vignette

Public Discourse

/ Karina Pinella / 2 Comments
customer service

Image: Pixabay

Cora from customer service assured the irate woman on the telephone that she will get her money back. “Of course, we will be happy to refund your money. First, you must repack what you have received and include the receipt and we will happily credit your account. Also, please provide a thorough explanation of why the product didn’t work for you and how we may satisfy your needs in the future. A minimum of five paragraphs will be required. Thank you for ordering our course on How to Smoothen Your Coarse Composition Style.”

Oops Brief: The Crush

/ Karina Pinella / 18 Comments

crashed due to office crush

Mike steps outside of his glass-walled office to retrieve his report from the printer, which is located across from his enclosure. As he heads back to his door, he glances to the right and sees Lindsay, his office crush, talking to one of the new Account Managers. He becomes jealous, gets distracted and crashes into the transparent doorway. He staggers back, dazed. When he opens his eyes, he sees his crush and the new guy staring at him, seeming concerned.

The Yikes File: The Screamer

/ Karina Pinella / 13 Comments
creepy crawler

Image: Pixabay

“Barney!” Betsy screams, paralyzed by the sight of the eight-legged creature that appears to peer at her from the bathroom corner.

Betsy’s husband, Barney, runs inside the bathroom, where his wife is naked and dripping from getting out of the shower.

“I’m too afraid to get my towel. That thing is too close. Help!” Betsy screeches while rubbing her arms.

Barney is still eyeing Betsy. As a newlywed, he’s still in awe of how lucky he is to be married to such a voluptuous beauty. He quickly forgets why he was summoned. He strides over to Betsy, picks her up, and beds her down.

Caught off guard, but pleasantly so, Betsy too forgets about the spider, as they romp around the bed. As she closes into the moment of no return, her eyes flutter open and catch the dangling spider from the ceiling. She screams as if there is no tomorrow.

[Inspired by Lynn Thaler’s blog: Random Life Thoughts: Morning Visitor]

Hairific: Fried Day

/ Karina Pinella / 10 Comments
TGIF

Image: Pixabay

A Series of Ludicrously Bad Hair Days, Day 5, see Day 4

 [Poetry dominates short story]          

A man known as Cowlick comes out of the one restroom and raises his voice, “There’s no fire. I, uh, I lit a match because . . . to freshen the air. . .” He scowls at the woman known as Singed, who stands close to the restroom, speaking directly to her. “I didn’t know we have a human smoke detector.”
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Hairific: Wiggy Wednesday

/ Karina Pinella / 13 Comments
wigging out

Image: Pixabay

A Series of Ludicrously Bad Hair Days, Day 3; see Day 2

[Poetry mashed with a short story]

Rebecca, who is known in their circle as Thin Hair, and Harry, who we know is False Hairy, find a coffee shop near the place of group therapy. They eye each other hungrily, as they feel the heat emanate from their respective chemistries.

“False Hairy, I hope you won’t think me forward, but as an older woman, I tend to get straight to the point. You make my heart beat as I gaze at your face so sweet.”
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The Mamabomber

/ Karina Pinella / 5 Comments
bureacracy

Image: Pixabay

Mrs. Chilewitz is simmering inside as her only son, Donald, relates to her his college crisis.

“Professor Linden said I cheated, Ma, but I didn’t. I’m telling you this not so you can talk to anyone because it’s a done deal. This isn’t a store where the customer is always right. It’s school where the teacher is always the right one.”

“How dare he accuse you. What evidence do they have?”
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A Visitor

/ Karina Pinella / 9 Comments

Her eyes open, slowly focusing at the rail on the side of her bed. She struggles to breathe, a flash of anger courses through her as she tries to inhale what little air she can get into her terminally ill lung. A tear slides by the side of her eye, as she prays silently for mercy. She rolls onto her back and stares unseeingly up the ceiling. Her thoughts jumble. Instantly, she has a lucid thought, “I had a good, long life.” Continue reading →

Thief

/ Karina Pinella / 8 Comments

He padded into her life as if he belonged there. They immediately hit it off and were dancing, singing, drinking, and eating together. Day in and day out, they were in constant contact. They became as one. They tangoed with each other’s friends, but always together. Cymbals clashed along the way. A bit discordant, but they were able to smooth it out. As they continued along, little things popped up here and there like pimples. Unpleasant but manageable until . . . Continue reading →