Yup, it’s flash fiction time again! As always, this is based around Laurence Simon’s weekly challenge for the 100 word-stories podcast. It’s a great exercise for writers – writing a good drabble is a lot harder than it appears, but is still a "small" task so you can get around that idea of it being too much work. And then you get a random (and often bizarre) writing prompt to shoehorn you out of writer’s block! Go read the rules for the Weekly Challenge and participate!
You can hear my reading of the story below using the player, but if it’s not working (usually in RSS feeds), you can download it directly here. You can also read and hear the rest of the entries at the 100 Word Stories podcast site!
"You’re ten," Mom says. "Old enough to make the cookies for Santa."
I look up and stop cleaning my hamster’s cage. "Am I old enough to get an XStationCube4?"
Mom winces. "I’m sorry, honey. I think Santa ran out."
My dad yells from the living room. "Dammit, Brenda, get me another beer."
Mom winces again, and gets him another can. Our recycling bin is almost full.
She leaves me with the ingredients.
Later, I leave the cookies for Santa.
Mom smiles. "What kind did you make?"
"Chocolate chip," I say, and head to bed with my hamster’s very clean cage.