Fragile
Next up is Mouse Tourmaline with a little ribbing aimed our ourselves.
My only true masterpiece. Fifty-five careful, eloquent words. Laying the page on the table, I waited for his praise.
“Fifty-six.”
“…What?”
“You’ve made a mistake. That word’s hyphenated.” A smile. “Better luck next time.”
The crimson droplets look misplaced, scattered on my manuscript. But at least nobody will ever again threaten its perfection.
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Penny Speckled Words
We begin Sunday with a story from David Katz.
“Penny speckled words layered on top of four letter verbs is a recipe for disaster,” muttered the stranger as we made our way to get rid of the evidence.
Somehow he knew what went on behind closed doors that night. The couple got out of hand. Harsh words were thrown, and apparently, so were fists.
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The So-so Date
We finish this Saturday with a story from Loren.
The date was so-so.
He’d picked you up promptly at seven, opened the car door for you and driven to the restaurant, which was upscale enough without being too fancy.
There was no spark. You expected end the night as “just friends”.
But on the way home, he started singing.
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The Case of the Flatuent Thief
Next up: A humorous submission from Steve Talbert.
Some criminal cases fade from memory like the scent of laundered bed linens in early spring. Others linger like the odor of Limburger on a hot August afternoon.
Remembering one olfactory incident still causes me to gasp and gag: I don’t know what the burglar ate, but his emissions led to his capture and arrest.
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The Broken Vase
We begin this weekend with a story from Mary Holm.
Samantha Rose in frilly dress and patent leather shoes, curly hair pulled back in a ponytail, pouts in her bedroom at the top of the stairs. Mother’s soft knock at the door goes unanswered. The cat slinks past, avoiding the pieces of the broken vase scattered across the polished hardwood floor.
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Alone Together
Brian picked himself up and gathered the broken halves of his thick, black-rimmed glasses. He turned as Sophie reached him.
“What did we do?” she asked, looking at the pack of bullies as they walked away laughing .
“I don’t know, Sophie. But don’t worry about them. As long as we’re together everything’ll be alright.”
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Love’s Limits
He stood silently.
“Come on,” she said. “For me.”
Still he said nothing.
“Think of all we’ve been through, the memories. Think about the future we’ve planned. Don’t throw it all away. I’m just asking this one little thing.”
She pleaded with her eyes. He blinked, turned on his heels, and walked away for good.
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