A Story In
100 Words
Literature in Tiny Bursts.
You are invited to the wonderful world of microfiction. Whether you’re a reader, a writer, or one of our future robot overlords, welcome! A Story In 100 Words is a community of literature enthusiasts no matter the length, but we have a special predilection for narratives exactly 100 words in length.
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Next Time
Every time that bastard comes home, he sweet talks me and tells me things will be different and like a complete fool I take him back and then I get pregnant and he takes off again for a year or two.
I swear to God the next time he shows his face around here I’m going to hit him upside the head with a frying pan, knock him out long enough to pack a bag and clear out for a couple of years myself, leave him to take care of three kids with no help, see how he likes it.
From Guest Contributor Simon Hole
Robot Monkeys
“Daddy, why are there bars on the robot monkeys’ windows?”
Roger picked a bit of cotton candy off his son’s nose. “Danny, it’s a zoo.”
“But Daddy, they aren’t wild animals like the others. We don’t keep our robots in cages.”
Roger laughed and tousled Danny’s hair. “Well, Buddy, our robots have Gen IX brains. These little guys are first generation. Nobody wants them and they could never survive on their own.”
“But why keep them then? Why aren’t they just recycled?”
“Daniel. We’re not barbarians. We gave them life. We can’t just throw them away. Besides, aren’t they cute?”
From Guest Contributor Simon Hole
Step Nine
He rode that one hit as far as it would take him. Now all he had left was the blue guitar. He had hocked, sold, or left behind everything else, including the royalties. The blue guitar, even with the missing string; he couldn’t bring himself to part with that.
The alcohol and cocaine haze had lifted long ago, leaving memories from that time scrambled.
He knew she was blond, she wasn’t just any groupie, and he’d broken more than just a guitar string.
He needed to make amends but he couldn’t remember where the tour had been playing that week.
From Guest Contributor Simon Hole
Simon lives in rural Rhode Island where he taught fourth grade for 35 years, publishing essays and co-authoring a book focused on life in the classroom. Since retirement he has been playing poker, gardening, and writing short fiction. Some of his work can be found on-line at 101Words, The Zodiac Review, 200cc’s, and Bewildering Stories.
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