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101 Word Short Stories

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Corporate Warfare

October 6, 2022 33 Comments

By Jerry Jerman

The skirmish begins Thursday when Eunice stabs Stan in the back during a staff meeting. In retaliation, he scrambles her PowerPoint presentation. She links his email address to a porn site. He faxes her a picture of his butt. She sends his computer a virus. He: ditto. After hours, he pees on her ficus. She keys his new Honda. On Monday, a SWAT team bursts into their blazing cubicles, hoses out the fire, and attends to Stan’s and Eunice’s wounds, leaving blackened footprints on the linoleum like complicated dance steps. The manager shuts his door and weeps.

The grapevine calls it courtship.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kirsten says

    October 6, 2022 at 6:51 am

    I liked this a lot! Amusing and vivid.

    Reply
    • Jerry Jerman says

      October 6, 2022 at 8:29 am

      Thanks, Kirsten. It was fun to write.

      Reply
  2. A.M. McKnight says

    October 6, 2022 at 8:01 am

    Loved the “ditto” and the ending. Good one!

    Reply
    • Jerry Jerman says

      October 6, 2022 at 8:30 am

      Thank you!

      Reply
  3. Howard Dart Humeston says

    October 6, 2022 at 8:02 am

    Fast moving entertaining story. As someone who managed offices for years, this is quite realistic!

    Reply
    • Jerry Jerman says

      October 6, 2022 at 8:31 am

      Unfortunately you’re right, Howard!

      Reply
  4. Frank R says

    October 6, 2022 at 8:59 am

    Awesome! Full of unexpected imagery and is funny as heck!

    Reply
    • Jerry Jerman says

      October 6, 2022 at 9:08 am

      Thanks, Frank. Seems crazy but maybe not so much…?

      Reply
  5. Chris says

    October 6, 2022 at 10:03 am

    Great story and (sadly) realistic! I’d love to see it turned into a short YouTube video.

    Reply
    • Jerry Jerman says

      October 6, 2022 at 10:18 am

      Thanks, Chris! Maybe you can play Stan!

      Reply
  6. Sharon says

    October 6, 2022 at 10:39 am

    Love, love it. Very entertaining.

    Reply
    • Jerry Jerman says

      October 6, 2022 at 11:05 am

      Thank you, Sharon!

      Reply
  7. Lisa says

    October 6, 2022 at 4:25 pm

    This is great! I particularly laughed at ‘After hours, he pees on her ficus’?
    Brilliantly creative.

    Reply
    • Jerry Jerman says

      October 6, 2022 at 6:39 pm

      Thank you, Lisa!

      Reply
  8. Leo says

    October 6, 2022 at 6:29 pm

    Whew! Chills and smiles together. Nice.

    Reply
    • Jerry Jerman says

      October 6, 2022 at 6:40 pm

      Leo, it’s harrowing to think some of it actually happened!

      Reply
  9. Teodora Vamvu says

    October 7, 2022 at 3:42 pm

    This was such a fun read! The pace was fast and so entertaining for it.
    The dynamics really play out nicely.
    I love it.

    Reply
    • Jerry Jerman says

      October 7, 2022 at 4:02 pm

      Many thanks, Theodore. I’m delighted you had a fun time reading it.

      Reply
  10. Jerry Jerman says

    October 7, 2022 at 4:04 pm

    Sorry, my phone “corrected” me. Teodora!

    Reply
  11. Ashley says

    October 7, 2022 at 4:23 pm

    Yep, this sounds about right! Great read!

    Reply
    • Jerry Jerman says

      October 7, 2022 at 7:47 pm

      Thank you, Ashley!

      Reply
  12. lee says

    October 9, 2022 at 11:54 am

    Nothing like a fun, exaggerated comic take on office melodrama to start off another work week. Well done!

    Reply
    • Jerry Jerman says

      October 9, 2022 at 3:59 pm

      Thanks so much for reading and commenting, Lee.

      Reply
  13. Joanie says

    October 12, 2022 at 10:51 am

    Fast paced. You put me in the moment(s). I’m exhausted 🙂 Well done!

    Reply
    • Jerry Jerman says

      October 12, 2022 at 3:13 pm

      Thank you, Joanie!

      Reply
  14. Julie says

    October 12, 2022 at 1:23 pm

    Blimey that was a brilliant piece. Laughed out loud – really. Thanks

    Reply
    • Jerry Jerman says

      October 12, 2022 at 3:14 pm

      Thanks, Julie. Glad to give you something to laugh at.

      Reply
  15. Doug Jacquier says

    October 12, 2022 at 1:53 pm

    What a hoot! Well done.

    Reply
    • Jerry Jerman says

      October 12, 2022 at 3:14 pm

      Thanks, Doug, for reading and commenting!

      Reply
  16. James R. Coffey says

    October 12, 2022 at 6:04 pm

    Coolest short-short I’ve read in a while!

    Reply
    • Jerry Jerman says

      October 13, 2022 at 12:33 pm

      Many thanks, James!

      Reply
  17. Marco Katz Montiel says

    October 13, 2022 at 4:29 pm

    Fabulous! Tragic and funny all at once. I enjoyed reading this short piece and suspect it will stay with me.

    Reply
    • Jerry Jerman says

      October 13, 2022 at 5:08 pm

      Thank you very much for your comment, Marco. I’m pleased that these 101 words had an impact on you.

      Reply

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