I Can't Possibly Be Wrong All the Time

It’s the first of August, 2021 , so I went through my social media feeds and grabbed all of the MicroStories I’d tweeted during the month of July.

As a reminder, these represent story-essences composed using no more than 269 characters (so I could tweet them with the hashtag #MicroStory.)

Usually, I only tweet Science Fiction and Fantasy #MicroStories. July was no exception.

For really great #MicroStory action, please follow @MicroSFF, the Twitter account that inspired me to participate in this minimalist writing exercise. That feed puts out great science fiction and fantasy MicroStories all the time.

(I want to make it clear that @MicroSFF is *not* a Twitter account of mine. Their flash-fiction tweets are excellent. Mine are okay.)

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Due to concerns of wildfires, Americans showed restraint in launching fireworks on July 4th.
As a consequence of the lack of showy patriotism, the vengeful spirit of mad king George III returned unopposed from the afterlife to claim dominion over the former colonies.
#MicroStory

“Boss, sorry to interrupt ,” I said. (He often seemed irritated that I knew how to talk.) “You know I don’t shy away from a fight. Guard duty is honorable. So is soldiering. But banditry…”
“Enough of that,” he replied, and put aside the whetstone and re-sheathed me.
#MicroStory

The wizard had not been seen since my grandmother’s time, but he strode youthfully into the common room.
“I am away and will not be returning. In my tower, no doors or chests are locked.”
“What needs we do?” the mayor asked.
“Arm yourself. I will not be returning.”
#MicroStory

Tired of having his ideas ignored by the community, the young man made good on his dream to head to the big city and make his own way.
To his credit, his barricades kept the zombies at bay so he avoided being eaten to death.
The rats ate well after he starved though.
#MicroStory

“What are you doing, dad?”
“I’m canceling our newspaper while we’re away.”
“So, there won’t be any news?”
“Right.”
“Maybe you should keep it canceled.”
#MicroStory

The experimental ships were bio-organic, which had some advantages.
Bred for space, they could repair themselves with asteroid rock and starlight.
But in battle they were often too dangerously willful, or might surrender despite the crew’s objections.
#MicroStory

When the global infrastructure failed, support to the asteroids was effectively cut off. The military outposts were used to cooperating with one another, the corporate mining stations were not.
The eventual relief effort from Earth had 2 missions: rescue, and revenge.
#MicroStory

I’d been the local wizard for a reasonable time in the province, before I’d grown tired of the restraint and became the witch of their nightmares for a season. Then came the prudent yet wearisome travel elsewhere.
I could wizard again, I suppose. But not for as long.
#MicroStory

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Thank you to everyone who reads and enjoys my small stories. I tweet flash-fiction at irregular intervals on my Twitter account, @patman23. At more regular intervals on Twitter, I’ll be talking about my dogs, or television (mostly Game of Thrones), or complaining about raking leaves off of my lawn.

Header image was taken by me, of my pug Chi Chi standing near a fire pit made by my dad on Sponaugle Mountain. (I didn’t help with all of the rocks, but I helped with some of them…)

Want to read my earlier MicroStory collections? I have my first three years’ worth of stories HERE and the second three years’ worth of stories HERE

In general, I’m fine with anyone using the text of my MicroStories for non-commercial use. (Look how cute I am, thinking someone wants to make a t-shirt from one of my flash fiction bits. I say cute, but you can substitute in some other, more appropriate, adjective. I’m not the boss of you.)

© Patrick Sponaugle 2021 Some Rights Reserved