This was originally on a page on my website, but since I’ve mostly gotten out of writing flash fiction except for the NYC midnight challenge, I thought I’d move the little stories here instead. This one’s a microfic I wrote for the monthly 100 word story challenge years ago.

GOldie

Jesse never wanted a goldfish. He had asked his mother for a puppy for his birthday, and she had gotten him a hard glass bowl with the floating orange gawker—a thirty cent companion from Walmart.

He blinked at the fish, and it blinked back. And yet, when his brother had knocked it off the table to flop helplessly on the linoleum, Jesse had scooped it up in a panic. Once rescued, it did not purr or wag its tail in thanks.

But that was okay. Apparently, a thing didn’t have to love you for you to love it back.