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

Kneading

July 29, 2026 13 Comments

By Mewe

The dough was still extremely sticky in her hands, so she added more flour. She mixed, prodded, pulled, and kneaded within an inch of its life. Sweat dripped from her hot brow to the fleshy mound. She stretched and pinched with all her might, lifting and throwing it down again and again.

Memories—years of pain, punches, kicks, bruises, trauma, and heartache that she had stoically endured—repeatedly were laid bare on a floured surface.

He’d called it love, but eventually, she knew it wasn’t.

It was nearly time to leave the dough to rest so, like her, it would rise.

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. Bud Pharo says

    July 29, 2026 at 8:45 am

    Loved the analogy. Very nicely done!

    Reply
    • Mewe Mechese says

      July 29, 2026 at 2:29 pm

      Thank you so much.

      Reply
  2. Janet says

    July 29, 2026 at 1:33 pm

    This. Is. Awesome. Love the positive ending that both will rise!!

    Reply
    • Mewe Mechese says

      July 29, 2026 at 2:30 pm

      Thank you Janet.

      Reply
    • Sher says

      July 29, 2026 at 4:56 pm

      This is very powerful and will resonate with so many! To capture so much into so few words is a gift. Now can you complete the story as I want to read more Mewe?

      Reply
  3. Deborah Isaac says

    July 29, 2026 at 2:25 pm

    ‘Kneading’ is detailed though subtle at the same time. It bought back my childhood memories watching my mum knead dough to bake delicious bread. Capturing the essence of getting the technique right and the ability to do so in 101 words, indicates a great play on words.

    Reply
    • Mewe Mechese says

      July 29, 2026 at 2:31 pm

      Thank you Deborah.

      Reply
  4. Lynn Kerman says

    July 29, 2026 at 3:17 pm

    The use of metaphor and imagery really worked together to create a a whole sense of meaning for me. Beautiful.

    Reply
    • Sher says

      July 29, 2026 at 4:57 pm

      This is very powerful and will resonate with so many! To capture so much into so few words is a gift. Now can you complete the story as I want to read more Mewe?

      Reply
      • Mewe Mechese says

        July 30, 2026 at 3:13 am

        Thank you!

        Reply
  5. Mewe Mechese says

    July 29, 2026 at 4:18 pm

    Thank you Lynn.

    Reply
  6. Mary says

    July 30, 2026 at 7:29 am

    An incredible story so well written and such a powerful illustration of having the courage to rise up against abuse. I hope you continue writing as you have a gift of capturing the scene so well drawing the reader in. What about some memoirs or short stories

    Reply
  7. Mewe Mechese says

    July 30, 2026 at 9:37 am

    Thank you so much for your feedback. I’ll definitely carry on writing.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

Primary Sidebar

Search Stories

The end.