TSL

In Memorium

The Short List lost 25 wonderful publications in this new year. They will be missed. Now included among all our deceased:

  • Pages Literary Journal
  • The Birdseed
  • Peeking Cat Literary
  • Jellyfish Review
  • Lockdown BabyBabble
  • (mac)ro(mic) – published my story
  • Near Window
  • Pulp Modern
  • SFS Stories
  • Grody Magazine
  • Flypaper Lit
  • Reliquiae
  • ThereAfter
  • Writers and Readers Magazine
  • Flash Frontier
  • Caesura
  • Poemify
  • Riddled With Arrows
  • Ample Remains
  • Dead Skunk
  • From Sac
  • homologous lit
  • The Moth
  • Portage Magazine
  • Sin Fronteras Journal
Published, Shorties

Fingernails

One year ago, my 50-word story appeared in 50 Give Or Take.

Fingernails

by DL Shirey

One-two-three-four-five-six, blow. One-two-three-four-five-six, blow. The same rhythm every time. Each rasp of her emery board makes me grip the steering wheel tighter.

At arms length she studies her work, spots a flaw and attacks the inexactitude in cadence. She splays five fingers, nods and begins the other hand.

One-two-three-four-five-six, blow.

END

Shorties

Jacob’s Hole

If you like writing 50-word stories, one of the best potential publishing venues is Blink-Ink. Over the years they’ve accepted a few of my stories. This one was submitted for their Country Roads issue, but did not make the cut.

Jacob’s Hole

The three-mile walk to Jacob’s Hole was like a hotplate, but a swim was my reward.

The trip back would be miserable except when Mom and her pickup truck ambled up the parallel ruts of the dusty road.

“It’s fried boy for dinner,” Mom said when she saw my sunburn.