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101 Word Short Stories

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Jonah’s Lament

January 18, 2025 10 Comments

By Nick Friedman

Tossed overboard into a raging sea, swallowed by a large fish—some call it a whale—I couldn’t see a thing inside the belly of the beast. Total darkness, but oddly, no gastric juices.

I was not a devout man, but saved from drowning, I prayed and thanked the Almighty. Three days and nights later, praise be, a miracle: I was expelled onto dry land. I arose and journeyed to the city of Nineveh. Sinners gathered, eagerly awaiting my words.

As I began to preach repentance, a voice called out of the heavens, “Dude, you smell like fish!” Real funny, God.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Dart Humeston says

    January 18, 2025 at 9:04 am

    Love it!

    Reply
  2. Michael Talledes says

    January 18, 2025 at 11:38 am

    This was a fun piece! I was really curious what would happen after he had been swallowed and it was a fun ending.

    Well done.

    Reply
  3. David Higham says

    January 22, 2025 at 7:25 am

    Great ending.

    Reply
  4. Pamela Cartlidge says

    January 22, 2025 at 7:59 am

    Yes great. I enjoyed that.

    Reply
  5. Bud says

    January 22, 2025 at 11:44 am

    Very clever. God with a sense of humor.

    Reply
  6. Ed Kratz says

    January 22, 2025 at 8:32 pm

    Great fun story.

    Reply
  7. Nancy Sing-Bock says

    January 28, 2025 at 10:32 am

    Humorous story. I liked the ending.

    Reply
  8. Jane B Hirschhorn says

    January 30, 2025 at 10:05 pm

    Love it. Glad that God has a sense of humor.

    Reply
  9. Sally Frances says

    February 3, 2025 at 1:02 am

    Hahahah. Go Nick!

    Reply
  10. Lisa H. Owens says

    February 5, 2025 at 7:06 am

    Very funny! I heard God’s voice as Garth from SNL’s skit Wayne’s World.

    Reply

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