Day 25
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
“The Leaf-Sweeper” by Muriel Spark
“But perhaps you don’t know how repulsive and loathsome is the ghost of a living man.”
Loved Christmas in May reading with y’all!
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
“The Leaf-Sweeper” by Muriel Spark
“But perhaps you don’t know how repulsive and loathsome is the ghost of a living man.”
Loved Christmas in May reading with y’all!
May 25, 2026 at 8:34 PM
Day 25
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
“The Leaf-Sweeper” by Muriel Spark
“But perhaps you don’t know how repulsive and loathsome is the ghost of a living man.”
Loved Christmas in May reading with y’all!
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
“The Leaf-Sweeper” by Muriel Spark
“But perhaps you don’t know how repulsive and loathsome is the ghost of a living man.”
Loved Christmas in May reading with y’all!
Day 24
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
The Thieves Who Couldn’t Help Sneezing by Thomas Hardy
“The tumult of sneezes became really extra extraordinary to listen to – there was no sensation. It was like wind, rain, and see battling in a hurricane.”
As a serial sneezer, I can relate!
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
The Thieves Who Couldn’t Help Sneezing by Thomas Hardy
“The tumult of sneezes became really extra extraordinary to listen to – there was no sensation. It was like wind, rain, and see battling in a hurricane.”
As a serial sneezer, I can relate!
May 24, 2026 at 9:21 PM
Day 24
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
The Thieves Who Couldn’t Help Sneezing by Thomas Hardy
“The tumult of sneezes became really extra extraordinary to listen to – there was no sensation. It was like wind, rain, and see battling in a hurricane.”
As a serial sneezer, I can relate!
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
The Thieves Who Couldn’t Help Sneezing by Thomas Hardy
“The tumult of sneezes became really extra extraordinary to listen to – there was no sensation. It was like wind, rain, and see battling in a hurricane.”
As a serial sneezer, I can relate!
Day 23
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
Anaheim by Jennifer Croft
“Boredom was the best thing about childhood.”
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
Anaheim by Jennifer Croft
“Boredom was the best thing about childhood.”
May 24, 2026 at 8:59 PM
Day 23
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
Anaheim by Jennifer Croft
“Boredom was the best thing about childhood.”
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
Anaheim by Jennifer Croft
“Boredom was the best thing about childhood.”
Day 22
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
The One with the Multiverse by Josh Riedel
“He imagined writing an in-depth profile on Kipper that charted how the man’s sense of reality had become unhinged.”
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
The One with the Multiverse by Josh Riedel
“He imagined writing an in-depth profile on Kipper that charted how the man’s sense of reality had become unhinged.”
May 24, 2026 at 1:07 AM
Day 22
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
The One with the Multiverse by Josh Riedel
“He imagined writing an in-depth profile on Kipper that charted how the man’s sense of reality had become unhinged.”
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
The One with the Multiverse by Josh Riedel
“He imagined writing an in-depth profile on Kipper that charted how the man’s sense of reality had become unhinged.”
Day 21
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
Wars and Winters by Hannah Pittard
“It was the first relationship that I’d felt a part of.”
And it’s an awful and toxic one! His narcissism, her youth and insecurity. Great story.
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
Wars and Winters by Hannah Pittard
“It was the first relationship that I’d felt a part of.”
And it’s an awful and toxic one! His narcissism, her youth and insecurity. Great story.
May 22, 2026 at 4:45 AM
Day 21
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
Wars and Winters by Hannah Pittard
“It was the first relationship that I’d felt a part of.”
And it’s an awful and toxic one! His narcissism, her youth and insecurity. Great story.
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
Wars and Winters by Hannah Pittard
“It was the first relationship that I’d felt a part of.”
And it’s an awful and toxic one! His narcissism, her youth and insecurity. Great story.
Day 20
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
The Things Eric Eats Before He Eats Himself by Carmen Maria Machado
“You can’t hurt your heart if you don’t have one.”
