Category Archives: personal blog

Monty’s Very Short Shorts – #Brushing

#Brushing

Natasha Yentrouc @Threads

Opening Scene (#Brushing)

On the city streets, the locals were brushing past each other deftly. Everyone clearly having someplace to go —
with a sense of urgency that suggested importance.
I was out of place. A country boy used to walking on empty country lanes, where the only decision needed was to walk uphill or downhill. Or better yet to just stand still. This was not an option as I was swept along by the crowds. Like it or not, I was going somewhere. And apparently it was urgent.

If you enjoy these very short stories, you can also check out one of my earliest books – MONTY’S VERY SHORT SHORTS which includes 366 illustrated pieces (one for each day in my life of 2020).

Monty’s Very Short Shorts

Be well,

Monty

Monty’s Very Short Shorts – #Bushel

#Bushel

Natasha Yentrouc @Threads

Expert Disposal Advice (#Bushel)

Being in the disposal business, I can’t attest more strongly to the usefulness of a good old bushel basket. They have decent enough capacity, but not so large as to be overly cumbersome to carry. Personally, I can get a full size adult, when properly partitioned, into two baskets. Easy-peasy to carry one on each shoulder while trekking to the dumping grounds. And the great thing about them is that they are also biodegradable so I can just dump the body and basket into the hole without any guilt.

If you enjoy these very short stories, you can also check out one of my earliest books – MONTY’S VERY SHORT SHORTS which includes 366 illustrated pieces (one for each day in my life of 2020).

Monty’s Very Short Shorts

Be well,

Monty

Monty’s Very Short Shorts – #Hellion

#Hellion

Natasha Yentrouc @Threads

#Hellion


Cap jumped into the pilot seat of his Hellion helicopter and started the rotors. They whined and winged as they built up speed eventually finding it’s characteristic whir – a particularly annoying mechanical mantra of “arrrrrrweeeethereyet” on repeat at an extra high rpm only matched by the Chipmunk’s Christmas album.

If you enjoy these very short stories, you can also check out one of my earliest books – MONTY’S VERY SHORT SHORTS which includes 366 illustrated pieces (one for each day in my life of 2020).

Monty’s Very Short Shorts

Be well,

Monty

Monty’s Very Short Shorts – #Frozen

#Frozen

Natasha Yentrouc @Threads

Early Autumn Morn’ (#Frozen)


Early autumn morn’
Crisp leaves crinkle under heel
Frozen puddles crack

If you enjoy these very short stories, you can also check out one of my earliest books – MONTY’S VERY SHORT SHORTS which includes 366 illustrated pieces (one for each day in my life of 2020).

Monty’s Very Short Shorts

Be well,

Monty

Monty’s Very Short Shorts – #Gear

#Gear

Natasha Yentrouc @Threads

Blackout (#Gear)

The light let in by the slightly askew curtain alerts me to morning. Eyes opening, I scan the room around me. I register the clothes scattered on the floor. A mix of styles and one too many pairs of socks to match the room’s occupancy. My gears slowly turn, trying to recall the events of yesternight, but they grind to a halt about half-past midnight – the moment the city grid went down and we all lost power. I checked my power bank and found no voltage. How could this be? How am I even operational?

If you enjoy these very short stories, you can also check out one of my earliest books – MONTY’S VERY SHORT SHORTS which includes 366 illustrated pieces (one for each day in my life of 2020).

Monty’s Very Short Shorts

Be well,

Monty

Monty’s Very Short Shorts – #Turret

#Turret

Natasha Yentrouc @Threads

Trojan Trickery (#Turret)

Everyone is familiar with the story of the Trojan Horse, but have you heard of the lesser known Trojan Tortoise? The idea was that after the tortoise entered the city, the Trojan soldiers hiding inside would mount an archery attack from a pop-up turret on the back shell. The problem was the invention was too lifelike and so slow that it was passed by the Trojan Horse long before ever reaching the city. Unfortunately the soldiers inside died of boredom (perhaps you can identify with them?)

If you enjoy these very short stories, you can also check out one of my earliest books – MONTY’S VERY SHORT SHORTS which includes 366 illustrated pieces (one for each day in my life of 2020).

Monty’s Very Short Shorts

Be well,

Monty

Monty’s Very Short Shorts – #Hose

#Hose

Natasha Yentrouc @Threads

Here I Am (#Hose)

I awoke to my back kinked like a cheap hose. Barely able to get out of bed I shuffle to the toilet. I pee long enough to remember I’m due for another prostate check. I recite what’s become my morning mantra of late: “Getting old sucks”. At fifty-ish, I’m way too young to be this grumpy. But here I am. I remember watching my father growing older as a kid. The beer belly. The receding hair. The stories repeated. I grunt my mantra again and shuffle back to bed. Yes, here I am.

If you enjoy these very short stories, you can also check out one of my earliest books – MONTY’S VERY SHORT SHORTS which includes 366 illustrated pieces (one for each day in my life of 2020).

Monty’s Very Short Shorts

Be well,

Monty

Monty’s Very Short Shorts – #Indirect

#Indirect

Natasha Yentrouc @Threads

#Indirect

The girl, young woman I should say, was dressed in a white lab coat sitting in front of a bank of monitors filled with data flashing by as the mainframe ran her latest model. She prayed to the statistical gods that her hypothesis of an indirect proportion would be proven correct. Not only would it overturn a century of scientific “proof” and launch her into the history books, but it would mean her thesis would finally be accepted and she could escape the ivory tower.

(an attempt at indirect characterization)

If you enjoy these very short stories, you can also check out one of my earliest books – MONTY’S VERY SHORT SHORTS which includes 366 illustrated pieces (one for each day in my life of 2020).

Monty’s Very Short Shorts

Be well,

Monty

Monty’s Very Short Shorts – #Bridge

#Bridge

Natasha Yentrouc @Threads

Jack Splat (#Bridge)

I slid down the bridge of her nose,
Hanging by the tip (as if a nose drip),
I didn’t last long, loosing my grip
I slipped on down to her upper lip,
It was rosy and plump (not a bad place to sit),
But I narrowly escaped as she licked her lips,
And decided I better head south (away from her mouth),
But her chin was wagging, and my strength flagging,
Off I fell like a crumb,
Down, down, down, till I hit the floor on my bum,
And then she promptly stepped on me flat,
And that’s how I got my name Jack Splat!

If you enjoy these very short stories, you can also check out one of my earliest books – MONTY’S VERY SHORT SHORTS which includes 366 illustrated pieces (one for each day in my life of 2020).

Monty’s Very Short Shorts

Be well,

Monty

Monty’s Very Short Shorts – #Child

#Child

Natasha Yentrouc @Threads

#Child


Trigger Warning (self-harm)!

In sadness,
And madness,
A child of no more than two times three,
I gripped my throat as tight as I could,
Seeking my last breath,
All I wanted was ______,
But I couldn’t hold on,
I caught my breath and cried out in despair
At the sudden rush of air,
The pain of failure too much to bare!

I share this now because it’s what comes to mind when I think of the word “child”. But also because I’m so grateful to still be here decades beyond that first of many attempts. Not just here, but genuinely happy to be here! If you are having thoughts about self harm, please seek help. No matter how you might feel inside, you are loved.

If you enjoy these very short stories, you can also check out one of my earliest books – MONTY’S VERY SHORT SHORTS which includes 366 illustrated pieces (one for each day in my life of 2020).

Monty’s Very Short Shorts

Be well,

Monty