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101 Word Short Stories

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Maple Tree

November 4, 2025 8 Comments

By Shannon Parsons

My brother and I climbed the maple tree every day after school. It was better than going back to the cold, dreary house with parents who didn’t care. The tree was our haven, the place we would go to for safety and comfort.

One day a teacher informed me that my brother left school early. “He’s not feeling well.” The teachers knew we walked home together.

I went to our tree, the autumn wind blowing through the yellowing leaves and sirens bellowing through the air. Police tape cordoned the maple tree. My brother gently lifted from the rope he swung on.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Laura Besley says

    November 4, 2025 at 12:22 pm

    Wow! What a gut-punch ending!

    Reply
  2. Faith says

    November 5, 2025 at 10:06 am

    I didn’t see that coming. Very moving.

    Reply
  3. Bud says

    November 5, 2025 at 3:08 pm

    Heartbreaking tale. Very moving.

    Reply
  4. Ramona T. says

    November 5, 2025 at 5:36 pm

    Sad tragedy, we’ll written.

    Reply
  5. Richard says

    November 6, 2025 at 5:48 am

    Sad … but in a good way. Nevr saw the end coming

    Reply
  6. Alex says

    November 7, 2025 at 11:30 pm

    Heartbreaking. I too didn’t see the twist coming :(.

    Great write.

    Reply
  7. Laura says

    December 1, 2025 at 10:25 am

    Tears.

    Reply
  8. Deanna D Salser says

    December 31, 2025 at 8:57 am

    That was well written and ended exactly when it was supposed to. I loved it. I rarely comment on these, but yours was perfect.

    Reply

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