Daily Flash Fiction

Melai hated insects, especially mosquitoes. Their itching bites and relentless buzzing could ruin her entire mood. Unfortunately, outdoor gatherings seemed to guarantee her status as the main course for those blood-thirsty bugs.

This evening was typical. Melai sat on the dock, legs over the lake, listening to crickets chirp along with the low drone of her flying foes. Nearby, her family and their friends, the Millers, were laughing around a campfire.
"Still terrified of spiders, Mel?" Mrs. Miller chuckled, reaching for a marshmallow.

Melai flinched. Spiders were fine. Mosquitoes, though, were an entirely different level of fear.
"As long as they stay away from me!" Melai insisted.

"I saw a huge one earlier," Jason, the younger Miller boy, teased. "Right by your post."

Melai scooted to the edge of the dock, a whimper escaping her lips.

"Jason, stop scaring your sister," his mother scolded.

"Okay, how about a story?" Melai's dad sat beside her. He launched into a tale of knights and treasure-hoarding dragons. It didn't totally chase away her worries, but it was better than thinking about creepy crawlies. Then, mid-story, she felt a sharp prick on her ankle.

Shrieking, Melai smacked at her leg. "Bug! Something bit me!"

Concern washed over the adults. "Are you sure, honey?"

"Of course! It was huge!" Panic rising, she yanked up her pant leg, expecting to see an enormous spider.

Instead, three angry red lumps stared back – mosquito bites.

“Ugh.” She slumped back. “Just mosquitoes.”

“There, there.” Her dad patted her back. “They don’t bite.”

The group exploded in laughter. Melai buried her face in her hands. She knew better than to relax when these ankle-seeking pests were about.