WTAH did I just read?
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
The Things Eric Eats Before He Eats Himself by Carmen Maria Machado
“You can’t hurt your heart if you don’t have one.”
WTAH did I just read?
May 21, 2026 at 4:07 AM
Day 20
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
The Things Eric Eats Before He Eats Himself by Carmen Maria Machado
“You can’t hurt your heart if you don’t have one.”
WTAH did I just read?
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
The Things Eric Eats Before He Eats Himself by Carmen Maria Machado
“You can’t hurt your heart if you don’t have one.”
WTAH did I just read?
Day 19
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
Chris Cornell by Damian Tarnopolsky
“Back then I thought I was a young man; now when I look back I think I was a boy.”
Unfortunately, this one did not work for me.
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
Chris Cornell by Damian Tarnopolsky
“Back then I thought I was a young man; now when I look back I think I was a boy.”
Unfortunately, this one did not work for me.
May 21, 2026 at 3:39 AM
Day 19
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
Chris Cornell by Damian Tarnopolsky
“Back then I thought I was a young man; now when I look back I think I was a boy.”
Unfortunately, this one did not work for me.
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
Chris Cornell by Damian Tarnopolsky
“Back then I thought I was a young man; now when I look back I think I was a boy.”
Unfortunately, this one did not work for me.
Day 18
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
The Exhibition by Alexandra Wuest
“While Iris contorted her face in an expression meant to convey Artist, artistic appreciation, she was actually busy planning her next meal.”
This maybe a perfect story. It’s currently my favorite of the collection.
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
The Exhibition by Alexandra Wuest
“While Iris contorted her face in an expression meant to convey Artist, artistic appreciation, she was actually busy planning her next meal.”
This maybe a perfect story. It’s currently my favorite of the collection.
May 19, 2026 at 3:37 AM
Day 18
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
The Exhibition by Alexandra Wuest
“While Iris contorted her face in an expression meant to convey Artist, artistic appreciation, she was actually busy planning her next meal.”
This maybe a perfect story. It’s currently my favorite of the collection.
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
The Exhibition by Alexandra Wuest
“While Iris contorted her face in an expression meant to convey Artist, artistic appreciation, she was actually busy planning her next meal.”
This maybe a perfect story. It’s currently my favorite of the collection.
Day 17
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
You Again by Seth Fried
“Arnold paid me forty dollars NOT to tap dance.”
I thought this was hilarious… Certainly more so than Anna did. Lovely story. 💙
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
You Again by Seth Fried
“Arnold paid me forty dollars NOT to tap dance.”
I thought this was hilarious… Certainly more so than Anna did. Lovely story. 💙
May 19, 2026 at 12:47 AM
Day 17
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
You Again by Seth Fried
“Arnold paid me forty dollars NOT to tap dance.”
I thought this was hilarious… Certainly more so than Anna did. Lovely story. 💙
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
You Again by Seth Fried
“Arnold paid me forty dollars NOT to tap dance.”
I thought this was hilarious… Certainly more so than Anna did. Lovely story. 💙
Day 16
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
Conversation Over the Holidays by Jessica Westhead
“They were not the ones who had caused all the problems, it was the billionaires and the oil industry, and the celebrities flying around in their private jets.”
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
Conversation Over the Holidays by Jessica Westhead
“They were not the ones who had caused all the problems, it was the billionaires and the oil industry, and the celebrities flying around in their private jets.”
May 18, 2026 at 2:29 AM
Day 16
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
Conversation Over the Holidays by Jessica Westhead
“They were not the ones who had caused all the problems, it was the billionaires and the oil industry, and the celebrities flying around in their private jets.”
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
Conversation Over the Holidays by Jessica Westhead
“They were not the ones who had caused all the problems, it was the billionaires and the oil industry, and the celebrities flying around in their private jets.”
