointing.  “Look at what, honey?”

“It’s a…a leprechaun.”

“A leprechaun? Where?”

“He’s sitting at the end of the table, eating.”

“This is delicious. Your husband’s a good cook,” the leprechaun said in a heavy Irish brogue.

“He likes what you made. He said you’re a good cook,” she said slowly sitting.

Dale went to the end of the table and stood at the chair where Ellen saw the leprechaun. “There’s no one here, Ellen,” he said, “and there isn’t a dish of food on the table.”

“Ellen, only you can see me,” the leprechaun said.

“Why?”

“Because mortals can see us only if we want them to see us, and you can see me because I came to tell you that you have been chosen to be our queen.”

“Your queen?”

“Aye, your highness.”

“Dale, he said I’ve been chosen to be their queen.”

“Ellen, what are you talking about?”

“I’m not sure I know,” she said and turned to the leprechaun.  “Uh, do you have a name?”

“Aye. My name is Declan, your highness.”

“Uh, Declan, why was I chosen to be your queen?”

“Shannon O’Connell, our late king, was our king for 545 years and produced many little leprechauns who became adult leprechauns, who, let’s say, were unsuited for leadership. It turns out that your great, great, great, great, great grandfather was a leprechaun.  We conducted extensive genealogical research and found you, and learned that you have the qualities to be a leader, so we voted and decided that you should be our queen.

“I know I have Irish blood, but how could a person have leprechaun blood.  Leprechauns aren’t even real.”

“Your highness, everyone is related, and, as for not being real, what am I, a dream? Pinch yourself to see if you’re awake.”

“Okay, I’ll go along with this. What does the queen of the leprechauns do?”

“First, you must choose a king.  Then, you must rule. You must make decisions.”

“I have to choose a king?  Declan, have you noticed this man next to me, who thinks I’m crazy? He’s my husband. You could say that I already have a king, and one is enough.”

“Ellen, you’re talking to nobody.  Let’s go to the emergency room.”

“I’m not sick, Dale.  Now, where were we, Declan?”

“I was saying I’m sorry, your highness, but your husband is not a leprechaun, so he can’t be your king,” he said as he finished eating.  “That was delicious.  Well, are you ready?”

“Ready for what?”

“Ready to go to the leprechaun castle in the land of the leprechauns.”

“You’re kidding. My friend, I’m not going anywhere.”

“Your highness, you can’t rule the leprechauns from here. You have to come with

me to your castle.”

Dale, I wish you could hear this conversation. He wants me to go with him to my leprechaun castle,” she said laughing and disappeared.

****

Dale sat on the edge of his son’s bed. “So, your mommy went to the land of the leprechauns and became the queen of the leprechauns, and she and the leprechauns lived happily ever after.”

“That was a good story, Daddy.  Will Mommy always be queen of the leprechauns? Will she ever come home?”

“I don’t know.  She’s been gone for six years, and that’s a long time. Well, Jamie, you go to sleep.  I’ll see you in the morning,” he said, kissed his son, and went into the living room, sat on the couch, put his head back and sobbed.  “Ellen, where are you?”

 

The End

 

While teaching  communication skills and English at a community college, Mr. Greenblatt wrote short stories, and plays, one of which won a reading at Smith College. Since retiring in 2000, he has written short stories and novellas.

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