Teeny Tiny Tales #11
New year, new stories! 1.1.25 through 1.7.25
I've always been interested in writing, but time is a precious commodity. I found that writing these little stories to be both pleasurable and stimulating to my aging brain. I've decided to write a microfiction piece every day and post all of them here: The few I think are good, the embarrassingly silly, and the indifferent. I hope my efforts might inspire others to let their creativity out to play.
If you're interested in trying out microfiction, check out
’s Substack (link below). He's created an amazing community where you'll find a lot of wonderful stories and supportive, friendly writers.See you next week!
Teeny Tiny Tales #1 - Teeny Tiny Tales #2 - Teeny Tiny Tales #3 - Teeny Tiny Tales #4 - Teeny Tiny Tales #5 - Teeny Tiny Tales #6 - Teeny Tiny Tales #7 - Teeny Tiny Tales #8 - Teeny Tiny Tales #9 - Teeny Tiny Tales #10
January 1, 2025
Microdosing - 50 mg of an Hourglass
Prompt from Miguel S.’s new book, “Micro Dosing Fiction”
When my nephew visited, he was dismayed to discover that our cabin was off-grid.
"I'm boooorrrred," he whined. I handed him "The Hobbit." "It's a book. Boresville!"
"Just try it until the hourglass runs out." Two hours later, with the sand long gone, he was still reading. Mission accomplished.
January 2, 2025
Brick of Fiction: 500 to 1000 Words About a Legendary New Year's Eve Party
A Legendary New Year's Eve Party
Sarah:
I always wanted to be popular. But with my family - super genius nerdy parents and a weird little sister who played with stray dogs all day - I didn't stand a chance.
So when my parents asked if I would be willing to babysit Junie while they attended a New Year's Eve party, I happily accepted. This was my big chance! A parentless house on New Year's Eve, all the cool kids would come! All I had to do was figure out a way to keep my kid sister quiet during the party.
That turned put to be easier than I expected. Junie agreed to hang out in the family room in the basement if she could invite some friends over, too. I okayed the plan, but stipulated that she and her little friends were to stay downstairs during my party and that - above all - that she say nothing about our plans to Mom and Dad.
On the big night, Junie cheerfully headed down to the basement, and my friends began to arrive! We blasted music and danced and we were having a lot of fun until Billy Oxtree turned up at the door with some of his buddies. Billy was the most popular guy in school and so good looking - I was on Cloud 9!
******
June:
Sarah's party was really loud, but we didn't mind. When she said I could have my friends over, she never said they had to be HUMAN, so I'd smuggled fifteen stray dogs into the basement. They all knew me well, because I spent a lot of time playing with them and teaching them tricks after school. They were so smart! Anyway, I'd brought lots of dog biscuits into the basement with me, and had a few big bowls of water in the corner. We'd had a lot of fun chasing each other around and playing fetch and practicing tricks until we were tired out. We all fell asleep in a big pile on the carpeted floor.
Suddenly, I heard Sarah screaming! I didn't know what was wrong, but knew we had to do something. I snuck upstairs, my doggy friends close behind me, and creaking open the basement door, peeked through the crack. The house was a mess, and smelled really bad. That big jerk, Billy Oxtree, was grabbing at Sarah, while she kept trying to push him away. Suddenly Billy yelled, "Shut up, bitch," and slapped my sister across the face!
I knew that Billy was a bully, but he was also a coward... and I knew how to scare him. Tipping back my head, I began to howl like a wolf. All the dogs copied me - it was a trick we'd practiced a lot. When all the howling began, Billy freaked out. When a few of the bigger, hairier dogs burst out into the dimly lit room, all of Sarah's guests panicked and began to run, but Billy and his friends were the first to rush out the front door.
******
Dad:
I couldn't believe my eyes when we came home to a house surrounded by police cars. We rushed indoors and found Sarah hugging June, and fifteen dogs frolicking around them. Sarah was too mortified with shame to explain, and June kept giggling, but one of the police officers explained that Sarah had apparently hosted a party that had gone terribly wrong when a group of local thugs crashed their way in. He said that an awful boy named Billy Oxtree was about to attack Sarah when June and a mysterious pack of stray dogs frightened him off, along with the rest of the partyers. However, the dogs were all baying fit to wake the dead, so the neighbors had called the police. But our daughters were safe, and apparently we now had fifteen new pets...
******
Epilogue:
Sarah's parents grounded her for her irresponsiblity, but she didn't mind. She was no longer interested in popularity and spent a lot more time with her parents and sister. June was allowed to keep all fifteen of her canine friends, whom she continued to train - eventually, they became skilled enough to put on performances, which always ended with the Primal Howl. After their cowardice in the face of a little girl and a bunch of dogs, Billy Oxtree and his friends were big shots no more. And the Werewolves' New Year's Eve Party became the stuff of legend.
January 3, 2025
Microdosing - 100 mg of Paper
Prompt from Miguel S.’s new book, “Micro Dosing Fiction”
On the first day of school, each child recieved a sheet of paper, to use as they wished.
Most drew pictures, or wrote stories and poetry.
Tommy filled his page with angry expletives, finishing with, "I HATE you, Daddy," who'd recently died. I asked him to stay afterwards. He mumbled, "Am I in trouble?"
"No. Do you feel a bit better?"
He thought a second, "Yeah, I do. How come?"
A blank piece of paper can be a magical portal, but it can also be a burial ground for our worst fears and sorrows. Tommy learned something new that day.
January 4, 2025
Microdosing - 70 mg of a Veil
Prompt from Miguel S.’s new book, “Micro Dosing Fiction”
A secret veil can hide a smile
Or hide a fearsome frown.
The love it hides could rock your world,
Or turn it upsidedown.
What true love will reveal,
Is clear to every eye.
It's not concealed beneath a veil.
It speaks truth and never lies.
So beware the love that's hidden,
Beware the Siren's call.
For a love that lurks beneath a veil,
May not be love at all.
January 5, 2025
Microdosing - 60 mg of a Chapter
Prompt from Miguel S.’s new book, “Micro Dosing Fiction”
When I was born in Chapter One,
I was innocent as a newborn fawn.
In Chapter Two, the world was new,
And the sky was mine, so high and blue.
With Chapter Three, I learned to see,
I was the world and the world was me.
Comes Chapter Four, there is no more,
Yet time to open one last door.
January 6, 2025
Microdosing - 70 mg of Cloudless Sky
I visited my shy country cousin, wheedling her to visit NYC. "The museums, the theatre, the delicious foods of many nations." But she wasn't interested.
"C'mon," she said, as she led me outdoors.
Staring, amazed, at the sweeping majesty visible in the cloudless sky, the grandeur rendered me speechless.
I heard the smile in her voice, "What need have I to wander, when the whole universe dances above my dooryard?"
January 7, 2025
Microdosing - 90 mg of a Miracle
John was a ruthless real estate developer. He wanted Winter Haven, but nobody would sell, so began a campaign of trickery, deception, and intimidation.
Alma was the local witch. She didn't want anyone chased off their homesteads. She paid John a visit, grasping his hand before he could pull away. As he slumped, she softly repeated, "Evil greed is the wrong path. Turn away..."
Next day, folks were amazed by John's sudden change of heart, proclaiming, "It's like a miracle!" Alma just smiled and muttered, "Ain't no 'like' about it."
Love the New Year’s party. A great example of people’s interpretations of an occurrence.
And the visiting nephew! Hehe.
All we need is a prompt and we’re off and running! The key to all writing is: just start. And you do! Good on you. Many diverting moments in here. But I hate that Billy the Bully Oxley!