X
X

once upon a time...

Postcard-sized flash fiction about the things we think we know about others, life, death, and everything in between. And it all starts with an image...

Lethal Amounts of Joy

The town officials have condemned and scheduled the building behind me for demolition. Authorities say that a group of rebels have been using the building for a lab for at least seventeen months. Apparently, the tenants had been manufacturing joy and giving it away for free to those passing through their neighborhood. This illegal operation started in this very building. But it didn’t take long for the production and rampant spread of more joy to show up in adjoining neighborhoods and flood the streets of the city.

This underground movement became a pandemic of sorts. Spreading from town to town until the entire countryside was riddled with the sounds of spontaneous laughter and clapping and music-making as people came under the influence of this substance. Authorities received a tip from an anonymous source as to the goings-on in this now infamous apartment building. The invisible nature of the substance has made it impossible to clear the building of all traces. It is therefore decided by the killjoys of this town, that the building will be demolished. If anyone has further information about any other factions who are spreading joy freely, please call the hotline number listed below. This is Mercy Cratchit for Channel 13 news.


 

Postcard Stories Podcast – An Author Reading.

 

 

 

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

graphic of the word Courage

Word of the Year-2025

For my 2025 word of the year, I chose COURAGE. I know, it’s not the most original pick—but hear me out. Something about courage stuck with me this time, especially after watching a documentary on The Tragically Hip. For those unfamiliar, they’re kind of a Canadian thing. A band that

Read More »
White barn with stormy background

Hinterland is Real

They say seeing is believing. I didn’t know what that meant until that night. I was coming home late, later than I should, and I knew I was going to catch heck. Momma didn’t even pretend to be patient when me or my sister wasn’t home in time for dinner.

Read More »
Postcard-sized flash fiction about the things we think we know about others, life, death, and everything in between. And it all starts with an image...

Deadly Mist

The mist crept closer, slithering across the boot prints she left behind on the soft, moist ground. She urged her legs to go faster over the uneven path. A leafless tree grabbed at the flying strands of her long silver hair as she ran past. They hung like shiny tinsel

Read More »

Newsletter

Get release updates and your FREE story, just tell me where to send it.

 

Let’s Connect

All written material and images found on this site belong to Carmen Kern and Djinn & Tonic Publications. Ⓒ 2024. Read Privacy Policies and Cookie Policy here.