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Fiction

James Van Pelt

The Family Rocket

Published Aug 30, 2020 · 2,319 words (9 minutes) · 329 views

Science Fiction Romance father marriage childhood Mars junkyard space flight

As a child, Lorenzo’s father took him and his siblings on a fantastic trip to Mars—or so the story goes. But what if none of it happened at all? In this creative sequel to Ray Bradbury’s “The Rocket,” James Van Pelt imagines what happens when credulous children grow into skeptical adults.

Van Pelt has been nominated for the Nebula, Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award, Pushcart Prize, and more. His limited-edition hardcover short story collection, THE BEST OF JAMES VAN PELT, is now available for preorder from Fairwood Press.

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Fiction

J. Dianne Dotson

Mister Gerald

Published May 17, 2020 · 751 words (3 minutes) · 366 views

Literary Fiction childhood childhood story slice of life Appalachia neighbors

Two children in East Tennessee come up against their fears, and find out more about themselves.

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Fiction

Rebecca Gomez Farrell

Thlush-A-Lum

Published May 29, 2019 · 1,030 words (4 minutes) · 588 views

Horror losing a child childhood Bugs insects coming of age metamorphosis cartilage

Markella’s earliest memories are of the sounds outside her window. At hours when no men moved, rustling branches and shuffling grass woke her. A beating pulse like slower, fleshier helicopter blades banished sleep: thlush-a-lum thlush-a-lum.

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Fiction

Angela Yuriko Smith

The Last Child

Published Apr 20, 2019 · 468 words (2 minutes) · 1 like · 457 views

Classic Horror Literary Fiction Mystery Historical death abuse neglect child child neglect childhood Murder

Written for the Women of Horror prompt challenge in February 2019. Read the original at Nina D’Arcangela’s Spreading the Writer’s Word blog here: https://spreadingthewritersword.com/2019/02/27/ladies-of-horror-flash-project-horror-author-angela-yuriko-smith-angelaysmith-sotet_angyal-loh-9/

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Fiction

Grayson Bray Morris

A Whole Leaf, Dark and Red

Published Jan 16, 2019 · 746 words (3 minutes) · 1 like · 575 views

Literary Fiction Magical Realism childhood

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Fiction

Tim McDaniel

Discards

Published May 11, 2018 · 1,522 words (6 minutes) · 485 views

Fantasy childhood regret Pokemon Guilt Anime

A certain boy who became famous for "training" pocket-monsters has grown up, and now must confront his callous treatment of his pets.

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Fiction

Wendy Nikel

The Shape-Shifter's Mother

Published Sep 19, 2017 · 1,226 words (5 minutes) · 699 views

Fantasy magic animals bittersweet mother parenting childhood

A woman struggles to raise her child who’s never quite the same two days in a row.