I guess a little post holiday indolence is to be expected. You get through the seasonal nog orgy, you finally get the damn lights down, you got taxes to think about, you’re living inside a freakin’ sno-globe half the time, and not a happy Alpine village scene sno-globe, but instead some nightmarish quagmire of car tires spinning in spit-gray slush, vertebrae creaking under sodden shovel loads, bumper-to-bumper commutes with the wipers fighting the constant shit spray until you finally run out of washer fluid and THEN the fucking sun comes out, just in time to blind you by refracting all through the saltsmear that’s coating your windshield in a kind of death brine.
But hey, if that don’t make you wanna write about killing people, what will?
So whaddya say, folks? Is it flash fiction time again? Yes, says I, so I’m throwing down the gauntlet.
And would you look at that, almost Ash Wednesday. In this lovely Puritanical Republic of ours, the ancestral home of Jimmy Swaggert, the Bakers and buggered altar boys (well, OK, maybe we can’t take credit for inventing that last one, though they damn near perfected it out Boston way, I’m told, and, damn it, televangelism? We OWN that) it seems your local house of worship is the perfect setting for a little malfeasance.
You with me? 1000 words max, set wherever good folk hit their knees. Let’s say March 1. If you’re game, lemme know and I’ll add your name to the dishonor roll.
Timeline?
March 1 — shall I save you a pew?
I’m in.
Murder in the cathedral, huh? I guess I’ll give it a go.
Welcome, JHJ, send a link to your blog (or wherever your story will appear) and I will add you to our list.
I think this is a prime time to tell you all that Dad used to teach CCD to impressionable eleven year olds.
And my daughter is but one example of the positive influence my rigid moral compass had on an entire generation of previously wayward youths. Now put the joint out and get to class, darlin’.
Hide the relics, I’m in.
I’m in.
In
march 1. on blog, yes. done. well not the story. but march 1 fine.
I’d like to give it a whirl.
A former missionary just parked like a jackass in front of my building taking up in excess of two spaces…
Yeah, I’m in.
I’ll give it a shot
I’ve kissed a lot of nuns, but I’ve never gotten into the habit.
(But I’m in now.)
Amen, brother! If there’s room in the Congregation for another, I’d like to join! I’ll post at http://www.womenofmystery.net. Thanks, Dan!
I’m new here, but what the hell: definitely in.
All about it
I’m in. Praise Jesus.
I’m game. Count me in.
Honey, not to be a bite in the ass, but my name’s spelled wrong up there. It’s no big, it just makes it harder for me to google myself later.
Fixed — sorry.
Love means never having to say you’re sorry.
Naturally, I say it a whole lot.
I though love meant never having to use a condom? Or was that menopause? I’m old, I get confused.
I think the last one got me on a watch list. Given that this one might get me excommunicated, I’m going to pass and be that rarest of species: a reader.
After the airport stories hit, my blog was visited several times a day for a couple of weeks by an IP address identified as FAA, Oklahoma City, so I am looking forward to some traffic out of the Vatican.
I’ll give it a shot.
I’ll see if I can give it a whirl.
I’ve got you down with a link to your blog — if you want me to add a last name, just send it along. Thanks for joining in the fun.
This is perfect for me, since I don’t write enough: murder, religion, and a deadline. Still room for a newbie?
There is always room in the Church of Flash Fiction. Welcome, my son.
Sorry about leaving my last name off, lol, it called three kids home from school and slowly losing my sanity.
No problem — although the just Dottie thing might work for you, kind of like Cher.
I’m in. I haven’t written something like this for a while.
Lemme take a pew for a spill, too. If some douchebag is gonna sandbag my hopes of employment on a day that I am featured on BOTH A Twist of Noir AND The Flash Fiction Offensive, then BY GAWD I am going to write a story that kicks God in the balls!!
Welcome Sister Roberts. Polish up them god-kickin’ boots and prepare to testify.
Count me in as well brother.
