* * * Managing Editor: Edward Ahern * * *
* Submissions Editor: P.C. Keeler *
* Submissions Editor: P.M. Ray *
* Associate Editor: Alison McBain *
* Submissions Editor: P.C. Keeler *
* Submissions Editor: P.M. Ray *
* Associate Editor: Alison McBain *
Issue # 4
April 15, 2021
Featuring the short scribblings of:
* Farhana Akter * Casey Kimberly * Michelle Ann King *
* Samantha Ley * Michael Minassian * Parzival Sattva *
* Brennan Thomas * Michael J. Wiskind * Jim Woessner *
* Farhana Akter * Casey Kimberly * Michelle Ann King *
* Samantha Ley * Michael Minassian * Parzival Sattva *
* Brennan Thomas * Michael J. Wiskind * Jim Woessner *
Featured Author
Interview with Michelle Ann King
Welcome to our fourth issue of ScribesMICRO. I’m associate editor Alison McBain, and I’m talking with our featured writer Michelle Ann King, author of the short story “Sale or Return.”
Michelle Ann King is a speculative fiction writer from Essex, England. Her work has appeared in over one hundred different venues, including Interzone, Black Static, and Strange Horizons. Her first two short story collections are available in ebook and paperback from Amazon and other online retailers. Visit www.transientcactus.co.uk for details.
Michelle Ann King is a speculative fiction writer from Essex, England. Her work has appeared in over one hundred different venues, including Interzone, Black Static, and Strange Horizons. Her first two short story collections are available in ebook and paperback from Amazon and other online retailers. Visit www.transientcactus.co.uk for details.
I imagine individual reactions to this scenario would run the complete spectrum from ‘Where do I sign?’ to ‘Not in a million years,’ and it could easily be a polarising decision. In an ideal world, they would talk it through and come to an agreement as a couple. In a fictional world, which is driven by conflict, it would be less likely—characters can’t just do the easy/right/obvious thing straight off, because the story would be over too quickly. But that’s the beauty of micro fiction! If you want the story to end right here, it can. The minimalist language you use is stark and powerful. One particular moment that struck me was the mention of the simulacrum crying. Can it feel emotions—or is it a sales technique on the part of the manufacturer?
I think any company that had the ability to make something like this would’ve gone beyond ‘just because we can doesn’t mean we should,’ a long time ago, and would therefore be using every manipulative trick in the book. So yes, it is absolutely a sales technique. I envisage a whole host of upgrades, options, and features constantly becoming available, including technically negative things—because they’re trying to sell a replacement reality, and everyone knows real life is never perfect. For readers enjoying this story, what work of yours would you recommend for them to read next? For more musing on robots and emotions, I would suggest “Best Friends Forever,” published in the wonderful Daily Science Fiction (May 2016). |
Photo by Michael Leonard
Fiction
Sale or Return by Michelle Ann King “She’s so perfect,” I say.
He says, “Yes.” Because she is. “How can we afford this?” To that, he says nothing. Because we can’t. So my choice is to keep her, this incredible recreation of our daughter, and ruin us. Or give her up, and we can have our lives back. I fold her into my arms and kiss her synthetic hair. It has no smell. “I don’t love you,” I tell her. I touch my finger to her face, then to my tongue. The tears that run down her cheek have no taste. The decision is easy to make. * * * Michelle Ann King is a speculative fiction writer from Essex, England. Her work has appeared in over one hundred different venues, including Interzone, Black Static, and Strange Horizons. Her first two short story collections are available in ebook and paperback from Amazon and other online retailers. Visit www.transientcactus.co.uk for details.
Out of Nothing by Jim Woessner Nothing much had been happening in our lives until the day we met at Sweet Nothings Café. At first we had nothing to say, but then she asked, “Do you believe in nothing?” I was intrigued by the question, seemingly coming out of nowhere. So I told her “nothing” is my motto. And she smiled. She was delighted. It seemed almost too perfect, a match made out of nothing. She wanted nothing, and I had plenty to give. That’s how it began, nothing earth-shaking. And we did absolutely nothing for weeks. In the end, of course, it came to nothing.
* * * Jim Woessner works as a visual artist and writer living on the water in Sausalito, California. He has an MFA from Bennington College. His publishing credits include The Sea Letter, FewerThan500, Close to the Bone, Adelaide Magazine, Potato Soup Journal, Unbroken Journal, Ariel Chart, Peeking Cat, and others.
Hypochondriac's Placebo Clinic
by Parzival Sattva Hi, friends. Is there someone you know and love who takes medical molehills and turns them into emergency room mountains?
Here at the Hypochondriac’s Placebo Clinic, we don’t just offer food-colored sugar pills and call them medicine. We offer a full range of non-invasive treatments that look and feel just like the real thing! Even your wallet won’t know the difference—we charge just as much as those other guys! Sleep-study booths, cancer screenings, brain surgery—if you think you need it, we can fake it! Open 24/7, near the Walmart on Route 27A and Witchipatchee Road. * * * Parzival Sattva has been writing 100-word stories daily for over two years. More of his work can be found on Blogger or enjoy his dulcet tone on YouTube.
Photo by Miguel Á. Padriñán
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Good Neighbors
by Michael Minassian When Dan had his second heart attack, Mack, his neighbor, found him in the morning collapsed on the lawn. Reviving Dan with a sip of his orange juice and vodka, Mack called 9-1-1 and rode with Dan in the ambulance. “You saved his life,” the emergency room doctor assured Mack.
