Knights of Microfiction!

It's time for Knights of Microfiction! This is a monthly meme hosted by the fabulous Jess and Kathy McKendry. I have had very little time to blog recently, so flash fiction is right up my alley!

Here are this month's rules:

Use at least one of the following adjectives: delicate, repulsive, hostile, and at least two of the following nouns:  New York City, my 16th birthday, and kilts. Write a MicroFiction/flash fiction piece of 250 words or less.

And here's my entry:


It's a delicate balance, I thought to myself, living here in New York City. Just surviving day to day can be a challenge, albeit one that I accept. Never let it be said that a Wallace is not worth his salt. I adjusted my kilt as a couple of beauties strolled by on the avenue.


There’s just one problem. No one can see me. And… they’re all dressed so strangely. It’s only very rarely that I see anyone else in a kilt, and they’re usually stone drunk. Those drunks can see me. And they’re usually terrified when they do. I think something may have happened to me.


Last thing I remember before I got here was it was my 16th birthday. Ma had made this new kilt for me especially. I was going out riding, and when I got home it would be time to celebrate. 16. Coming of age for a Scottish lad.


Only I never made it home. All of a sudden I was here. My stomach growled. I was starving. The night was just beginning here in the City that never sleeps. If I played my cards right, I could find myself a drunk with a conscience, someone to slip me some food. Best place for that was in Greenwich Village. They were just more accepting there. A couple of handouts and I’d be set for the night.


Somehow, I’d survive. Somehow, I had to figure out how to get home. Or at least what had happened.

Off to the internship again today. Lots of reading to do and I think my fellow intern is going away. I guess that's the point of an internship. It never lasts for very long.