"Gluttony is indecent and a catalyst for sin," said his devoted mother, measuring rice grains for the famished boy.

"But mom!"

"Forgiving it would be like sending you to hell. No." She controlled everything he ate and did.

Eventually she died, still dogmatic and unrepentant. Traumatized, he satiated himself on junk food. He died obese.

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コンピュータの操作の仕方を知ってますか。 Do you know how to operate a computer.

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Post from: sacha chua :: enterprise 2.0 consultant, storyteller, geek. Check out my blog for tips on managing virtual assistants, Drupal, and other topics!

Flash fiction: GLUTTONY – 55 words

The cellphone rang, a welcome interruption cutting through my dreams. Woke up smiling and reached for the phone by my bed.

It lay still. No missed calls.

The night suffocated me with silence. Curled my fingers around the phone—around his hand, 3000 miles away—and tried to sleep for the third time that night.

コンピュータがこの会社に導入されつつあります。 Computers are being introduced into this company.

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Post from: sacha chua :: enterprise 2.0 consultant, storyteller, geek. Check out my blog for tips on managing virtual assistants, Drupal, and other topics!

Flash fiction: DISTANCE (55 words)

Linlin couldn't wait for the fireworks to start. While her parents watched the New Year's special on TV, Linlin sat by the window, never taking her eyes off the sky.

A loud wail cut through the cool night air. She didn't know they made firecrackers that sounded like alarm clocks, and she looked around to find out what part of the city had already started celebrating. The sky was still dark. It was as if the whole city was holding its breath.

The ringing continued. She looked down and was surprised to find a cat nestled against a big alarm clock that was ringing so hard it bounced.

The cat was fast asleep.

It was not every day that she saw a stray cat on her balcony (they were on the 15th floor, after all) and this was certainly the only cat she'd ever seen with an alarm clock. She shook the cat gently. "Excuse me, Mr. Cat, wake up, wake up..."

The cat yawned and mumbled, "Just a few more minutes, Mouse..." It then turned over and went back to sleep.

A talking cat! She talked to animals all the time, but this was the first time one talked to her! New Year's Eve was really magical. She wanted the cat to wake up and talk to her.

Linlin had a great idea. She went to the kitchen and got some cat food. She didn't think her cat Yumyum would be angry if she gave the strange cat something to eat. After opening the can, she went back the balcony and waved it near the cat. "Wake up, wake up, I've got food for you."

A lazy eye creaked open. The cat's nose twitched and dove into the food, followed by the rest of the cat as it slowly woke up. After finishing the tuna, the cat sat back and licked its paws. "You're not Mouse," the cat said.

"No, I'm Linlin. Pleased to meet you."

"Thank you, Linlin. I'm Cat. If you hadn't woken me up, I would have been late for an important New Year's party. Hey, would you like to come? I think the Jade Emperor would be happy to see you."

"Jade Emperor? Party?" Something clicked in her head. "Who else is going?"

"Don't worry, it's just the usual gang: Rooster, Ox, Goat, and lots of other people... Even Dragon is taking time out from his busy schedule."

The animals from the calendar! Her teacher had told that story on the last day of class. Cat and Mouse used to be great friends, he said, but then Mouse tricked Cat by not waking him up even though Mouse promised. That's why the Cat isn't part of the Chinese zodiac, the animals that protect each year.

Maybe this year Cat could make it!

Cat flicked his tail impatiently. "So, would you like to come?"

She really loved fireworks, but how many times did she get to go with a talking cat to a party? "Let me ask permission first." She turned toward the living room and shouted, "Mom, Dad, can I go with Cat to the Jade Emperor's New Year's Party?"

Without looking away from the television set, they said, "Sure, have fun."

She grinned and turned back to the cat. "Let's go!" Cat held his paw out to her. When she took it, she found herself in front of an elaborate palace. She was shy, but Cat urged her along and introduced her to the whole gang. They feasted for what seemed like hours and Linlin made many friends.

When she got back, she was surprised to find out it was still night. She looked at the alarm clock on the balcony. It was just a minute to midnight! As Cat bowed and waved goodbye, the sky exploded into fireworks.

"Wait! Your alarm clock!" She scooped the clock up and held it out to the cat.

"Keep it to remember me." Cat smiled and disappeared.

As the second hand on the alarm clock hit 12, she grinned to herself. No one would believe her if she told them where she was last night!

(Written in response to the "Last Night" prompt on flashxer)

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NEW YEAR’S CAT

Her parents were quiet for the rest of dinner.

Waiting for a cab, I flipped through the etiquette book she lent me. Damn. They skipped a course on purpose. Wrong fork.

Tough, dating a WASP.

- In response to "you had a choice in life, buddy. you came to a fork

in your road, which one did you take?"

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Post from: sacha chua :: enterprise 2.0 consultant, storyteller, geek. Check out my blog for tips on managing virtual assistants, Drupal, and other topics!

ETIQUETTE — 55 words

I turned to my wife. "Did I ever..."

"Worse." She laughed. "Boys are crazy when they're in love."

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Post from: sacha chua :: enterprise 2.0 consultant, storyteller, geek. Check out my blog for tips on managing virtual assistants, Drupal, and other topics!

THE GAMES KIDS PLAY — a 55er

He passed the test. Definitely a keeper; he loved me without knowing I graduated top of my class at Cordon Bleu Academy. Tonight, I'll prepare a feast.

- thanks to arion for feedback!

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Post from: sacha chua :: enterprise 2.0 consultant, storyteller, geek. Check out my blog for tips on managing virtual assistants, Drupal, and other topics!

THIRD TIME’S THE CHARM, 55-word flash fiction

"Neko?" I stroked the cat sleeping on my lap. She yawned, stretched, and curled up around my hand.

"Absolutely antisocial." He shivered. "Psycho. Pure evil."

"Nonsense. She's a darling." I leaned in and whispered, "Just let her think she's boss."

A hiss and a deep scratch told me I wasn't quiet enough.

- In response to the "ABSOLUTELY ANTISOCIAL" prompt on the flashxer mailing list

On Technorati: flashfiction, 55er

Post from: sacha chua :: enterprise 2.0 consultant, storyteller, geek. Check out my blog for tips on managing virtual assistants, Drupal, and other topics!

Cat — 55 words