100-wordstories

[100-wordstories]

The pointe of no return

The class had started 10 minutes ago and Jen was still in the dressing room lacing up her pointe shoes. She knew Dmitri didn’t like it when his dancers were late. It wasn’t her fault though. It was Johnny’s, her new boyfriend. 

For weeks he’s been pressing her to give up ballet classes so they can spend more time together. She knew that would never happen. Ballet was her passion. Being on the dance floor was the only place she truly felt free. And tonight she was going to go out there and soar among the stars.

Screw you, Johnny!

[100-wordstories]

Writings in the sand

Kelly and her golden retriever were walking along the beach one misty morning when they ran into a woman writing in the sand.

“What are you writing?” Kelly asked.

“When I mess up, I write it in the sand…” the woman began.

Kelly looked twice at the woman, then looked down at the sand. The sand read, “I slept with Marcia’s husba.”

“…then the waves come and wash all the sin away,” the woman said with a smile.

Kelly slowly began walking away from the woman, thinking it’s going to take a mighty big wave to make that go away.

[100-wordstories]

How to mend a broken heart

Jackie lay on her stomach, her face mashed into what used to be his pillow. She is certain she can still smell him, even though it’s been three weeks since he walked out.

Bastard! Nine months wasted. Nine months closer to being 30!

She rolls onto her back, wiping the tears from her eyes.

She remembers reading that time heals all wounds.

Such bullshit! Who makes this crap up?

She supposes there are people in the world who find comfort in such ridiculous sayings. Not her.

What heals all wounds is having your ex see you with a new boyfriend.

[100-wordstories]

The Power of Words

At the end of the bar sat a dog with a pint of Guinness in front of it.

What gives? Pete asked, nodding toward the dog.

Sammy leaned across the bar.

This guy comes in, Sammy whispered, and sits next to this girl. One minute they’re talking, the next minute he’s got his hands all over her.

Pete shot back his Jameson.

So she gets up, slaps him and shouts, You’re a dog! before storming out.

Next thing I know, I turn around and see this dog sitting in his seat.

Well, I hope he’s a big tipper, Pete said.

[100-wordstories]

Goodbye, my feathered friend

She sat alone on a bench and looked out over the lake. Tall reeds swayed in the cool summer breeze.

She wondered whether Drake would show up. Drake was the name she gave to the mallard she’s been feeding for the past couple months. Lately, Drake hasn’t been around.

She then heard some rustling in the reeds and saw Drake waddle out.

Drake! Where have you been? 

Another duck appeared and nuzzled up to Drake.

Oh, I see. You have a new friend.

Just then a gentleman approached.

Excuse me, is this seat available?

She looked into his eyes.

Yes.

[100-wordstories]

Not Now

Ben watched as the couple passed the camera back and forth, each one taking pictures of the other in front of the fountain.

“May I?” Ben asked, gesturing toward the camera.

The couple looked at each other and smiled in agreement.

Ready to take their picture, Ben suddenly paused.

“Danielle?” Ben asked.

The woman looked surprised. The couple exchanged glances.

“Yes,” she said.

“It’s Ben Mortensen. Dartmouth? Class of ’96?"

“I’m sorry,” she said, “I don’t know you.”

The woman slid her hand through the man’s arm and as they walked away she looked behind and gave Ben a wink.

[100-wordstories]

On Being Sad

I’m not happy.

But you’re always happy.

It’s true. My mind and body default to happiness. I can’t explain it. Press the reset button on me and I’m happy again.

She amusingly searches his body for a reset button.

But that’s not to say that I don’t have moments of sadness. I do.

He takes a sip from his glass and looks her in the eyes.

I do feel sad at times, he said, his eyes glistening over.

I think I found it she says and reaches out to press his belly button.

He giggles.

I’m still sad, he says.

[100-wordstories]

Bagels in the Mourning

She comes into the kitchen wrapped in a sheet, her bare feet slapping against the laminated floor.

“Hey,” he says, spreading jelly on his bagel.

“Hey,” she says back, still fuzzy with sleep.

“I’m planning on being sad today,” he tells her.

She takes a bite from his bagel.

“Why are you planning on being sad?” she asks.

“I don’t know. I haven’t been sad in a long time. I want to see how it feels again.“

“So weird.”

She sits down and rests her head on the kitchen table. She hears him sobbing.

“Wow, you’re pretty good,” she mumbles.

[100-wordstories]

Drawing the Line

Carl was busy working on his buzz when Suki jumped into his lap and curled up into a ball. It was only seconds after that she began purring, the sound of an idling suped up Camaro SS, Carl thought.

