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101 Word Short Stories

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Bean and Gone

September 10, 2022 28 Comments

By Stan Sweeney

In one sense it was over, but in another, it wasn’t. There was a lot of clearing up to do.

And quite a bit of explaining.

Jack had had no choice—he’d been thinking on his feet—but now there was the aftermath: the ogre’s twisted corpse, over forty feet long, lying on the ruins of the neighbour’s vegetable patch.

And the beanstalk. Over a mile of it. Who knew how much damage it had done.

Or how much of his stolen fortune the reparations would cost.

He stared at the Golden Goose now pecking about at his feet. “Start laying!”

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Cathy Cade says

    September 10, 2022 at 9:10 am

    Fairytale for a litiginous age. Nice one.
    I have one myself, ‘the Humpty Verdict’ but, as a verse, not eligible for 101 words.

    Reply
    • Stan says

      September 10, 2022 at 1:06 pm

      Thanks for the feedback Cathy
      It was a fun idea to play with

      Reply
  2. Dave N says

    September 10, 2022 at 9:36 am

    When the reality of the situation rears it’s ugly head, and the fairy tale fades.

    Very well written.

    Reply
    • Stan says

      September 10, 2022 at 1:08 pm

      Thanks Dave
      “Happy Ever After” isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be

      Reply
  3. Rita says

    September 10, 2022 at 11:48 am

    I enjoyed your contemporary take on the fairy tale. Clever and well done!

    Reply
    • Stan says

      September 10, 2022 at 1:08 pm

      Thanks Rita
      The idea came to me “in a flash”, you might say…

      Reply
  4. Corey says

    September 10, 2022 at 2:03 pm

    Part of the tale we don’t read about. Well done

    Reply
    • Stan says

      September 10, 2022 at 4:57 pm

      Thanks Corey
      Always felt there were some “loose ends” to tie up…

      Reply
  5. Joyce Jacobo says

    September 10, 2022 at 4:22 pm

    Hahaha, I love that you address all the ramifications of Jack’s actions here. It’s a clever twist on the tale as well. Brilliantly done.

    Reply
    • Stan says

      September 10, 2022 at 4:59 pm

      Thanks Joyce – exactly what gave me the idea. Appreciate the comments

      Reply
      • Joyce Jacobo says

        September 14, 2022 at 3:17 pm

        Aww, you’re very welcome.

        Reply
  6. yogita says

    September 12, 2022 at 3:51 am

    Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum,
    I smell the plot of a scary tale,
    Be is fiction or be it fact,
    It has been written with a lot of tact

    🙂 Enjoyed it!

    Reply
    • Stan says

      September 13, 2022 at 3:55 pm

      Why, thank you yogita
      For verse, rhyme & meter
      The comments so kind
      Have delighted my mind…

      Reply
      • Yogita says

        September 14, 2022 at 11:14 am

        It’s my pleasure ?

        A fairy tale in modern times
        Your reply has rhythm and rhyme ?

        Reply
        • yogita says

          September 15, 2022 at 5:56 am

          I don’t know why, my emojis have turned to question marks in the above comment…

          Reply
          • Stan says

            September 15, 2022 at 12:12 pm

            A mystery indeed…
            The case of the metamorphic emojis…
            Wonder if there’s a story in there somewhere…

  7. Michael Peach says

    September 14, 2022 at 9:15 am

    Clever and fun

    Reply
    • Stan says

      September 15, 2022 at 12:12 pm

      Thanks Michael!

      Reply
  8. Judyanna says

    September 14, 2022 at 12:41 pm

    I kept laughing as I posted to FB. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Stan says

      September 15, 2022 at 12:13 pm

      Glad it brought you some laughter, Judyanna!

      Reply
  9. Jerry Jerman says

    September 14, 2022 at 5:42 pm

    I love this exploration of unintended consequences. Well done!

    Reply
    • Stan says

      September 15, 2022 at 12:13 pm

      Thanks Jerry. Glad you enjoyed it

      Reply
  10. Doug Jacquier says

    September 14, 2022 at 9:15 pm

    Clever. Well done.

    Reply
    • Stan says

      September 15, 2022 at 12:14 pm

      Many thanks Doug

      Reply
  11. Joanie says

    September 14, 2022 at 11:03 pm

    Facing the aftermath brings us down to earth, so to speak! Enjoyable read. Love the title.

    Reply
    • Stan says

      September 15, 2022 at 12:14 pm

      Down to earth with a bang, perhaps…
      Thanks for the feedback, Joanie

      Reply
  12. Dee Lorraine says

    September 15, 2022 at 9:05 am

    Ha! Such a clever take on old tales. Excellent execution, Stan.

    Reply
    • Stan says

      September 15, 2022 at 12:15 pm

      Thanks Dee!

      Reply

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