The Dyson sphere rotated slowly around the sun, causing a gradual movement of shadows on the white grass. B.O/B bent over the rusting canisters of lighter fluid that he’d lined up, and tentatively reached behind him to unlatch his refuelling chute. R.U.Fu5 stared at him and sighed. ‘We’ve discussed this before B.O/B. That function is … Continue reading Take Off
Category: Sci-fi
Haiku Challenge – 7th June 2021
Moon over mountains, an eclipse above the sea, humans hold their breath.
Chewing Gum
The sand was hitting the window in waves, drowning out the radio. The reception on the radio in a sandstorm was non-existent anyway, so I turned it off and just gazed out at the yellowy orange haze. On this stretch of road, the gas station was always a little quiet, but in the middle of … Continue reading Chewing Gum
Expiration Date
Jonah sat on the barstool, his back ruler straight, and his hands on his lap. On the island in front of him lay an owner’s manual that appeared more encyclopaedia than manual. ‘Jonah, you’ve been with me a while now,’ Mr Roberts began, as he leant on the kitchen island and flicked through the manual. ‘Five … Continue reading Expiration Date
Gardner’s Friend
Robin sat in the dirt by the shed and gazed down at his rusting arm. His name wasn’t actually Robin, but little Alfie had been so excited when he’d been brought home that they let him name him. The wind picked up and drops of rain started to bounce off his skin, so he curled … Continue reading Gardner’s Friend
Mary’s Rest
Mr Roy Hadley stepped off the train, dropped his bag at his feet and held his arms wide in the air, nearly hitting a commuter in the face. ‘I’m so sorry’ he said, after realising what he’d done. ‘It’s just… look at it’ he said again, this time carefully sweeping just one arm through the … Continue reading Mary’s Rest
Cry Baby
Wind howled around Ryan and the drizzle seeped through the seams of his clothes as he approached the old Victorian shell of a building. Pulling his hood down against the wind, he turned and scanned his surroundings before opening the wrought iron gate and climbing the stairs to the door. After giving a further furtive … Continue reading Cry Baby
Dog Day Afternoon
Jess backed up against the glass door and she gently pushed it open. As she entered the shop, a bell hanging above the door gently tinkled and the man sitting by the work bench towards the back of the shop, looked up. ‘What can I do for you, young lady’, he asked as he put … Continue reading Dog Day Afternoon
Access
The dust mote drifted invisibly through the air, until it fell into the illumination of the ray of sunlight that broke through the clouds and shone through the window. David winced as the sun caught the corner of his eye as he crossed the kitchen to where the sunlight rested on the butcher’s knife. He … Continue reading Access
Meteoric
The ground is shaking with increasing intensity and regularity. I’m confident that before the sun rises my time will be up, my only consolation being the historic nature of my annihilation. It would be amiss for me to tell this story with the implication that Lucas was the originator of the event, however his keen … Continue reading Meteoric
Minimal Prose 