Hugh J. O'Donnell

After I bought the old house, I came across some old books hidden in the attic.
The leather-bound journals were well-preserved, but I couldn’t make out the handwriting. The script was archaic and filled with strange symbols.
I took them to the local university. The professors were enthusiastic, but they couldn’t read them either.
I decided to donate the journals, although I felt sad them go. The professors promised that they would keep me informed, and I just got an email saying that they are to be scanned and machine translated.
I can’t wait to find out what they say.

“Sugar cakes in the recipe books of Margaret Home Countess of Moray” by Unoquha is marked with CC0 1.0.

Everyday Drabbles © 2019-2026 Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

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He stood on the rock-like shore and watched the waves. This was what he imagined Earth was like, although with three extra moons, the tides were less predictable on their new planet.
The ship traveled for a century to reach their new world and everyone was eager to get to work setting up the new colony. Everyone but him. Traveling was all he’d ever known, and now that they had arrived, he was restless.
So he quietly fabricated a boat and set out to do the job that nobody else wanted. He would chart the seas of their new home.

“Rossglass shore” by conall.. is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Everyday Drabbles © 2019-2026 Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

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The toad sat in the grass and watched the road. People, animals, and cars rushed to and fro. He couldn’t match them for size or speed, but he could hop.
The toad hopped into the busy road, weaving in and out of traffic, under cars and over ditches until he landed in the pond on the other side.
The witch that cursed him said that a human consciousness wouldn’t survive in a toad’s brain, but he would get his revenge. He just had to find her.
The toad looked across the road. Maybe she was beyond that patch of grass.

“American Toad” by Greg Schechter is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Everyday Drabbles © 2019-2026 Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

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The region of space was called “The Cauldron.” The background radiation was dangerously high, so normal, law-abiding people steered clear. That made it the perfect hiding place for outlaws, refugees, and other castoffs. As long as they didn’t mind getting a little cooked. And her trail led right into it.
He ignored the warning beacons and his own ship’s alarms. The shielding would handle it.
He turned around when the laser blasts hit his tail.
“I knew you’d never give up chasing me. But it’s time to end this.”
“But darling…”
“No means no,” she said, and released another volley.

“Nebula” by ♡Blackangelツ is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Everyday Drabbles © 2019-2026 Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

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They say that everyone has a double: an exact duplicate of themselves somewhere in the world roaming with nefarious intent.
Of course I don’t believe such ridiculous superstitions, but for the last week I’ve been getting texts from friends and colleagues spotting me across town getting into trouble and causing havoc, then disappearing.
I supposedly caused a flood of beer in a grocery store, a massive traffic jam, and a stampede at the zoo. Fortunately, I had a solid alibi, but I was still worried.
I called up my twin brother. “Have you been in town and not called me?”

“Thom and his evil twin” by quinet is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Everyday Drabbles © 2019-2026 Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

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Rumors had been spreading for weeks. Something big was coming down the road, carried by one of the Little Folk. All the big players wanted it, but nobody could find it.
Perhaps it was already lost, its owner dead to the predations of the wild places, or caught by riders patrolling the road.
The Highwayman sat and waited, biding his time. He’d chosen his hiding place with care. If it wasn’t already gone, he would get it, and be in an excellent position to bargain with everyone that wanted it, whatever it was.
How much trouble could four Halflings be?

“Forest – High Contrast” by (www.debabrata.info) debabrata is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Everyday Drabbles © 2019-2026 Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

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The bar was considered neutral ground by every assassin and hired killer in the city. It was a place they could meet when required, or at least relax and stop looking over their shoulders.
The little family-run tavern was not included in any business. They didn’t pay protection money or bribes to anybody. They were robbed once, but the money was found on the doorstep the next morning.
The owner had no idea. He just thought his regulars were a bit odd.
And as long as he still made the best wings in the city, things would stay that way.

“Bar at the Reindeer pub Norwich” by Roger Blackwell is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Everyday Drabbles © 2019-2026 Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

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The old man opened the door and found a pair of odd-looking little women on his doorstep.
“Arnold Smith?” One asked, consulting a clipboard.
“Yes.”
“Son of Laverne Smith?”
“She passed twenty years ago, but yes. What’s this about?”
“Eighty years ago, for services rendered, your mother promised her firstborn son to Faerie. We’ve come to collect.”
“Little late, aren’t you?”
The two faeries shared a glance. “The paperwork got lost.”
One of them held out a hand. Arnold paused. But what did he have to lose? As he took it, he found that his hip had finally stopped hurting.

“Faerie Ring” by Marion Doss is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

Everyday Drabbles © 2019-2026 Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

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When the town discovered what she was, they chased out the witch, and she was forced to hide in the sewers.
Rather, she thought bitterly, they decided she was too inconvenient to pretend she was just some old woman with herb lore anymore. The Good People of a town couldn’t suffer a witch by daylight, even if they begged her for help by moonlight.
Next time, she would be less free with her hexes. But for now, she would have her revenge.
Hiding among the rats and the refuse, she began casting the spells that would mark the village’s doom.

“File:Tuhala Witches Well1-21-03-2013.jpg” by Ivar Leidus is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Everyday Drabbles © 2019-2026 Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

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