Win Cash Prizes & Get Professional Feedback @ Flash Fiction Magazine
Learn More
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

101 Words

101 Word Short Stories

  • Subscribe
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Volunteer

What To Do With a Liar’s Toothbrush

February 17, 2024 9 Comments

By C. Ingrid Deringer

I use his toothbrush now for cleaning in between cracks and crevices—like the grime out of the corner of the sink, the caked-on dust on the baseboards, the grooves of the sliding glass doors where bugs leave their excrement, or whatever it is. I imagine the remnants of his presence clinging to the bristles as I clean. I swear, too, which somehow makes me feel a whole lot better.

He was a hard brusher, so the bristles were already worn down pretty good when he left without it. My guess is that he figured they’d give him one in prison.

Share this:

  • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads
  • Share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky
  • Share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • More
  • Share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
  • Print (Opens in new window) Print
  • Share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Telegram
  • Share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon
  • Share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
  • Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Share on Nextdoor (Opens in new window) Nextdoor
  • Share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest

The Power of Imagery with Nina Schuyler

September 12 & 13 on Zoom
Enrollment closes Thursday, September 3 at 7:00 PM Pacific

If your descriptions are vivid but your stories still feel thin, this workshop is for you.

Join award-winning author Nina Schuyler to learn the difference between description, which tells a reader what things look like, and imagery, which carries plot, character, and meaning at the same time.

In just two days, you'll learn to choose images that hold emotion without naming it, pair them so each one deepens the other, and build patterns that gather meaning as the story moves.

Learn More and Enroll

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. David says

    February 17, 2024 at 6:15 am

    Perfectly done. ?

    Reply
  2. Cathryn says

    February 18, 2024 at 8:13 am

    Perfect!

    Reply
  3. Bud says

    February 21, 2024 at 10:05 am

    Nicely done! Great ending!

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      February 25, 2024 at 8:48 am

      Well done

      Reply
  4. Toni Brayer says

    February 21, 2024 at 11:24 am

    He was a hard brusher! A lot is in this story. Loved it.

    Reply
  5. Toni Brayer says

    February 21, 2024 at 11:25 am

    Also great title

    Reply
  6. Janet Wilkinson says

    February 21, 2024 at 1:10 pm

    What a wonderful title!

    Reply
  7. Pat R. says

    February 22, 2024 at 10:11 am

    Therapy and recycling all at once! Great title, nice piece.

    Reply
  8. Kelly Louisa Balliu says

    March 21, 2024 at 3:34 am

    Love it!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Search Stories

The end.