Day 15
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
Down Burned Road by Jacqueline Baker
“He had frowned, genuinely puzzled. Why do we want people to find us?”
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
Down Burned Road by Jacqueline Baker
“He had frowned, genuinely puzzled. Why do we want people to find us?”
May 16, 2026 at 12:32 AM
Day 15
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
Down Burned Road by Jacqueline Baker
“He had frowned, genuinely puzzled. Why do we want people to find us?”
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
Down Burned Road by Jacqueline Baker
“He had frowned, genuinely puzzled. Why do we want people to find us?”
Day 14
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
The Lottery
“Looking back, I want to say it wasn’t as happy of a moment as it should’ve been, but really, I think I could see that even in the moment, a moment of dreadful calm like in a slash movie right before the killer burst out of the closet.”
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
The Lottery
“Looking back, I want to say it wasn’t as happy of a moment as it should’ve been, but really, I think I could see that even in the moment, a moment of dreadful calm like in a slash movie right before the killer burst out of the closet.”
May 15, 2026 at 7:14 AM
Day 14
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
The Lottery
“Looking back, I want to say it wasn’t as happy of a moment as it should’ve been, but really, I think I could see that even in the moment, a moment of dreadful calm like in a slash movie right before the killer burst out of the closet.”
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
The Lottery
“Looking back, I want to say it wasn’t as happy of a moment as it should’ve been, but really, I think I could see that even in the moment, a moment of dreadful calm like in a slash movie right before the killer burst out of the closet.”
Day 13
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
“The Crown Derby Plate” by Marjorie Bowen
“…the lonely house with the grave in the garden was dreary enough around which to create a legend.”
I’m officially copying you, @mrmuleman!
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
“The Crown Derby Plate” by Marjorie Bowen
“…the lonely house with the grave in the garden was dreary enough around which to create a legend.”
I’m officially copying you, @mrmuleman!
May 15, 2026 at 2:54 AM
Day 13
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
“The Crown Derby Plate” by Marjorie Bowen
“…the lonely house with the grave in the garden was dreary enough around which to create a legend.”
I’m officially copying you, @mrmuleman!
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
“The Crown Derby Plate” by Marjorie Bowen
“…the lonely house with the grave in the garden was dreary enough around which to create a legend.”
I’m officially copying you, @mrmuleman!
Day 12
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
Shopping Cart by Christopher Boucher
“I walked away and the cart followed.”
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
Shopping Cart by Christopher Boucher
“I walked away and the cart followed.”
May 12, 2026 at 9:11 PM
Day 12
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
Shopping Cart by Christopher Boucher
“I walked away and the cart followed.”
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
Shopping Cart by Christopher Boucher
“I walked away and the cart followed.”
Day 11
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
Children of a Carless God by Elizabeth Gonzalez James
“Was there any reason to uphold virtue when judgment might never come?”
Wildly good and disturbing. Kind of giving Lord of the Flies vibes, but with cats.
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
Children of a Carless God by Elizabeth Gonzalez James
“Was there any reason to uphold virtue when judgment might never come?”
Wildly good and disturbing. Kind of giving Lord of the Flies vibes, but with cats.
May 11, 2026 at 8:54 PM
Day 11
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
Children of a Carless God by Elizabeth Gonzalez James
“Was there any reason to uphold virtue when judgment might never come?”
Wildly good and disturbing. Kind of giving Lord of the Flies vibes, but with cats.
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
Children of a Carless God by Elizabeth Gonzalez James
“Was there any reason to uphold virtue when judgment might never come?”
Wildly good and disturbing. Kind of giving Lord of the Flies vibes, but with cats.
Day 10
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
Tardy Suit by Thomas Pierce
“Paintings, jewelry, clothes, etc. — we load all valuables into Tardy bins. This our job. Protect things. But not ppl.”
Ah, truth in fiction! A sad commentary.
