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101 Word Short Stories

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Gym Strangers

April 12, 2023 27 Comments

By Kathy Whipple

“Do you know what happened to the older blonde woman who lifted more weight than the instructor?”

“Haven’t seen her in weeks.”

“She never used to miss class.”

“You know her name?”

“Wish I did.”

“A shame, really. Seems we should after all these years.”

“Remember how she always hummed?”

“No one sets up in her spot, still. It’s like we all expect her to show up again.”

“I used to think I could be as strong as her one day. It kept me going.”

“Funny how she inspired us and yet we never spoke.”

“I’m Christa, by the way.”

“Linda.”

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Terra Wertz says

    April 12, 2023 at 7:09 am

    Love this! Impressive use of dialogue and so very relatable.

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      April 13, 2023 at 7:54 pm

      Thanks you Terra

      Reply
  2. Dick Noble says

    April 12, 2023 at 8:25 am

    great story

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      April 13, 2023 at 7:55 pm

      Thanks. I appreciate your comment

      Reply
  3. Patricia Stott-Prince says

    April 12, 2023 at 8:37 am

    A Lesson learned. Well done!!

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      April 13, 2023 at 7:55 pm

      Introduce yourself to folks. Thanks Patricia

      Reply
  4. Shoshauna says

    April 12, 2023 at 8:51 am

    Very few stories constructed with dialogue alone succeed. This one is the exception. Bravo!

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      April 13, 2023 at 7:56 pm

      I’m so glad it worked for you. Thank you.

      Reply
  5. Rachel Glowacki says

    April 12, 2023 at 9:18 am

    Love this! Engaging, makes you think.

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      April 13, 2023 at 7:56 pm

      Yay for thinking. Thank you Rachel

      Reply
  6. Nicki Nance says

    April 12, 2023 at 10:52 am

    I love this dialogue based story..

    Reply
  7. SE says

    April 12, 2023 at 11:26 am

    I followed along without thinking about dialogue which is successful writing to me

    Reply
  8. Jim Gunshinan says

    April 12, 2023 at 12:35 pm

    Lyric!

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      April 13, 2023 at 7:57 pm

      Thank you Jim.

      Reply
  9. Leo says

    April 12, 2023 at 12:36 pm

    I gasped at “…by the way..” You hit the mark with this 101 challenge. Congratulations !

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      April 13, 2023 at 7:57 pm

      You’re so kind. Thank you.

      Reply
  10. Cathryn says

    April 13, 2023 at 11:41 am

    Hello Kathy,
    I agree with previous commenters. Terrific! Enjoyed the subtle writing which avoided sermonizing yet presented a powerful message about human relationships and how we should treat one another.

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      April 13, 2023 at 7:57 pm

      I’m really happy you like it. Thank you.

      Reply
  11. NT Franklin says

    April 13, 2023 at 7:24 pm

    Great Story!

    Reply
  12. Kathy says

    April 13, 2023 at 7:58 pm

    Thank you, friend.

    Reply
  13. Pamela Myhre says

    April 13, 2023 at 11:30 pm

    It’s amazing how much you captured was such an economy of words. Perfect!

    Reply
  14. Jennifer Graviet says

    April 14, 2023 at 9:00 pm

    I am going to read this to my students and use it as a writing prompt. Well done!

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      April 16, 2023 at 10:09 am

      Wow. Thanks Jenny. Miss you.

      Reply
  15. Eunice says

    April 15, 2023 at 9:30 pm

    Like your story. You have a way of telling just what you are talking about. I would have liked to know what happened to the missing girl, but it was said to write just 101 words. Keep up the good work.

    Reply
  16. Eileen C Williams says

    April 16, 2023 at 6:09 am

    Small talk that touches on something deep and brings connection to two strangers. Well done!

    Reply
  17. Nancy Mastro says

    April 16, 2023 at 9:58 am

    Wow. As always, you nail the most poignant of moments. Well done.

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      April 16, 2023 at 10:09 am

      I’ve learned so much from YOU!

      Reply

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