by Val Rigodon God came back to Earth in the year 2018. He appeared in front of every single person in the form of a dog. Different people got different breeds. If you were having lunch in your high school cafeteria, two dogs appeared in the east and west of the cafeteria. If you were in a board meeting, a 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.
Perfect
by Normand Lepine I am Nobody, nobody is perfect, therefore I am perfect. – Dandi Daley Mackall, Love Rules Sometimes I wonder why I even come here. It’s so depressing on days like this. I don’t have my regular energy after a long day and longer week. Then I look around and feel so little compared to the bigger bulls. Read More
Net
“So this season, I’m breaking in a new crew member.” Cut to Paige standing by the fishing rods in the stern, waving one big forelimb. Return to Dave’s diary. He wipes his forehead. “Yeah, after that swordfish incident last season, Sully bailed on the ocean, decided to stay on land.” Cut to replay, paramedics clustering around Sully on dock, paying Read More
Reflect
Rick eases onto a stool as the counter server sets down his mug. On the makeshift stage in the corner, Powell starts a new song. “Yeah, big guy, that’s the one!” Rick yells, mug halfway to his lips. Then more softly, “Mmm, good coffee. Zoning board must require proof of coffee quality if you call it a ‘diner’. Oh, and Read More
Your Arms Close Around Me
by J. Bradley Mitch asks mom what animal she’d want to be and I punch him in the arm for asking. The last thing mom needs right now is to think about being in a body other than her own. Mom answers though by shifting her body into a lime green raccoon. Why a raccoon, I ask. On our honeymoon, Read More
Lament
City elephants never lament. We gave it up when we moved off the savanna. For one thing, city code discourages open-air burials. And everything needs a permit, even public displays of mourning. It makes sense. Can you imagine if we did it the old way? Traffic remains snarled near Columbus Circle while fifteen pachyderms continue their vigil for a herd member who Read More
Three Facts and a Rhyme
by J. Douglas Johnson An elephant never bothers about the impossible obstacles. Their obstinacy in the face of hardship is practically world-famous. For this reason an elephant herd trouping through the desert is also sometimes called a persistence. Clearly this is not the “immovable object” kind of obstinacy, grumbly-grey and hard-headed as you might imagine the parched and cracked pachyderm. Read More
Outwit
Ephsta had just reached the tree line when her walkie-talkie crackled. “Everybody in position?” asked the blue team leader. Ephsta joined the series of affirmative sound-offs. “Great. Now remember,” the leader continued, “we’re at the boundary of the red base. So they could be anywhere from here on in.” Ephsta tensed and immediately perked up her flopping ears. “And most importantly, we Read More
Elephants Never Fret
by Roppotucha Greenberg She takes my death out of the oven, wraps it in a clean towel, and smiles. “Drink your tea,” she says, “let it rest a bit.” The thing in the towel and I rest a little bit. I came because therapy feels like drowning. The mug laughs at me as I drink. This feels good. “I am Read More
Regret
“No!” Phelaine bellowed, crashing a gray fist down onto the control panel. “The electromagnetic radiation’s fried the jump circuits.” She gestured at the red-flashing screen with her trunk. “We can take off, but we’ll never outrun that thing without jumping!” She trumpeted, a brash, purposeless sound. Then her massive head slumped forward. Above, “that thing” roiled across the monitors. From Read More