My grandmother thinks of her father’s lifespan with awe. “He went from the horse and buggy to a man in space,” she repeats wistfully. “I don’t think anyone will ever see progress like that again. via Pocket

No one ever expects a dinosaur. Especially not on a small town street— pounding the pavement with deadly clawed feet. via Pocket

The pink young woman was followed by a green man. A deafening explosion and hundreds of sparkly green dots illuminated the night sky. His features could be properly distinguished against the darkness. A middle-aged frowning man; he wore glasses and …

The third year of drought left Birdie motherless and mute. For months she’d listened as her parents argued over water, whether small reserves should go to mama’s flower business or the horses. In the end, as hard as it would be to lose the greenhous…

At last the little firefly broke the silence between him and the stranger on the branch. “Lovely night without a moon. Bulb’s still dead on the farmhouse porch to boot. Yes sir, nice and dark.” “Paradise indeed,” the bigger fly responded. via Pocket

FAMILIAR OBJECTS • by Julie McNeely-Kirwan – Every Day Fiction via Instapaper https://ift.tt/2Mcf91m

CHEETO DUST • by Paula Morton – Every Day Fiction via Instapaper https://ift.tt/2KESwxG

François by Didi Wood – Lost Balloon via Instapaper https://ift.tt/2M6aa2Y

Have Your Quarter-Life Crisis at an Owl Sanctuary – Electric Literature via Instapaper https://ift.tt/2KEBj7C

Fallowbound | 365tomorrows via Instapaper https://ift.tt/2vks7Ay

The Children of the Lonely Moon charged, screaming their bloodlust. The Crimson Champions hewed them down, blades flashing, muscles bulging, armor gleaming. Adam Firedrake banged his sword pommel on his shield, taunting a troll, while Lyra darted in…

Opening my eyes, I’m still standing. There’s a bleeding body at my feet that hadn’t been there when I closed my eyes. He rolls over. He looks up, tears streaming back into his hair. via Pocket

“Thanks. Here’s–” The short alien that looks vaguely like an anthropomorphic armadillo shuffles away before I can offer him a tip. At no time while serving me does he make eye contact. That was out of respect. And fear. I’m nobody important. Just a …

Tight bindings held her fast to something upright and cold. She stood blindfolded before her captors. Sweat trickled over her eyebrows, infiltrating throbbing eyes, and then eroding mascara into rivulets over her black cheeks and paralyzed quivering…

By Barry McKinley. This is an extract from A Ton of Malice: The Half-Life of an Irish Punk in London (Old Street Publishing). via Pocket

PAINTING • by Michael Chapey – Every Day Fiction via Instapaper https://ift.tt/2nudne4

Down and Out via Instapaper https://ift.tt/2rv1xos

The Little Gods via Instapaper https://ift.tt/2h9uj4e

All That Is Solid via Instapaper https://ift.tt/2g3bqDY

We Are Destroyers via Instapaper https://ift.tt/2sfnncC

They Breed Like Flies via Instapaper https://ift.tt/2rtCLA6

White Dust via Instapaper https://ift.tt/2vejXMd

Skychildren via Instapaper https://ift.tt/2vX8iyK

Tav via Instapaper https://ift.tt/2nu7uh6

Entangled via Instapaper https://ift.tt/2vX8gXE

X and Y via Instapaper https://ift.tt/2xB9yH9

Aspiration Value via Instapaper https://ift.tt/2wojwOM

The Meta Traveler via Instapaper https://ift.tt/2vBAOq9

Samaritan via Instapaper https://ift.tt/2MAGlUi

Quantum Coursework via Instapaper https://ift.tt/2Miv2mP