2014 Ultra Flash Fiction Contest Winner

Pittsboro  Writers' Morning Out fifth annual ultra flash fiction contest.   

The 2014 winner is Glenn Cassidy

One Breath at a Time 

Craig Smith could speak but one breath at a time; a word of two or more breaths and his mouth failed him.  When asked where he went to school, he’d learned to say “George Wash Carve” like some kind of hip slang, like you’d feel dumb to let on the style was new to you.

Of course, the next words from his mouth would show his ruse.  He could not say the name of his street, his state, or his town.  Could not say his age.

As Craig searched for a seat at the mall food court one day, tray in hand, none seemed free at first.  Then his eyes found the girl in blue in the back, fine as could be.  Her eyes met his, then fled, as tense and full of fear as Craig’s own.  He took a deep breath, walked up to her, and braved the flaw in his speech.

“Is this seat free?”

“Yes,” said the girl.

As they ate, sans words, both smiled.  Could she feel the same spark he did?

“I’m Craig Smith.”  He feared she’d have a name too long, a name he’d trip on each time he tried to say it.  “What’s your name?”

“Kate Cole.”

Craig’s mouth turned up at the ends.

“What school do you go to?” he asked.

Kate’s eyes sagged like the weight of a ton of tears. “Mart Luth King Jun.”

Craig felt for her, for her speech flaw, shared the shame he knew stabbed at her heart.  Yet a glow warmed in Craig’s chest, a light lit in his eyes, and he smiled.

“Mine’s George Wash Carve,” Craig beamed.

Kate’s eyes at last rose from the floor and dared to face his.  And she beamed back.

Craig was in love.