By Marcelo Medone
I’ve always told you dear Rupert that you shouldn’t smoke the way you did and you didn’t even go see Doctor Vasquez because you thought that doctors are glorified mechanics and plumbers that fix you for a fee and I told you at least to wear a face mask because of the pandemic of this treacherous Chinese virus and you didn’t listen to me because you are a stubborn old man and you told me dear Maggie we all have to die someday and then I started to cough and now I am talking to you from this lonely dark casket.
What is a Chinese virus? Software-related?
I loved the twist in your story Marcelo and everything else about it – except your adoption of our dear leader’s use of the term “Chinese” virus. Pure political propaganda, which mars an otherwise clever and lovely story.
The “Chinese virus” is said by Maggie, a character of the story, not me, the author. Although I intended to mock POTUS expression. Clearly, Maggie is not so clever. Nevertheless, I did not intend to offend any of the US citizens by saying this. Take it lightly, as a little joke.
P.S.: I am just recovering from Covid-19. I was hospitalized 16 days with bilateral pneumonia. The “Chinese virus” makes no political distinction.
Great twist. The single sentence made sense as there is clearly no punctuation or grammar teachers in the afterlife! I even wasn’t put off by the “Chinese virus” part because, based on the polls and votes, there are clearly almost half of America that will believe anything “Ole Cheeto-hair” will tell them. That is how Maggie got dead!
This 101 word story is very original. Why is it spoiled by saying Chinese virus? The story would sound far less authentic if Maggie had said Covid 19 from the grave.
True that, Constanee. Maggie was likely a fan of 45 and so might well have said “Chinese”. My bad.
Captured the sentiments of half the people still left.
Nice twist.
I liked your story, Maggie. You used a single sentence to tell the whole thing and it didn’t even ramble. Since it is your story, you get to call the virus whatever you like. If you had chosen a name like, say, the Eskimo Virus or the Sakabula Virus, my guess is that nobody would have been as offended
This is the weirdest I’ve read so far. I like it.
I love the structure of this. It lends itself to the frustrated voice of the narrator.