There is always room in the fold, my son.
Is it still possible to join in this insanity? If you’ll let this good little Catholic girl participate, I’ll put up my tale on my blog at jfjuzwik.blogspot.com
My offing somebody in the sacristy is SO overdue…
This lapsed alter boy is already looking at excommunication just for hosting the affair, so I’ll be glad for the company. Welcome, Sister Juzwik
Hi Dan, I appreciate it. One thing though. Would you please change the link with my name to my blog instead of to my website since I”ll be posting my flash piece on my blog. It’s jfjuzwik.blogspot.com
Thanks much. J. F.
Done and done, as that charming insurance lizard likes to say.
To quote the late, great George Carlin:
Whenever a bunch of religious people want to get together and kill each other, I’m a happy guy, I’m a happy guy.
Count me in.
Testify, Brother, Testify.
I believe I’m in.
It’s shaping up to be a short play rather than a short story, but it came directly from this inspiration.
Hell yes I’m in. Oh, shoot. That’s ten hail Mary’s. I will do all my research with my wife, the lapsed Catholic. (I almost have it all out of her)
I am ready to hear your confession, my son.
Maybe.
Cool — send name and link to blog or other story location is you are going to play.
[…] 22, 2010 Chad Rohrbacher Leave a comment Go to comments Going Ballistic is having a little flashing fest — go in and join the […]
Am I too late to join the party?
It is never too late for God, my son. Take a pew.
If I’m not, count me in.
An idea finally materialized. I’m in.
A little late to the game….but I think I’ll send in one!
Cool — just send a link where you’re gonna post it and I’ll add you to the list.
In. somewhere…I’ll let you know where.
Send a link when ready — we’ll hold a communion wafer just for you.
Uh, is it too late? It’s still February on the West Coast and if it is still possible to squeak in by, then I’m in.
Hi Dan,
Mines up…
The Heart Breaker
Hi Dan,
I’ve been at Sleuthfest and I thought I’d have some time to work on my story, but I haven’t…I’ll have to withdraw, so if you’ll give me my penance I’ll do some Hail Marys and Our Fathers and an Act of Contrition!
I look forward to reading everyone’s stories, though!
Hi Dan,
For some reason the link I put on my above comment doesn’t work.
So, anyone wanting to read my story either click on my name above my comment or copy this:
davidbarberfiction.bogspot.com
Thanks, David.
Dan,
Just wanted to let you know my story, Sanctuary, is posted at my blog. Thanks for the opportunity. I tried somehting new for me and had a lot of fun with it.
I will have a bash if it’s alright?
Right. Last knockings but my effort is now posted.
I apologise in advance…;-)
Send a name and a link and will get you on the rolls.
Dan,
Cam Ashley, Jimmy Callaway and I all have our stories up right now at A Twist Of Noir.
All three are (if I may sorta, kinda toot my own horn, as well as Jimmy and Cam’s; hope that’s not against any law) excellent tales of religious sacrifice.
[…] Let Us Prey March 1, 2010 Chad Rohrbacher Leave a comment Go to comments Dan O’Shea at Going Ballistic has all the entries of his call for flash fiction here. […]
If it is not too late – my effort. Thanks Cormac and david for the head’s up.
The Rosary
You’re in, dude.
[…] few weeks ago, I caught wind of this little thing via Twitter about Daniel O’Shea hosting a little flash fiction event for March […]
[…] Here’s my contribution to Dan O’Shea’s flash fiction throwdown, on the subject of churchly violence. His piece, Let Us Prey, can be found here, and the originally challenge is stated on his website, Going Ballistic, over here. […]
Dan I’m in, there’s always killing to do in church.
If you’ve got a story done, send me the link. Stories went up March 1, but I’ll add you to the list.
Fancy playing Twitter tag, here http://twitter.com/stanzazone .
[…] (Originally posted at Buttontapper.com, in response to Dan O’Shea’s fiction challenge at Going Ballistic.) […]