Curious Flash Fiction by Simon J. Wood
(700 words) The Monkees would be on the radio. Cheer up sleepy Jean Oh, what can it mean to a Daydream believer and a Homecoming queen? We used to laugh, because grandma’s name was Jean. I never understood what a Homecoming Queen meant, I guess it’d have different connotations now. It was never mentioned, but upstairs lay a terrible secret.
(700 words) “Granny, tell me the story about Great Aunt Delilah’s Blanket!” “I’ve already told you.” “That was ages ago, I can’t remember!” We both sat by the fireside in my farm cottage. “Well, my grandmother, that would be your great-great-grandmother, had a sister called Delilah. So that was my Great Aunt, you see. Anyway, it was said she had healing powers and many sick people would go to her house and come away feeling well again.” "Could she have healed Daddy d’you think?”
(800 words) “Christ, Jesus wasn’t a patch on this guy, I’m tellin’ you, Harve!” “C’mon, Daniel, you’re kiddin’ me, right?” “I’m tellin’ you straight, he puts his hands on their shoulders, closes his goddamn eyes and two minutes later they’re healed. Cancer, heart disease, squints, you name it!” “And you've seen this?” “Goddamn right I've seen it. I seen it with my own eyes! Saul came to me first thing Monday morning. ‘Daniel, you ain’t gonna believe it,’ he said, ‘I took momma to see this new healer guy. After two minutes with the guy – Abraham he’s called – Wham! Her cataracts were gone!’ So, I took myself out to Shady Creek. He’s got a big tent set up. I watched for mebbe half an hour. Everyone he touched came away healed, I swear to God!”