Fast & Short is a flash fiction collaboration between eight Literate Ape writers. Each was tasked with authoring one piece of flash fiction that would be combined to create a single short story. The writers’ flash fiction needed to serve two purposes: 1. Stand alone as a unique piece of flash fiction and 2. Serve as a vehicle for building a larger story and driving that story forward. Over the next two weeks, Literate Ape will publish all eight flash fiction stories individually with a link to the growing compilation. We hope you enjoy this literary experiment.
—DH2 , co-editors

By Paul Teodo & Tom Myers

SHE IGNORED THE VOICE. “Len or Leonard, or do you prefer Lenny?”

He was confused, “Beg your pardon?”

“Beg your pardon? Who says that?”

“I say that when I need clarification.”

She hated people who needed clarification. “Do you need clarification often? Are you frequently confused?” He was lost and she didn’t care. She decided then to pursue his demise.

“I feel unsafe.”

“Unsafe?” She was unable to contain her sarcasm. “This was your idea. I wanted to stay home and chill.”

“Not that.”

“Then what?”

“Your aggressive questions. Your attitude. I can feel it.”

“Fuck you.”

“See what I mean? You’re hostile.”

She decided he needed some clarification. She slapped him across the face. “That’s hostile, we could have stayed home.”

“You hit me!”

“You’re no longer confused. Now, do you prefer Len, Leonard, or Lenny?”