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101 Word Short Stories

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Fingers Crossed

October 25, 2024 14 Comments

By Susanna Blagrove

“Elliot? From the hotel’s maintenance department?”

“Same one. Jason Elliot.”

“I danced with him at the last Christmas party.”

“All of us danced with him.”

“He took some days off and only came back this morning.”

“He just went up there and jumped out a window on the eleventh floor.”

“Did you hear he didn’t make a sound all the way down?”

“I heard he had his fingers crossed on both hands.”

“Did he think he was gonna survive it?”

“Someone said his wife left him, took the kids.”

“I heard he owed some people money.”

“He had a beautiful voice.”

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Tyane says

    October 25, 2024 at 4:38 pm

    I want more. Like seriously, I want more.

    Reply
    • Susanna Blagrove says

      November 15, 2024 at 4:36 pm

      :)… that is up to you to write now

      Reply
  2. fabian m thomas says

    October 28, 2024 at 10:52 pm

    Mi curious…what was the prompt/stimuli?

    Reply
    • Susanna Blagrove says

      November 15, 2024 at 4:36 pm

      There was none. Just write a story in 101 words.

      Reply
  3. jaxson-dan says

    October 30, 2024 at 9:23 am

    Somehow I get the feeling he was a life of the party guy, hurting underneath

    Reply
  4. Ed Kratz says

    October 30, 2024 at 4:14 pm

    Moving. I thought the speakers were strong and the emotion even stonger.

    Reply
    • Susanna Blagrove says

      November 15, 2024 at 4:34 pm

      Thank you so much, Ed.

      Reply
  5. Geraint J. says

    October 31, 2024 at 6:42 am

    Utterly convincing. “(H)e didn’t make a sound all the way down.” Much the same was said of Primo Levi after he ‘jumped.’ And such a fine last line.

    Reply
    • Susanna Blagrove says

      November 15, 2024 at 4:34 pm

      Thank you. 🙂

      Reply
  6. Pamela Cartlidge says

    November 2, 2024 at 1:17 pm

    A good portrayal of reactions of colleagues in a work place. Some caring some negative.

    Reply
    • Susanna Blagrove says

      November 15, 2024 at 4:48 pm

      Thank you for reading and commenting, Pamela.

      Reply
  7. Kelly Louisa Balliu says

    November 6, 2024 at 8:28 am

    Love the dialogue only perspective and that last line fits amazingly with the mention of his silence on the way down. I would question the addition of the crossed fingers in the body and title, but the story reads so well. Great stuff 🙂

    Reply
    • Susanna Blagrove says

      November 15, 2024 at 4:35 pm

      It just felt like an odd thing to do, and inexplicable enough to leave even more question. Thank you for reading and for your comment!! 🙂

      Reply
  8. Lynne says

    November 15, 2024 at 5:20 pm

    Well done, a lovely read, thanks for sharing.

    Reply

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