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101 Word Short Stories

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In the Alley

April 15, 2023 18 Comments

By Sara Jacobelli

Aunty Ruth sent me upstairs for swearing and sneaking Oreos. Didn’t matter. I liked looking out the window. Just like TV, anything could happen.

I saw two teenagers making out, the boy slipping his hand under the girl’s shirt. I saw a frumpy lady crying; then a man slapped her.

One night I saw a tall man stick a gun to another man’s head. The shorter man gave up his wallet. The man with the gun looked up and our eyes met. I held my breath. In the bar sign’s eerie pale green glow, I recognized him. He was my father.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Elizabeth says

    April 15, 2023 at 7:11 am

    That was an unexpected ending.Really liked your story.You are a natural.Keep writing Sara.You are so gifted.

    Reply
    • Sara Jacobelli says

      April 15, 2023 at 2:29 pm

      Glad you liked it!

      Reply
  2. Dick Noble says

    April 15, 2023 at 7:15 am

    terrific twist ending

    Reply
  3. Amanda Le Rougetel says

    April 15, 2023 at 7:31 am

    Love the twisty ending. Total surprise!

    Reply
  4. Scott Brian Blanke says

    April 15, 2023 at 8:30 am

    Loved the story.
    A small suggestion? Maybe have ‘his father’ send him to his room? Moral twist?

    Reply
    • Sara Jacobelli says

      April 15, 2023 at 2:53 pm

      I was picturing a girl, since the first line was true! But yes, that’s a neat suggestion.

      Reply
  5. Patricia Stott-Prince says

    April 15, 2023 at 8:57 am

    Oh my!!!! and then?????

    Reply
  6. Rudolph Ferro says

    April 15, 2023 at 9:10 am

    Crisp, fast little story. What a punchline! Scary too.

    Reply
  7. A.M. McKnight says

    April 15, 2023 at 7:32 pm

    Wow! That hit hard. Loved the unexpected.

    Reply
  8. Mary A Gorman says

    April 17, 2023 at 5:56 am

    Loved the twist great writing

    Reply
  9. Liz says

    April 17, 2023 at 7:25 pm

    Hell!!!

    Reply
  10. Anne says

    April 19, 2023 at 7:08 am

    Wow, great story, great ending. Well done. x

    Reply
  11. Robin says

    April 19, 2023 at 8:43 am

    That last line. Wow!

    Reply
  12. Mike King says

    April 19, 2023 at 11:42 am

    You have the opening lines for a novel. I’d read that, and I’d buy the book.

    Reply
    • Sara Jacobelli says

      April 20, 2023 at 4:45 pm

      Thanks so much! That’s what I like about writing flash fiction, and in using the form in writing workshops. You never know when a short piece will spark something longer, such as a short story, a novella, or a novel!

      Reply
  13. Pamela Cartlidge says

    April 21, 2023 at 7:15 am

    Wow!

    Reply
  14. Toni Brayer says

    April 22, 2023 at 10:23 am

    I love surprise endings this was great.

    Reply
  15. Dan Graves says

    March 24, 2024 at 2:05 am

    The girl is so real she raises tons of questions I want answered. Does she live with her aunt instead of her father? Or both? If so, where is mom? Does her father frequent the bar? Will he threaten her to keep her quiet?

    Reply

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