Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Neighbors!
    Neighbors!
    Neighbors!
    Ebook71 pages39 minutes

    Neighbors!

    By Karen Oberlaender

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    Little did sheriff Jim Burrell know that taking on the case of an unpaid bill could occupy his valuable time for more than 30 minutes.

    This flash fiction series started as one micro story. It was my contribution for "Flash! Friday-Vol 2 – 24". At that time, the required story length was 150 words (+/- 10) – trickier than a short story.

    These were the requirements:
    1. Include an unpaid bill (required element to incorporate somewhere in your story)
    2. A photo of two mailboxes in the desert (STEVE MEDLIN, ALIEN)

    I really liked that! This inspiration led to "Neighbors!" Enjoy 61 micro-chapters (+/- 150 words each).

    This flash fiction series also comprises a little bit of fan fiction. If you have read "Wild Concept" by C. S. Boyack, you will immediately recognise 'Lisa Burton'.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherKaren Oberlaender
    Release dateJun 19, 2018
    ISBN9780463519677
    Neighbors!
    Author

    Karen Oberlaender

    My name is Karen. I am a linguist, translator, and technical author. I spend my time mainly in Germany and Ireland and collect my inspirations on the go. My stories will certainly comprise some hobbies, favourite locations, animals, topics, beverages, etc. Locations do exist; pubs and/or shops might be gone; people are fictional unless stated otherwise. +++ November 2019 publication: In a Small Compass, Vol. 2 +++ My personal motto: Don’t look back in anger! 10 statements A typical work day begins with... black coffee and my schedule. I lose track of time... when I am reading. I have always... wanted to live in Ireland. I have never... been bored. Home means to me... being with the ones I love. I am inspired by... almost everything. I would like to meet... (and discuss with) the Dalai Lama. My worst character trait... impatience. My best character trait... open-mindedness. The best advice I was given... keep an open mind. Best regards, Karen

    Read more from Karen Oberlaender

    Related to Neighbors!

    Related ebooks

    Action & Adventure Fiction For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      Kings

      Jun 5, 2023

      1.Kings lie down to zip up their jeans,buy Cetaphil, candy, magazinesat Walgreens because they canwalk there unsupervised, describeblowjobs they’ve given to seniorsin cars, spend what they think of astheir own money. Home sick from school,they learn

      6 min read

    • Article

      You Exist Too Much

      Jun 5, 2020

      You Exist Too Much
      9 min read

    • Article

      All Of Us Here

      Jun 4, 2020

      All Of Us Here
      6 min read

    • Article

      Proverbs Of A Faceless Time

      Dec 1, 2023

      Proverbs Of A Faceless Time
      9 min read

    • Article

      LOVE Is The Word

      Jan 3, 2023

      LOVE Is The Word
      6 min read

    • Article

      No Changing

      Sep 12, 2023

      When Nick didn’t arrive at the café on time, I was relieved. I thought he’d gotten cold feet. The waitress came to take my plate. “Was there something wrong with it?” she asked, smiling. I assured her the problem was me. Then my phone dinged. “I’m in

      26 min read

    • Article

      Righteous

      Jan 22, 2019

      Righteous
      8 min read

    • Article

      Ineffectual Tribute to Len

      Mar 15, 2019

      After graduate school I hung around another year and drove a cab for Iowa City Yellow Cab. The cab was a boat, a Chevrolet Caprice wagon. I could have put a mattress in the back and lived in it. I didn’t hate the job. I’d sit in the Kroger parking lo

      24 min read

    • Article

      The Freshening

      Sep 15, 2018

      My cashier’s black hair was beautiful. Though not unlike mine, it was shinier and thicker, and hung glamorously down to her waist. It looked strong, too, like Christopher Reeve’s in the Superman movies. A strand of Superman’s silvery hair could hold

      21 min read

    • Article

      Monster

      Dec 1, 2022

      Monster
      7 min read

    • Article

      Q-tip Options

      Oct 10, 2023

      I am not a good person. Abby was at my door. My reaction when I saw her should have been more charitable. She was young and cute and needy, but all I wanted was a nice relaxing day at home. When the police questioned her, I should have let them take

      16 min read

    • Article

      Two Poems

      Mar 1, 2019

      It’s 1 AM on the east coast and midnight in Iowawhen the Russian lawyer with a house in Newarkand an office in the city sends me an e-mail:“Your writing is so emotional yet so detached.It’s wonderful.” I respond without delay:“Dear Oleg, I don’t know

      3 min read

    • Article

      The joy of Gina

      Jul 30, 2021

      The joy of Gina
      9 min read

    • Article

      Scenes From a Life in Seoul

      Nov 29, 2017

      Scenes From a Life in Seoul
      3 min read

    • Article

      No-good Samaritans

      Jul 6, 2023

      An icy blast hit my face as I crouched in a dark doorway, pulling the three damp coats I had on tighter around me. ‘Any spare change, please?' I whimpered as people went into the 24-hour convenience shop behind me. It was November 2018, and I was hom

      4 min read

    • Article

      I Never

      Jul 10, 2022

      “What’d you do now?” he hollered. Sheriff Thorn’s words struck my heart. Without thinking, I grasped the knife to pull it from her chest. “Shit, you crazy coot, drop it,” he snarled, then grabbed me up and slammed me against the side of the cruiser.

