Teeny Tiny Tales #27
"April prepares her green traffic light and the world thinks, 'Go!'" – Christopher Morley. 4.23.25 through 4.29.25
This is where I present my daily microfiction stories, mostly based on the past week’s prompts from The Fiction Dealer. By posting my humble tales - the good, bad, silly, and indifferent - I hope to inspire others to allow their creativity to come out and play.
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 - Teeny Tiny Tales #11 - Teeny Tiny Tales #12 - Teeny Tiny Tales #13 - Teeny Tiny Tales #14 - Teeny Tiny Tales #15 - Teeny Tiny Tales #16 - Teeny Tiny Tales #17 - Teeny Tiny Tales #18 - Teeny Tiny Tales #19 - Teeny Tiny Tales #20 - Teeny Tiny Tales #21 - Teeny Tiny Tales #22 - Tiny Tales #23 - Teeny Tiny Tales # 24 - Teeny Tiny Tales # 25 - Teeny Tiny Tales #26
April 23, 2025
Microdosing - 80 mg of Final Moments
Billy was up way past bedtime, playing his favorite game, Gory Buttmunchers from Hell, hoping the headphones would help keep his secret. He was on the last level, about to do battle with the High King Buttmuncher. As he prepared for the killing stroke, the electricity cut out, the game irretrievably lost in the final moments. Abruptly, the power came back and Dad stood frowning in his doorway.
“You are so grounded,” he growled, stalking off with Billy’s game console.
April 24, 2025
Microdosing - 100 mg the Chosen One
He waited in the cell, listening to her heels clicking on the floor as she approached. He’d already experienced so much loss in his young life: His home, his mother, his siblings... He feared losing more. The keeper unlocked the door and a woman entered.
She squatted down so they were on the same level. She greeted him softly, gently, her voice kind. Tentatively, he approached the woman and carefully touched her hand. She scooped him up and cuddled him, and he realized with great joy that he was the Chosen One - he was destined to become her best friend. 🐶
April 25, 2025
Microdosing - 70 mg of Floating
Junie plucked a dandelion, made a wish, and blew with all her might, but a few seeds still clung to the flowerhead. She promptly dropped the treacherous blossom and tried another. Eventually, she succeeded in dispersing all the fluffy seeds, ensuring her wish would be granted. Dad watched the tiny parachutes floating all over the lawn, silently groaning at the future invasion. But he couldn’t help but share Junie’s happiness.
April 26, 2025
Microdosing - 60 mg of the Ocean
Though oceans divide our nations, we can all find joy in the simple things: Things like Stroopwafels, Galletas de Maíz, Kok Chyes, Nanaimo Bars, Brunkagers, Snickerdoodles, Bejus, Alfajores, Pryaniki, Horishky, Ka'ak Asawir, Rosalach, Macarons, Maamouls, Jaffa Cakes, Heidesand, and more.
Grandmothers of the world unite, let your sweet voices soar: Love and happiness are what we need, make cookies not war!
🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪
Cookies listed are from the Netherlands, Mexico, China, Canada, Denmark, the United States, Nigeria, South America, Russia, Ukrainia, Palestine, Israel, France, the Middle East, Great Britain, and Germany. I wish I could list all the world's cookies, but I ran out of words!
Note: I am now two words over so I could add 's German cookie suggestion, but I would be happy to overdose some more if anyone whose country did not get into the list (and would like it to be there) is willing to give me suggestions. 😉
April 27, 2025
Microdosing - 60 mg of Haunted
Prompt from Miguel S.’s book, “Micro Dosing Fiction”
I saw the man with the haunted eyes,
But just turned my head and walked on by.
I had no time to spare for tenderness,
To spread the milk of human kindness.
If not for luck, it could be me,
With the haunted eyes nobody sees.
What shameful reward have I gleaned?
His sad eyes haunt me in my dreams.
April 28, 2025
Microdosing - 50 mg of Drink
Prompt from Miguel S.’s book, “Micro Dosing Fiction”
Into the drink they threw him:
He floated for days upon end.
Out from the drink they pulled him
And away from the sea he did wend.
Now he lives in the desert,
As dry as dry can be,
And the only drink he desires
Is coffee, or maybe tea.
April 29, 2025
Microdosing - 100 mg of Wandering
I went WAY over par, I was having to much fun to bother counting words…
"🎶 I LOVE TO GO A-WANDERING, AMONG... 🎶"
Jake nudged Billy. “What are you doing?”
Billy replied, “Just singing a little hiking music to make the climb easier.” And then he bellowed, “🎶 VALERIE! VALERAH! VALERRIEEEEEE! VALERERAH HA HAH HA... 🎶”
Jake shoved him - hard - and Billy snapped, “What’s your problem?” Jake just pointed wordlessly at the green Amazonian woman who had risen from the earth.
“What mortal dares to break my sleep?”
Jake pushed Billy forward, “Me, ma’am, I’m awful sorry. I was just singing an old hiking song.”
She glowered at him. “You were chanting an old summoning spell, actually. What sacrifice do you offer to appease my wrath?” As Billy pointed at Jake, she shook her head. “Don’t be ridiculous, human sacrifice is so passé. But the last mortal to disturb me offered granola bars.”
Jake dug frantically through his backpack: “Here, have the whole box!”
Valerie took a bite, “Mmmmm, dark chocolate chip! My favorite. You have appeased my wrath.” Tucking the box under her arm, she began to sink back into the earth. “Oh, one piece of advice. You might want to wait until late summer to summon ‘Edelweiss.’ She gets REALLY cranky if she’s awoken early.”
👽👽👽👽👽👽👽👽👽👽👽
There's a zoo within.
Fungi and microbes galore
Living inside me.
Chris J. Franklin's House of Haiku Prompt: Zoo. April 23, 2025
@Jeannine, I absolutely love the energy and playfulness you bring with these microfiction stories!
There’s something wonderfully freeing in how each tiny tale invites us into a new world—whether it’s through the chaos of Gory Buttmunchers or the whimsical encounter with a green Amazonian goddess. They’re full of humor, insight, and that perfect dose of unexpected charm. It’s clear that each story, no matter how small, is packed with meaning and connection.
The one about cookies across the world really struck me. It’s a beautiful reminder of how food, simple as it may seem, ties us all together in a way that transcends borders. The inclusion of different countries and their special treats is like a small, heartfelt celebration of global unity, wrapped up in delicious nostalgia.
I also appreciate how you give us a glimpse of real humanity in the smaller moments—the quiet sorrow of the haunted eyes, the humorous panic of summoning a goddess with granola bars. These are the things that make life so deeply rich and complex.
Keep it up! Your "Teeny Tiny Tales" are not just a collection of stories; they're little sparks of creativity that invite all of us to pause, imagine, and remember that the world is full of wonder—even in its smallest, most unexpected moments.
It’s truly a gift to read them.
And thanks for mentioning me. Truly appreciated.
Gory Buttmunchers… haha. How did you come up with that?