You know, he whispered to her, you might be small and cute now, fuzzy with your soft virgin fur, but I know how things go. Pretty soon you’ll be getting bigger and tapping into your feline ancestry and tearing the shit out of this place. Well, I’m not going to have it. Just stay cool and we’ll be all right. Capisce?

[100-wordstories]

Three Ways of Crazy

Scenario one:

She: You just don’t listen!

He: What do you mean I don’t listen? Of course, I listen! I’m, like, Mr. Listener. Captain All Ears! That’s who I am!

Scenario two:

She: You just don’t listen! Even your best friend Mark says you don’t listen.

He: Oh, even Mark says I don’t listen?! He says that, does he? What? So now you’re talking to Mark?

Scenario three:

She: What did I just say?

He: What?

She: See?

He: See what?! You didn’t say anything!

She: I was thinking it! And if you really loved me you would have known!

[100-wordstories]

Conversations with the Metaphysicist #54

“I don’t know what to tell you, mate,” Rolly, the bartender, says. “Maybe she’s gone forgotten her days.”

“No,” says Alex, swirling his straw in his empty glass. “It’s always Mondays. She knows that. It’s been two months now.”

“Well, like I say,” Rolly says, gently, “maybe she's gone forgot.”

Alex drops his head into his hands and stares at the bar. His lips tighten as he shakes his head.

“Hey, mate!” Rolly says, “how ‘bout me buying you a round?”

After a short pause, Alex looks up.

“You know, I think I’m ok,” he says. “I think I’m ok.”

[100-wordstories]

Before the Impact

Bill pulls his SUV over to the side of the road. Stacey, his girlfriend, stirs. “Are we here?” she says, her voice sleepy. “No,” Bill answers. “I gotta rest.” Stacey sits up in her seat and looks at her watch. “We’re already late,” she says. “I’ll drive.” Bill falls asleep soon after Stacey takes the wheel. At some point, Bill feels the SUV make a hard turn. His body is thrown forward. He hears Stacey scream and the crash of metal. And then there was the sense of being airborne. Bill knew he wasn’t dreaming, but he hoped he was.

[100-wordstories]

Love Tamed

I tied her to a tree in a forest of evergreens. At first, her body writhed to get free. Her arms pulled hard against the rope. Her eyes grew dark with uncertainty. At her feet I placed the petals of a thousand red roses and then began kissing her from her toes on up. By the time I came to her mouth she had succumbed to my influence. Then I kissed her mouth softly. “You know I love you,” I whispered. “I’ve loved you since the moment I first saw you.” ”I know,” she said, and gave me her tongue.

[100-wordstories]

The Burden of Love

Hopeful and Anxious were newbies. A few dates between them, tops. Anxious was this close to saying fuck off—yes, Anxious has a mouth on her--but when Hopeful asked her out again, she surprised herself by saying yes. This made her more anxious. (Made Hopeful more hopeful.) Approaching the restaurant, Anxious saw Hopeful waiting with a smile and a rose in his hand. “Christ!” Anxious said to herself. “Now I have to carry that shit around with me all night?!” “Hi, Anxious,” Hopeful said, handing her the rose. “So sweet,” Anxious said, anxiously. And they walked into the restaurant.

[100-wordstories]

Laugh

Carl was looking out the kitchen window when his wife, Annie, came in with the groceries. “Can you give me a hand?” she asked. “I guess.” He slowly began pulling things out of the bags. Eggs. Cans of pinto beans. Little Debbie cakes. The usual stuff. Then he reached into a bag and pulled out a rock. “You paid 6 bucks for a rock?” “Turn it over.” Carl turned the rock over and saw the word “LAUGH.” “Laugh?” he said. “You need a rock to remind you to laugh?” Staring at him she said, “I didn’t buy it for me!”

[100-wordstories]

Speak to Me My Name

He knew she liked the way he said her name. The way it softly rolled over his tongue and through his teeth like the seeds of a dandelion floating on a hot summer’s breeze. She watched his lips purse every time he said her name. Watched his tongue come from between his teeth as he spoke the last syllable. Auriela. So when she said she was breaking up, he said her name one last time, softer and slower than ever before. Auriela. It took him minutes just to say her name. And when he finished, she melted at his feet.

[100-wordstories]

Wishes Part I

It was a hot summer’s afternoon. People gathered around the water fountain delighting in its sprays of cool mist. Little Ollie, with a big fat quarter in his hand, leaned over the fountain’s edge. His eyes marveled at the sparkling coins that lay at the bottom of the fountain. “Go on Ollie,” his mother said. “Make a wish.” Ollie closed his eyes tightly and threw the quarter as far as he could. On the car ride home, Ollie looked at his mother. “Mom, where do all the wishes in the fountain go?” “The wish fairy collects them, honey,” she answered.