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
Tardy Suit by Thomas Pierce
“Paintings, jewelry, clothes, etc. — we load all valuables into Tardy bins. This our job. Protect things. But not ppl.”
Ah, truth in fiction! A sad commentary.
May 10, 2026 at 8:02 PM
Day 10
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
Tardy Suit by Thomas Pierce
“Paintings, jewelry, clothes, etc. — we load all valuables into Tardy bins. This our job. Protect things. But not ppl.”
Ah, truth in fiction! A sad commentary.
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
Tardy Suit by Thomas Pierce
“Paintings, jewelry, clothes, etc. — we load all valuables into Tardy bins. This our job. Protect things. But not ppl.”
Ah, truth in fiction! A sad commentary.
Day 9
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
What to Call You by Casey Plett
“What I miss is that feeling, that understanding of being next to someone new and suddenly realizing you can spend time around them, that there’s kinship and it’s real.”
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
What to Call You by Casey Plett
“What I miss is that feeling, that understanding of being next to someone new and suddenly realizing you can spend time around them, that there’s kinship and it’s real.”
May 10, 2026 at 6:44 AM
Day 9
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
What to Call You by Casey Plett
“What I miss is that feeling, that understanding of being next to someone new and suddenly realizing you can spend time around them, that there’s kinship and it’s real.”
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
What to Call You by Casey Plett
“What I miss is that feeling, that understanding of being next to someone new and suddenly realizing you can spend time around them, that there’s kinship and it’s real.”
Day 8
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
Ham by John Jodzio
“Are you sure you want a felon on your payroll?” I asked Larry, running my thumb over the race letters on my business card.
“A felon is exactly what I need,” he said.
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
Ham by John Jodzio
“Are you sure you want a felon on your payroll?” I asked Larry, running my thumb over the race letters on my business card.
“A felon is exactly what I need,” he said.
May 9, 2026 at 5:06 PM
Day 8
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
Ham by John Jodzio
“Are you sure you want a felon on your payroll?” I asked Larry, running my thumb over the race letters on my business card.
“A felon is exactly what I need,” he said.
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
Ham by John Jodzio
“Are you sure you want a felon on your payroll?” I asked Larry, running my thumb over the race letters on my business card.
“A felon is exactly what I need,” he said.
Day 7
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
The Renovation by Kenan Orhun
“Nothing about this felt like it would turn out well for me, and yet I couldn’t help wanting to stay.”
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
The Renovation by Kenan Orhun
“Nothing about this felt like it would turn out well for me, and yet I couldn’t help wanting to stay.”
May 8, 2026 at 10:23 PM
Day 7
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
The Renovation by Kenan Orhun
“Nothing about this felt like it would turn out well for me, and yet I couldn’t help wanting to stay.”
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
The Renovation by Kenan Orhun
“Nothing about this felt like it would turn out well for me, and yet I couldn’t help wanting to stay.”
Day 6
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
For John by Kim Fu
“He felt suddenly certain that he would never be able to explain why he found it beautiful, and she would never be able to explain why she found it ugly, and they would remain fundamentally unknowable to each other.”
Loved this!
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
For John by Kim Fu
“He felt suddenly certain that he would never be able to explain why he found it beautiful, and she would never be able to explain why she found it ugly, and they would remain fundamentally unknowable to each other.”
Loved this!
May 6, 2026 at 5:19 PM
Day 6
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
For John by Kim Fu
“He felt suddenly certain that he would never be able to explain why he found it beautiful, and she would never be able to explain why she found it ugly, and they would remain fundamentally unknowable to each other.”
Loved this!
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
For John by Kim Fu
“He felt suddenly certain that he would never be able to explain why he found it beautiful, and she would never be able to explain why she found it ugly, and they would remain fundamentally unknowable to each other.”
Loved this!
Day 5
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
My Smell Journal [orange peels, ink, coffee filters] by Katya Apekina
“A month ago, I noticed something changing in me. My senses had begun to shift around and vie for power.”