      13 min read

    • Article

      Never Done THAT

      Oct 20, 2020

      Never Done THAT
      6 min read

    • Article

      Killing Kitty

      Jan 13, 2020

      Killing Kitty
      7 min read

    • Article

      Shaken, Not Stirred

      Dec 19, 2023

      Ava Glass, 50 Clambering down the hill, I tried not to trip as my kitten heels got wedged in the mud. Detectives crowded beside the river bank where a bloated body was being pulled out, arms jutting out as though waiting for a hug. River weeds hung f

      3 min read

    • Article

      The Boy Who Cried Wolf

      Jun 9, 2020

      Josh Turner from Austin, Texas The egg landed with a splat on the truck window. ‘Bullseye,’ grinned my buddy Dave*. Hiding in the shadows, as the car drove past, we could see the driver gesticulating furiously. It was 31 October 1990 – Halloween – a

      4 min read

    • Article

      NEVER Done That

      Mar 4, 2020

      NEVER Done That
      6 min read

    • Article

      It’s Kind of a Funny Story: A Conversation With Susan Jane Gilman

      Feb 3, 2020

      This past fall I was once again in Cincinnati’s Mercantile Library to hear an author speak about her new book. I went in with no real expectations—I hadn’t read any of Susan Jane Gilman’s books yet; I just take any opportunity to hear writers talk ab

      5 min read

    • Article

      The July War

      Sep 8, 2020

      In summer, our neighborhood quiets in phases. The quieting begins in May. Schools give their older kids, the seventeen- and eighteen-year-olds, a month off to prepare for the baccalaureate exams. Following a ritual as old as our parents, the students

      21 min read

    • Article

      LOVE, Virtually

      Feb 16, 2020

      LOVE, Virtually
      5 min read

    • Article

      Wiped Out

      Jul 30, 2020

      Wiped Out
      2 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for Neighbors!

    0 ratings

    0 ratings0 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

      Book preview

      Neighbors! - Karen Oberlaender

      Introduction

      How it all began…

      This flash fiction series started as one micro story. It was my contribution for Flash! Friday-Vol 2 – 24. At that time, the required story length was 150 words (+/- 10) – trickier than a short story.

      These were the requirements:

      1. Include an unpaid bill (required element to incorporate somewhere in your story)

      2. A photo of two mailboxes in the desert (STEVE MEDLIN, ALIEN)

      I really liked that! This inspiration led to Neighbors!

      The feedback I liked the message stuck on the cactus. Trouble is, I want to know more. made me realise that I also wanted to know more. Suddenly I was writing a flash fiction series and – I loved every bit along the way. I did not plan ahead; whenever inspiration struck, I noted this for the upcoming instalment.

      This flash fiction series also comprises a little bit of fan fiction. One of the books I read in 2014 had an admirable protagonist: I 'met' Lisa Burton while reading 'Wild Concept' by C.S. Boyack. Lisa Burton (Lisa Burton is a new kind of robot…Lisa is a bit naïve when she starts her new life, but soon learns to fit into modern society.) became my character of the year. Craig (C.S. Boyack), her creator, regularly writes about his writing cabin and – Lisa (https://coldhandboyack.wordpress.com/). I once commented to someone that it was a pity that Craig is already writing his own fan fiction. Craig immediately told me to give it a go and we decided to let Lisa support Sheriff Jim Burrell.

      # 1

      Steve! I hammered at the door of the decrepit trailer.

      I could hear rumbling inside. Then the door creakily opened and there was Steve, hair tousled, smelly, and stoned. He looked at me, trying to focus, and grinned. Jim, you old rascal! What's it this time? I am a good guy, now!

      This time it's not about you, Steve. Your neighbor doesn't pay his bills. He hasn't for several months. Where is he?

      This guy's a total freak – mad as a hatter, claims to be an actor! If you ask me, he looks like a leprechaun. Now, that guy can drink!

      Where is he, Steve?!

      Last night, a helicopter came and took him.

      Where?

      Steve sighed, put on his boots, grabbed his hat, and led me to a giant cactus. On it a sheet of paper with a mug shot, cryptic symbols, and a scribbled translation: O-Y, searched for fraud on seven planets.

      # 2

      The paper threatened to flow away. I hastily fumbled an evidence bag out of my pocket. Lacking gloves – as usual – my hanky had to make do. I carefully grabbed the paper and bagged it.

      Jim! That's my neighbor – in the nudes!

      Steve burped and scratched his belly. I looked at him with disgust. He had been a successful business man until a woman broke his heart. My sister Kayla was beautiful, witty, and – destructive like a hurricane. Thanks to Kayla, the whole town considered Steve part of my family.

      I've gotta have this checked, Steve. You should take a shower; I need you at the station for your statement.

      I walked back to the car,

      Enjoying the preview?
      Page 1 of 1