mashstories

"A grainy Saturday morning, and yesterday’s newspaper flaps past the dented metal doors of The Cockpit. The hour is early – not too early for a green-jacketed dog-walker huddled in her collar, but not yet time for the suit in the alleyway to turn away from pissing against the wall of the club and head home."

"Powder and Perfume", written by Cheryl Whittaker and narrated by Jessica Carroll, was inspired by the keywords "blow-dryer", "honesty" and "cockpit".

Can you take three randomly assigned words and craft them into a story of 500 words or fewer? Take the Mash Challenge at http://mashstories.com.

"Andrea expected a call later that morning from their daughter, and then their granddaughter would sing “Happy Birthday” in her uncertain treble. Andrea would wish her Happy Haunting."

"White Noise", written by Cezarija Abartis and narrated by Erin Lillis, was inspired by the keywords "Halloween", "common" and "missile".

Can you take three randomly assigned words and craft them into a story of 500 words or fewer? Take the Mash Challenge at http://mashstories.com.

"They called him the Halloween Bandit because he dressed up in a black cape and a mask to make him look like a vampire. As sheriff, it was up to me to catch him if he came to my town, but this was no common criminal."

"The Bad Pun Kid", written by Holly Geely and narrated by Natalie Winter, was inspired by the keywords "Halloween", "common" and "missile".

Can you take three randomly assigned words and craft them into a story of 500 words or fewer? Take the Mash Challenge at http://mashstories.com.

"Tick… tick… tick…

The noise drove her a bit batty; she would note it in her records. Would it be possible to obtain a clock that did not make that incessant noise? Surely such a thing existed, and certainly it could not be that difficult to acquire."

"Tock", written by Nicki Ivey and narrated by Natalie Winter, was inspired by the keywords "Halloween", "common" and "missile".

Can you take three randomly assigned words and craft them into a story of 500 words or fewer? Take the Mash Challenge at http://mashstories.com.

"'Let’s do this house!' George yelled, pointing his finger like an accusatory pistol. The house creaked under its own weight, lumbering there in the darkness."

"How Many Licks Does it Take", written by Dominic Howarth and narrated by Natalie Winter, was inspired by the keywords "Halloween", "common" and "missile".

Can you take three randomly assigned words and craft them into a story of 500 words or fewer? Take the Mash Challenge at http://mashstories.com.

"Annabella’s knuckles have left pink little circles on her cheeks. Restless, she’s just lifted her head from a sulk. The fog patch on the window shrinks, but rain streams down the other side, trapping her here in her sister’s darkening bedroom. She huffs."

"Dream You are a Kite", written by Cheryl Whittaker and narrated by Hannah Cooper-Dean, was inspired by the keywords "carpenter", "vinegar" and "taxes".

Can you take three randomly assigned words and craft them into a story of 500 words or fewer? Take the Mash Challenge at http://mashstories.com.

"I watch you studying the tempura shrimp. You are taller than I imagined. I cross the carpet, boots sinking into psychedelic orange swirls."

"In Common", written by Heather McRae-Woolf and narrated by Hannah Cooper Dean, was inspired by the keywords "Halloween", "common" and "missile".

Can you take three randomly assigned words and craft them into a story of 500 words or fewer? Take the Mash Challenge at http://mashstories.com.

"I’d seen him before along the side of the road, teetering on stilts, wearing the massive stuffed Uncle Sam head with the high-topped black hat. An advertising sign swung from his neck: 'Uncle Sam Wants You! Let Us Do Your Taxes!'"

"Uncle Sam", written by Elizabeth E. Toole and narrated by Erin Lillis, was inspired by the keywords "carpenter", "vinegar" and "taxes".

Can you take three randomly assigned words and craft them into a story of 500 words or fewer? Take the Mash Challenge at http://mashstories.com.

"We didn't know what Arthur had been drinking or how much he'd had, but that night – everyone said so – he wasn't the Arthur we knew. Sometime after dusk, the sun hollering, That's it, I quit!, that's when a darkness slipped into Arthur and the night changed its mind about who or what it was going to become."

"Lemons for Arthur", written by Shelley Wood and narrated by Joe Biedrzycki, was inspired by the keywords "congress", "art" and "jealousy".

Can you take three randomly assigned words and craft them into a story of 500 words or fewer? Take the Mash Challenge at http://mashstories.com.

“'We got no need for a stinkin’ swimmin’ pool!'

'Edith, it’s Wayne Templeton, local deputy. Open up.' . . . The door budges, making an acute angle, then opens wide."

"Hometown Values", written by Brian Crawford and narrated by Erin Lillis, was inspired by the keywords "congress", "art" and "jealousy".

Can you take three randomly assigned words and craft them into a story of 500 words or fewer? Take the Mash Challenge at http://mashstories.com.