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
My Smell Journal [orange peels, ink, coffee filters] by Katya Apekina
“A month ago, I noticed something changing in me. My senses had begun to shift around and vie for power.”
May 6, 2026 at 6:57 AM
Day 5
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
My Smell Journal [orange peels, ink, coffee filters] by Katya Apekina
“A month ago, I noticed something changing in me. My senses had begun to shift around and vie for power.”
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#ShortStories
My Smell Journal [orange peels, ink, coffee filters] by Katya Apekina
“A month ago, I noticed something changing in me. My senses had begun to shift around and vie for power.”
Day 4
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#shortstories
"This, anyway, I knew to be real: if you are on a knife's edge between death and life, a strong will can make a difference."
Vandring by J. Robert Lennon
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#shortstories
"This, anyway, I knew to be real: if you are on a knife's edge between death and life, a strong will can make a difference."
Vandring by J. Robert Lennon
May 4, 2026 at 6:19 PM
Day 4
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#shortstories
"This, anyway, I knew to be real: if you are on a knife's edge between death and life, a strong will can make a difference."
Vandring by J. Robert Lennon
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#shortstories
"This, anyway, I knew to be real: if you are on a knife's edge between death and life, a strong will can make a difference."
Vandring by J. Robert Lennon
Day 3
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay #shortstories
“Eat Pray Click” by Ed Park
“Basically, he longed for a text that wasn’t set in stone, something more akin to a living organism - a story with free will.”
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay #shortstories
“Eat Pray Click” by Ed Park
“Basically, he longed for a text that wasn’t set in stone, something more akin to a living organism - a story with free will.”
May 3, 2026 at 9:14 PM
Day 3
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay #shortstories
“Eat Pray Click” by Ed Park
“Basically, he longed for a text that wasn’t set in stone, something more akin to a living organism - a story with free will.”
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay #shortstories
“Eat Pray Click” by Ed Park
“Basically, he longed for a text that wasn’t set in stone, something more akin to a living organism - a story with free will.”
Day 2
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#shortstories
The Hookup
by Katherine Heiny
“Despite his future eyebrows, Bodi has a girlfriend.”
This has nothing to do with the story, but it made me laugh. I’ve long enjoyed Katherine Heiny’s writing.
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#shortstories
The Hookup
by Katherine Heiny
“Despite his future eyebrows, Bodi has a girlfriend.”
This has nothing to do with the story, but it made me laugh. I’ve long enjoyed Katherine Heiny’s writing.
May 2, 2026 at 11:59 PM
Day 2
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#shortstories
The Hookup
by Katherine Heiny
“Despite his future eyebrows, Bodi has a girlfriend.”
This has nothing to do with the story, but it made me laugh. I’ve long enjoyed Katherine Heiny’s writing.
#ssac2024
#christmasinmay
#shortstories
The Hookup
by Katherine Heiny
“Despite his future eyebrows, Bodi has a girlfriend.”
This has nothing to do with the story, but it made me laugh. I’ve long enjoyed Katherine Heiny’s writing.
Day 1, #ssac2024 #ChristmasinMay #ShortStoryMonth
“In The Stacks” by Robin Sloan.
“I wasn’t hiding,” Maisie said. “I was learning.”
Oh, Maisie is a gem! As is this first story.
“In The Stacks” by Robin Sloan.
“I wasn’t hiding,” Maisie said. “I was learning.”
Oh, Maisie is a gem! As is this first story.
May 2, 2026 at 9:26 PM
Day 1, #ssac2024 #ChristmasinMay #ShortStoryMonth
“In The Stacks” by Robin Sloan.
“I wasn’t hiding,” Maisie said. “I was learning.”
Oh, Maisie is a gem! As is this first story.
“In The Stacks” by Robin Sloan.
“I wasn’t hiding,” Maisie said. “I was learning.”
Oh, Maisie is a gem! As is this first story.