Win Cash Prizes & Get Professional Feedback @ Flash Fiction Magazine
Learn More
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

101 Words

101 Word Short Stories

  • Subscribe
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Volunteer

Adapt and Adopt

June 18, 2021 8 Comments

By Hallie Ranta

The 4:15 bus always arrived late, so naturally Charlie missed it at 4:10.

The weatherman said rain wouldn’t come until nightfall, so naturally it began pouring at 4:20.

Charlie didn’t drink coffee, so naturally the closest shelter was a cat café. The lounge looked inviting, however, so he ordered a hot chocolate and sank into a recliner.

His sister’s cats avoided Charlie as if he had fleas, so naturally an orange fluffball graced him with its presence in moments, settling across his aching knees like a breathing, purring heating pad.

The cat’s name was Darwin, so naturally Charlie took him home.

Share this:

  • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads
  • Share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky
  • Share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • More
  • Share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
  • Print (Opens in new window) Print
  • Share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Telegram
  • Share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon
  • Share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
  • Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Share on Nextdoor (Opens in new window) Nextdoor
  • Share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest

The Power of Imagery with Nina Schuyler

September 12 & 13 on Zoom
Enrollment closes Thursday, September 3 at 7:00 PM Pacific

If your descriptions are vivid but your stories still feel thin, this workshop is for you.

Join award-winning author Nina Schuyler to learn the difference between description, which tells a reader what things look like, and imagery, which carries plot, character, and meaning at the same time.

In just two days, you'll learn to choose images that hold emotion without naming it, pair them so each one deepens the other, and build patterns that gather meaning as the story moves.

Learn More and Enroll

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Dave says

    June 18, 2021 at 2:29 pm

    Naturally, a cute story!

    Reply
  2. Archibald Hobbs says

    June 18, 2021 at 8:53 pm

    Very nice…particularly the name of the feline friend.

    Reply
    • Hallie says

      June 18, 2021 at 9:21 pm

      Thank you! The cat and human names were a last minute thought to tie it all together.

      Reply
      • Archibald Hobbs says

        June 18, 2021 at 9:24 pm

        Nice work tying it all together! The repetition of “naturally” and Darwin choosing Charlie brings to mind natural selection. And the title brings to mind “adapt or die”. I really like it.

        Reply
  3. Jon Dixon says

    June 23, 2021 at 7:36 am

    Beautifully constructed, touching, wry and funny all at the same time. And a nice snapshot of serendipity. What a lovely piece. I hope Charlie and Darwin will have many companionable years together!

    Reply
    • Hallie says

      June 25, 2021 at 10:36 am

      Thank you so much for the read and kind words!

      Reply
  4. Denise says

    June 23, 2021 at 9:45 am

    Really good progression of chance happenings resulting in Charlie and Darwin finding each other, ‘naturally’. A sweet and funny story well told.

    Reply
    • Hallie says

      June 25, 2021 at 10:37 am

      Thank you, glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Search Stories

The end.