Five Minutes explores five minutes of a life in one hundred words. Five minutes is edited by Susanna Baird, with editorial support from managing editor Maria s. picone, newsletter editor kate meen, and founding reader bobbi lerman, plus our rotating team of guest readers, who you can meet in the latest newsletteR. Five Minutes was founded in October 2020, with the Salem (Mass.)-based writing group Carrot Cake Writers supplying the journal’s first pieces. We’d love to read your five. Submit here

Robot

The lifelike robot had blended in on the train seamlessly. A passenger stood as a station neared, fumbling for their backpack strap behind their back. The robot offered to help them. The backpacker appreciably responded, and the robot began its pre-programmed diatribe. The backpacker feigned agreement at first, but was soon visibly regretful. The robot regurgitated phrases like “the way things are headed,” “obey the narrative,” and “drink the Kool-Aid” from its speaker-mouth, but it continued for just one moment too long before it shut down and so we all sat, in a new uncomfortable silence, in the robot’s wake.

Nolan Libby lives outside Seattle where his spare time is spent dabbling in various creations including stories, board games, 3d prints, and baking. He’s fond of facts, fiction, folklore, and friends. But never alliteration or ironic jokes.

Flash & Clap

Dad