Perhaps I Gave Up Too Soon—The Second Crusader Challenge

Liz was right. I gave up too soon. Why? Various stressors coupled with my weakness in creating Flash Fiction. So here is my entry for Rach Harrie's Second Crusader Challenge, where we have to start a flash fiction story of less than a hundred words with "the goldfish bowl teetered." I took up the bonus challenge of writing it in my genre, dystopian YA. Even further, it takes place in the same world as my WIP (although a century earlier), where the heat is in the hundred and twenty degree range and water is scarce. So without further ado...

Fish Sticks

The goldfish bowl teetered on the edge of the table, lost its battle with gravity.

CRA-ASH.

I bolted upright. Next to me, Graham slept undisturbed. If a mouse farted, my brother jumped awake, knife ready. The sound was part of the dream.

Just pretend they’re fish sticks.

That’s what he said after knocking the bowl off the table. I cried. Mom gave them to us, “to save the species.” Graham slapped me, told me to stop wasting water. Then he handed me a mangled goldfish. 

Buddy. Its name was Buddy.

Three days since my last meal. I didn’t hesitate long.