Each Other's Company

Barbara and Dave fought more on vacation, and much more intensely, than any other time in their marriage.

"I wish you'd just shut up about it," Barbara finally shouted.

"As soon as you admit that this time it wasn't my fault," Dave countered.

"Okay, it's not your fault. Are you happy now?"

"Yes." Having gained her absolution, Dave stopped bickering and turned away.

Neither of them spoke for a long time. They just bobbed quietly in the water, wishing the other one wasn't there. It would have been better to die alone than to endure each other's company a moment longer.

This is a 101-word story I wrote for 101 Words. You should check out their site.

Clean

They were calling it the biggest mass migration in human history.

Millions of Catholics fleeing their home countries and flooding the Amazonian and South East Asian rain forests. Not only were the economies of entire regions being disrupted, but the environmental destruction was unprecedented.

The threats posed by climate change paled in comparison. The false modern idols--money and science, patriotism and Ronald McDonald--proved they were no rival to the power of religion. Millions would die due to the mistake.

All because the Pope, as part of the onset of his dementia, declared that daily rain cleanses the soul of sin.