February 13, 2023, prompt: Write a story about a smear of jam in 99 words (no more, no less). Is it across a slice of toast, a white shirt, or something unexpected? The jam could be the focus or detail that ads a twist. Who are the characters with the jam, and where are they situated in space and time? Go where the prompt leads!

All It Took – by Hugh W. Roberts

AI recommended the jam and put it on her shopping list.

Two days later, she spread a smear of the sticky jam on her toast and took little notice of the tiny handprint on the side of the jar.

Spitting out the toast’s remains, she drank a glass of water to eliminate the awful taste of the jam.

Moments later, she felt a strange sensation in her mouth, looked down and saw something moving in the jam.

In the instant before she craved human flesh, she knew the smear on the jar wasn’t a handprint; it was a warning.


Written for the 99-word flash fiction challenge hosted by Charli Mills at the Carrot Ranch.

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Enjoyed this piece of flash fiction? Then you’ll love ‘More Glimpses.’

***

32 short stories and flash fiction pieces take the reader to the edge of their imagination.

More Glimpses

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29 responses to “Flash Fiction Friday – All It Took”

  1. Dan Antion avatar

    I’ll have my toast plain with butter today. Great job, Hugh!

    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar

      Glad you enjoyed it, Dan. Enjoy the plain toast.

  2. Did you miss any of these blog posts? avatar

    […] Flash Fiction Friday – All It Took […]

  3. cav12 avatar

    Herein lies the warning, to ChatGPT or not to ChatGPT ;)

    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar

      I’ll leave that question with you.

  4. Dan Antion avatar

    I’m gonna think twice before having toast in the morning, Hugh. Thanks…I think. I hope you have a great week.

    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar

      Thankfully, I only eat toast on Saturday morning, Dan.
      You, too, have a great week.

  5. Norah avatar

    That’s a Hugh story. I don’t want any of that jam, thanks.

    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar

      It’s all sold out, Norah. I don’t think we’ll ever see any more of it.

  6. Urspo avatar

    Never mind the jam; I think I will write about Marmite. Stay tuned.

    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar

      That’s a great love it or hate it subject.

  7. Joni avatar

    That was creepy!

    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar

      I’m glad you think so.

  8. Terri Webster Schrandt avatar

    Yumm, zombie jam! Good one, Hugh! I might eyeball my jam already in the fridge a little more closely! Wait, eww, eyeball :D

    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar

      You got the zombie vibe from reading this piece of flash, Terri. Although the thought of finding an eyeball in a jar of jam is horror at
      it’s best.

  9. Erika avatar

    Gosh, Hugh, reading this after dinner … urgh. But it convinced me to leave my fingers from ChatGPT😅

    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar

      I was going to use Google Assistant or a smartwatch, but given I’d just published a post about ChatGPT, it was perfect for me to use as a link to that post, Erika.

      1. Erika avatar

        Oh, absolutely! Fantastic occasion!

  10. willowdot21 avatar

    Oh! Hugh that’s brilliantly scary 💜💜

    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar

      Glad you thought so, Willow.

  11. JT Twissel avatar

    So no Chat Jam, hey? Luckily I’ve never been a jam person!

    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar

      If only jam could chat to us. I’d love to know what it says while I spread it on my toast every Saturday morning.

  12. Sadje avatar

    A chilling story

  13. Liesbet @ Roaming About avatar

    I had a feeling that jam was not up to anything good!

    Have you tried to let ChatGPT write a 99-word story about a smear of jam, Hugh? The result might be interesting.

    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar

      Not as yet, Liesbet. I like to use my own imagination rather than the imagination of AI. Some people have tried writing fiction using ChatGPT, but they say the results were not realistic. Still, it has time to improve.

  14. Brenda avatar

    Oops. AI jam? Eating nanobots?

    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar

      Who knows where AI and ChatGPT will take the human race.

  15. Darlene avatar

    You are the master of creepy stories. Well done!

    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar

      Thank you, Darlene. Glad you enjoyed it.

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