Below are two short stories I wrote for a Writing Battle contest. First time doing it, got a lot of nice feedback from people, didn’t go very far, but they were fun. Hope you enjoy.
CALLBACK (242 words)
Sarah Blake hated auditions. Her last show was 4 years ago. The Music Man.
Liam left the hallway, then settled beside her. “Still with me?”
“Yeah.” Sarah was anxious, ruminating. “Is it him?”
Liam surveyed the green room. Two ladies in blue by the restroom. A round guy in green quietly sang in the corner. “Just you, the piano man, and…the new guy.”
“The guest director,” she clarified. She didn’t like code.
He nodded. “Yes. Do what we rehearsed, and you’ll be fine.”
His certainty calmed her. Such a maverick. She hated that she had to do this next part alone.
The audition monitor, by the door, cleared her throat. “Ms. Blake. He’s ready for you.”
Liam gripped Sarah’s thigh, then winked.
Sarah relaxed, then disappeared into the hall.
Liam palmed his knees and closed his eyes.
Fifteen minutes later, Sarah came back frazzled. Liam locked eyes with her, but he didn’t react. The hardest part for him. Sarah left the songbook with her purse and took a tube of lipstick to the restroom. Moments later, the round guy’s name was called and the door opened. Sarah’s hair was now red. The blonde wig tucked under her arm. Liam met her halfway, grazed fingertips, then entered the restroom. He flipped the light.
On the mirror, in red lipstick:
Bedford Inn. Rm 423.
H7M 63G.
A blue business card shoved in the corner.
Liam committed the message to memory, then wiped it clean.
FIRST DATE (92 words)
Jack opened his eyes. His left arm was numb, cuffed to the bed frame. His right side burned. The satin sheets were soaked, the bandages too. On the nightstand was a black box. He went for it, crying as the stitches tore his flesh.
Inside, a note: “Thanks for the kidney. Sorry about the infection.”
He pulled himself upright, then felt a stitch rip free.
An hour later, his date from last night kissed him awake. “Good news. My husband found a buyer for your pancreas.”
The doorknob rattled, then swung open.
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