Here are some short stories I have written recently.

I subscribe to a site called "Deadlines for Writers" where they set writers different challenges. One challenge I've taken on is to write something everyday from a prompt they give you. And the second challenge is to write once a month to a prompt and a set wordcount.

These next few stories are my attempts at the prompt everyday challenge. I hope you enjoy them, feedback welcomed.

 

  Prompt #1 "Novice"

The new lab' apprentice started a week ago. I usually arrive for work around eight thirty, open the lab, turn on the heating and power and get set up for work. Last Monday was no different, except that I’d asked the local college to send me an appropriate apprentice. And there he stood, a scrawny, pimpled youth who came crashing through the double doors. He was fully decked out in bright yellow cycle gear, including the helmet with a go-pro camera attached and he was wielding a half folded electric bike. "Yea gods" I muttered to myself; they're getting younger every year. That is not strictly correct, in fact it's me getting older and they are always eighteen. They must be to work in my lab' with the highly explosive and combustible materials we handle. A hapless youth he was on the Monday, as he was the rest of the week. He, (Russel was his name) did not like taking orders, even the ones he could understand, and was always on his cell phone. I had stop him playing his music that was so loud I could hear it even though he had earphones in. A useless article if ever there was one.  The first morning we spent going over Health & Safety in the lab, and in the workplace in general. He nodded and said, “yes, yes to everything without looking up from his phone. He came to me on a Monday morning and a week later I was attending his funeral.

 

Prompt #2  "Thunder"

 

I've never considered thunder as being particularly dangerous, lightning, on the other hand, can be very dangerous. So' when I heard the sound of distant thunder one dark and gloomy evening, I gave it little thought.

Over the next hour or so, the thunderclaps became louder as the storm approached. There was no need to panic, but I did move my chair a little further away from the window, just to be on the safe side. I nodded off a couple of times watching the crackling logs on the fire, and I watched my cat's ears give a little flutter, now and then. She would open one eye, look at me to make sure I was still there, and then resumed her dreaming, maybe about fish bones, who can tell. But she looked content and not bothered by the oncoming storm. 

And then there was one almighty clap of thunder that made the lampshade swing, the pictures on the wall shift slightly. Then the enormous antique vase on the mantle above the fireplace shook, shifted its position, then came crashing down. The very expensive vase shattered completely, and the cat? well I guess I'll need to get another cat.

 

Prompt #3  "Nom de Plume"

 

Whenever I travel, and I travel a lot, I always take Claire with me. I never go anywhere without Claire, well rarely, unless Claire is unavailable, or I can't find her. In those instances, I will take a substitute, a body double if I have to. But as sweet as the others are, and as smooth as they appear, not one of them can replace Claire. When Claire is in the room with me, I know I have the real deal in my hands. With a long smooth body and silky to touch I feel confident that together we can achieve great things. You may ask, who is this Claire and what does she do that's so marvelous? Well, I'm a writer, and I write everywhere I go travelling, and Claire is my trusty pen, a present from my wife, Claire is the name of my pen, my Nom de Plume.