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101 Word Short Stories

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How Our Grandmother Told Us She Was Dying

October 4, 2023 6 Comments

By Jan Allen

I was sprawled on the couch playing Candy Crush, my triple-pierced ear rested against my grandmother’s shoulder.

Gran guided the rounded handle of her cane under my brother’s Magic 8 Ball on the carpet. With a deft flip, she caught it mid-air.

Robbie, who’d been mesmerized by his transformer, switched loyalties. “That’s mine!”

“I want to ask it a question,” Gran said.

He lunged. “It’s my Magic 8 Ball!”

She ducked. “It’s my question.”

That’s when she asked: “When my grandchildren remember me, will they smile?”

Gran shook the sphere, pretended to read aloud: “That is my only wish.”

We do.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Laura Besley says

    October 4, 2023 at 7:07 am

    This is really lovely!

    Reply
  2. Peggy Gerber says

    October 4, 2023 at 7:53 am

    Beautiful story. Loved it.

    Reply
  3. Rudolph Ferrro says

    October 4, 2023 at 8:59 am

    Wonderful thing about us old people is we’re so much at ease having death as our next door neighbor. Oh, how different when I was young and thought that I was never going to die. What a marvel to know that all your cares, troubles and worries past will soon be left behind and be forever at peace, having in the meantime having had the privilege to love our dear friends, neighbors and family…and, indeed, the world in general. And gradually having made peace with all in the meantime.

    Reply
  4. Chandra Sundeep says

    October 4, 2023 at 9:16 am

    Beautiful 🙂

    Reply
  5. Lisa H. Owens says

    October 4, 2023 at 9:53 am

    Aw, I loved this sweet little story. It made me a little misty-eyed.

    Reply
  6. Bud says

    October 4, 2023 at 10:11 am

    Very nice.

    Reply

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