The older man in the floppy hat snapped another picture, and Ephram almost went rogue. Spirits of Africa, how many candid shots do they need? If they lingered much longer, Ephram wouldn’t be able to control himself. He had to shit! For the last half-hour, Ephram had been tromping about, flinging mud onto himself, and squeezing his butt cheeks hard Read More
Category: Trunkated Tales
Trunkated tales demonstrate uncommon pachyderm proverbs that begin with “elephants never…” Each flash fiction tale features at least one elephant in a strikingly human situation. Most tales also occur in a world similar to our own, with the obvious exception of talking pachyderms having a prominent place in human society. Otherwise, trunkated tales create their own realities.
Urgent Notice
by Mileva Anastasiadou Controversial topics, previously imprisoned, have escaped the history closet and threaten to ruin social and family gatherings. Rumors go the escape has been enabled by recent riots that have been going on around the globe, in regions previously considered part of the civilized world, which in turn have been fueled by events which have been destabilizing predetermined Read More
Prospect
by Normand Lepine “Begin by always expecting good things to happen.” – Tom Hopkins They parked around the corner to stay out of view of the house they were coming to see. Nick and Tara had heard rumors of a large house where elephants who were not quite like the others came to hang out. The rumors were vague and Read More
Ferment
“Cheers,” I raise my glass. Pendo uses a forelimb to clink me, then dips his trunk for a taste. As the scotch squirts into his mouth, he rumbles. “Now that,” he murmurs, eyelids half-lowered in pleasure, “is worth keeping you humans around for.” Pendo’s huge mouth curls up in a smile. I frown over my laughter and poke at the Read More
Ironic Honeymoon
by Tammy L. Breitweiser The officer told me Grayson didn’t feel anything. The impact was quick. It’s what the officer claimed anyway. What I will tell you is I bolted upright in bed at 4:56 a.m. and knew. I just knew. I can assure you he felt the impact because I felt it. It had been a fairly typical morning. Read More
Insist
“Thank you for seeing me on such short notice, Doctor.” “Anytime, Elysse, I’m here for you. Now, you said something about a troubling dream?” “Yes, I see it so vividly still… I haven’t wrapped my mind around it yet.” “Why don’t you walk me through it. I expect your concerns will emerge with the telling.” “Well, I’ve lost the beginning—” Read More
Snake in a Bag
by Chris Milam He instantly hated the man eating a donut with a fork. Only affluent folks think fried dough is to be handled with elegance. Marcus wanted to step through the glass and teach him how to properly demolish a long john. Instead, he waited. When the man finally stepped outside, Marcus slipped on his desperation mask. “Sorry to Read More
Aurora
by Neil Clark When I cook for you, your face lights up. You ask me what my secret is, and because I love to tell you my secrets, I tell you. I tell you I hike north every night while you’re asleep. I rent a rickety plane and befriend a jaded pilot and bribe him with whisky to fly me Read More
Descend
“There, seeker,” intoned the elder pachyderm. “In that grove you will find the entrance to the underworld.” Abhita swallowed once and clutched her sitar. “Very well, I am ready. Lead on.” “No, I go no further,” the tusk-less male replied. “Elephants never descend into the shadows, whether for dream-jewel or life-treasure. Pursue your dead child on your own.” Abhita strummed Read More
Reset
Dr. Pam stood solemnly, watching her child transform into a monster. Across three screens, blue code tumbled in an ever-increasing cascade, while other interfaces flashed warning pop-ups and sounded alarms. Somehow, the AI named Eleph834 was trashing the Nets, Webs, and server prisons built to contain it. Soon, it would burst free to wreak havoc on the larger world of Read More