Peter and Krista looked at each other, knowing it was almost over. There was no food left in the house. Their fields were barren, their animals were dead. A curse had blighted this land, poisoning the water, killing the trees. Most of their neighbors had died of starvation or the choking sickness—or simply despair.

The couple lay down, holding hands, and waited for Death and his merciful release.

He was not long in coming. Swiftly he took their lives as he had taken so many from this once thriving valley. Tears rolled down his cheeks.

Even Death can cry.

Author’s note: When I first learned about these hundred word stories, I found the idea intriguing. In fact, I decided to do an entire book of drabbes, writing one every day for a year; then selecting those I thought were good enough to be published. Then my interest waned, other projects took my time, and I just quit in mid drab-

Categories: Fiction, Lela Maria De La Garza | 1 Comment »

The judges unilaterally rejected Gemeel’s offering of mottle-brains, gouge tails and torp feathers, covered with adnoy tongue sauce. Sor-tan smirked as his gobcher feet dish took first prize. “Next time don’t make it so complicated,” he advised condescendingly “The more ingredients you use the more things there are that can go wrong. I used only plump gobcher feet with just the barest hint of morg saliva roux.” He smirked again. “There was really no question about who would win.”

“Next time!” Gemeel raged to himself. “Next time I’ll serve them your boiled head! It can’t get any simpler than that.”

Author’s note: When I first learned about these hundred word stories, I found the idea intriguing. In fact, I decided to do an entire book of drabbes, writing one every day for a year; then selecting those I thought were good enough to be published. Then my interest waned, other projects took my time, and I just quit in mid drab-

Categories: Fiction, Lela Maria De La Garza | 1 Comment »

Why are you leaving? Is it something I’ve said? Something I’ve done?”

Gillian shrugged. “You’re weird. And that beard of yours kind of freaks me out.” She reached for the door, but he grabbed her from behind, knocking her unconscious. He squeezed her throat with both hands, choking the life out of her. Then he put her down cellar along with the others he’d killed.

Tears ran down his cheeks and into his blue beard. She was the best one of all, he said to himself. But he always thought that—until the next wife came along.

Author’s note: When I first learned about these hundred word stories, I found the idea intriguing. In fact, I decided to do an entire book of drabbes, writing one every day for a year; then selecting those I thought were good enough to be published. Then my interest waned, other projects took my time, and I just quit in mid drab-

Categories: Fiction, Lela Maria De La Garza | No Comments »

Aaron was buried at sea, his body consigned to the deep, soul to a merciful God. Though he had been a bad man, drunken and blasphemous, cheating at cards, thieving from his shipmates.

Caught stealing one night, he’d fallen on his own knife—at least officially. Davy Jones, a skeleton with a pirate hat, hobbled over to look at Aaron’s canvas-wrapped body. “Not interested.” And went back into his locker.

Aaron wanders different ships, watching card games he can’t cheat at, seeing bits of money and jewelry he can’t pilfer—a sad, lonely ghost in a sad lonely hell.

Author’s note: When I first learned about these hundred word stories, I found the idea intriguing. In fact, I decided to do an entire book of drabbes, writing one every day for a year; then selecting those I thought were good enough to be published. Then my interest waned, other projects took my time, and I just quit in mid drab-

Categories: Fiction, Lela Maria De La Garza | 1 Comment »

Snavely demonstrated his invention. “You put the bait here, see… the mouse goes in here, see… steps on this lever — no more mouse!”

“Where does it go?”

“Who knows? Disintegrates into the atmosphere probably. Millions of mouse atoms floating around.” He chuckled. “Who cares?”

But the mice did not disintegrate. Instead they landed on the planet Kharthom, where tiny catlike creatures worshipped them, made them beds of cotton, and brought offerings of cheese and bacon.

Humans called this Snavely’s Mousetrap. Mice called it The Portal to Mouse Heaven. Both species considered it one of the world’s greatest inventions.

Author’s note: When I first learned about these hundred word stories, I found the idea intriguing. In fact, I decided to do an entire book of drabbes, writing one every day for a year; then selecting those I thought were good enough to be published. Then my interest waned, other projects took my time, and I just quit in mid drab-

Categories: Fiction, Lela Maria De La Garza | No Comments »