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101 Word Short Stories

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Dead Ringer

June 14, 2023 14 Comments

By Dick Noble

When Bucky Buchowski walked into the Blue Collar Social Club, silence and white faces greeted him.

He marched to the bar. “Al, get me a Bud.”

The bartender, hands shaking, handed him a frosty bottle of beer.

Bucky turned to the solemn crowd and leaned on the bar. He yawned. “Must be something in the air? I slept like the dead last night.”

The boys shuffled their feet and examined the tops of their scuffed boots. They exchanged the awkward looks of confused men.

Lefty Malone gathered his courage. “Here’s the thing, boss. Remember the boom when you started your car?”

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jon Gluckman says

    June 14, 2023 at 7:20 am

    Lean and mean. Nicely executed.

    Reply
    • Lisa H. Owens says

      June 14, 2023 at 9:05 am

      Greatness! I read this several times because I couldn’t believe you could tell such a complete little story in just 101 words. The last line killed me every time! I read it my best Tony Soprano mobster voice.

      Reply
  2. Paulene says

    June 14, 2023 at 7:37 am

    Cute.

    Reply
  3. Cathryn says

    June 14, 2023 at 9:32 am

    Hello Dick
    Great line, “I slept like the dead…”

    Reply
    • Derek says

      June 15, 2023 at 12:38 am

      ?

      Reply
      • Derek says

        June 15, 2023 at 12:39 am

        Emojis come out as ? I apologise. I liked the story and I could visualise the scene.

        Reply
  4. Geneviève Goggin says

    June 14, 2023 at 9:36 am

    I love this tight little story!

    Reply
  5. Paul Scott Wood says

    June 14, 2023 at 9:41 am

    Cute little story in just 101 words. I thought from the beginning that Bucky must be the boss though.

    Reply
  6. M nicole says

    June 14, 2023 at 10:34 am

    Great job!

    Reply
  7. Ekta R. Garg says

    June 14, 2023 at 11:49 am

    Excellent word choice. Great job!

    Reply
  8. Valli Boldini says

    June 14, 2023 at 12:13 pm

    Nice read… well done…

    Reply
  9. David Higham says

    June 14, 2023 at 12:53 pm

    A very tightly written story. Great stuff.

    Reply
  10. KJ says

    June 15, 2023 at 3:03 pm

    I love how Bucky’s so laid back and has no idea what has gone down… great story Dick.

    Reply
  11. Sandra says

    June 23, 2023 at 8:28 pm

    Oh my: dead ringer story. Pun intended. Thank you! Great!

    Reply

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