The next day, Dan’s wife told Mack, “If you save a person’s life, you’re responsible for that life.” She loaded her suitcases into the family Volvo and handed Mack the house keys. “You’ve always been such a good neighbor, but now he’s all yours,” she laughed. “I’m taking the kids and the dog.” * * * Michael Minassian’s poems and short stories have appeared recently in such journals as Comstock Review, Main Street Rag, Poet Lore, and Third Wednesday. He is also a Contributing Editor for Verse-Virtual, an online magazine. His chapbooks include poetry: The Arboriculturist and photography: Around the Bend. His poetry collections Time is Not a River and Morning Calm are both available on Amazon.
Welcome, Class of '96 by Brennan Thomas “Do you want me to hold the—your...?” The song is about to start, something by Vanessa Williams. His one hand presses against her waist. She doesn’t know what to call the other one, the absence.
He shakes. “I can just put my arm here.” He rests his folded sleeve on her pink shoulder strap. They have been given a wide berth by the other couples on the gym floor. They shuffle together in silence. Finally, she asks, “How did—?” He shrugs. “Cleaning the mixer.” Somebody had turned it on by mistake. “Does it hurt?” Sometimes. It tickles. * * * Dr. Brennan Thomas is an associate professor of English at Saint Francis University (Loretto, Pennsylvania). She has published poetry in several literary journals, including The Quint and The Lehigh Valley Review, as well as more than a dozen nonfiction articles on film and popular media studies.
The Once and Future King
by Michael Wiskind “The king is dead.”
Confirmation buried her last hope. His life had bought time for her escape, thrust through the armored door before he turned to defy the enemy. She had reached refuge with his gore smeared on her face and in her hair. Only his gene scan could open the vault and enable vengeance against the invaders. No longer possible for him, but not beyond her reach. She had delayed cleansing herself until the precious tissue could be retrieved and cultured. Now she caressed her abdomen, anticipating the swelling to come in the months ahead. “Long live the king.” * * * Michael Wiskind - Long-time science fiction and fantasy reader, new(ish) writer, and Fairfield Scribes member. Educated in biology (BA, MS) and business (MBA), he's worked as a programmer/analyst and commercial banker and now does financial planning and analysis for a Connecticut manufacturer. Michael lives in the Westchester suburbs of NYC.
Very On Brand by Samantha Ley Daisy swept the cold coins over her naked body. Pursing her lips, she stretched the selfie stick inside the cramped bathtub. Click. Click. Click. She tried to think seductive thoughts as she felt pennies sliding places where pennies should not go.
According to the wildly popular and equally costly “Influencer Academy” videos, people wanted to see a life of sex and money. Down to her last $427, which she’d changed into coins, this was the best Daisy could do. And this time, it had to work. She had a debt to pay, and Mikey Mittens was due to come knocking. * * * Samantha Ley is a graduate of Kenyon College and the University of Virginia. Her fiction has appeared in a number of online publications. She currently lives near Albany, NY, where she works as a freelance writer and editor.
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Poetry
Angels Awakening by Farhana Akter I know the shadow of you angels,
You are... Rising in the nightfall or maybe at noon when sunbeams get longer; Shouting at the pinnacle of Everest and jumping off. You keep... Crossing the Atlantic Ocean, Going into the paracosm, Flying above clouds. You are on the go... You're incessantly... Breaking the dawn into twilight, Approaching school to parliament, Blazing silvery screens with dignity. Even… Shooting at dreams while driving a taxi. As if... Moon’s splendid by the glittering shadows. Grandparents smile from the other world... haven't seen the shadow out there that you're igniting. I know the shadow of you angels that you're edifying now. * * * Farhana Akter is a Bengali novel writer, songwriter, fiction writer. She studies in honors in MC College Sylhet and works for equality. Neela is her first novel in Bengali.
Such Is the Life
by Casey Kimberly Their figures are slight but their blows, when they land, are brutal.
Blinded by violence, one by one, they aim to destroy me. The longer I hold out, the more vicious they become. A giggling attacker in lace smashes my nose. It hangs from my battered face. Her next hit ruptures me. My guts spill brightly on the green grass. Greedy victors drop and grab my entrails, now their spoils. My broken body spins above them in the summer breeze. Someone yanks me free from the rope and tosses me in this dumpster. Such is the life of a piñata. * * * Casey Kimberly lives near Chicago and never writes in third person. Dark humor is her sweet spot, but fantasy and sexy bits happen, too. You can find some of her work in Microfiction Monday Magazine and on WordPress. For daily tomfoolery follow me, um, her on Twitter.
Calling Home
by Jim Woessner It’s me. Just called to say “hello.”
That’s nice. How are you? Fine, and you? Fine, everything’s fine. What’s happening? Your father’s cutting the grass. Is it hot? It’s hot. How hot is it? You don’t want to know. And you? What are you doing? Went to a church meeting this morning. How was it? Good. It was good. Well then, good. You should call your brother and sister sometime. Right. How are they? Fine. Good. And their families? Fine. Everyone’s fine. That’s fine. Well, I’ll call you again next week. We’re so happy you called. Love you. Love you. * * * Jim Woessner works as a visual artist and writer living on the water in Sausalito, California. He has an MFA from Bennington College. His publishing credits include The Sea Letter, FewerThan500, Close to the Bone, Adelaide Magazine, Potato Soup Journal, Unbroken Journal, Ariel Chart, Peeking Cat, and others.
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The Poets' Salon
If you're looking for more poetry, including a place to read your work, receive critiques, and explore poetic forms, check out The Poets' Salon. Two editors of ScribesMICRO, Edward Ahern and Alison McBain, run this free poetry workshop. Meetings take place on the second Saturday of every month from 10 a.m. to noon EST via Zoom. More info, including how to sign up for the poetry workshop, can be found on The Poets' Salon website or via Meetup. |