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101 Word Short Stories

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No Dead Relatives

September 24, 2021 31 Comments

By Cathy Chapaty

It’s a good day to die, Nell thought.

At 100, she was tired. Family and friends had passed long ago. From her bed, Nell waited for visits from dead relatives, like she’d seen in movies. None came.

“Ready to go?” Kate, Nell’s long-time nurse, whispered as she entered the room.

It was Walmart Wednesday.

“I ain’t goin’ anywhere today,” Nell sighed.

“Nonsense,” Kate said, smiling gently and lovingly, taking Nell’s hand.

Nell took her last breath.

“I’m glad she passed when she did,” Nell’s doctor told his assistant. “I didn’t want to tell her Kate died in a car accident yesterday.”

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Cathy Cade says

    September 24, 2021 at 7:28 am

    A peaceful tale 🙂

    Reply
    • Cathy Chapaty says

      September 24, 2021 at 8:57 am

      Thanks, Cathy!

      Reply
  2. Helen C says

    September 24, 2021 at 7:40 am

    A beautiful and peaceful story and the ending was perfect!

    Reply
    • Cathy Chapaty says

      September 24, 2021 at 8:57 am

      Thank you, Helen!

      Reply
    • Veronique Aglat says

      September 29, 2021 at 11:03 am

      Perfect! Loved the ending. I often pray I won’t live to 100.

      Reply
  3. Coco says

    September 24, 2021 at 8:26 am

    Very nicely done! Touching.

    Reply
    • Cathy Chapaty says

      September 24, 2021 at 8:58 am

      Thanks, Coco!

      Reply
  4. Olga Flores Finneran says

    September 24, 2021 at 10:00 am

    Well done! Very touching

    Reply
    • Cathy Chapaty says

      September 24, 2021 at 10:56 am

      Glad you liked it, Olga.

      Reply
  5. Mary says

    September 24, 2021 at 10:02 am

    Beautiful. I like how Nell was slightly sassy right up until the end. Nicely done.

    Reply
    • Cathy Chapaty says

      September 24, 2021 at 10:58 am

      Nell had seen a thing or two in her 100 years, and yet life and death still held some surprises.

      Reply
      • Susan says

        September 24, 2021 at 1:31 pm

        Someone’s been thinking about the mystery. ??

        Reply
  6. J Sagar says

    September 24, 2021 at 10:17 am

    That was great.

    Reply
    • Cathy Chapaty says

      September 24, 2021 at 10:59 am

      Thanks!

      Reply
  7. Donna J Blevins says

    September 24, 2021 at 10:24 am

    Great twist at the end! Lovely take on those final moments.

    Reply
  8. Cathy Chapaty says

    September 24, 2021 at 10:58 am

    Thank you!

    Reply
  9. John Filby says

    September 24, 2021 at 11:32 pm

    I could relate, I am a nurse working with the elderly and palliating. The story told so much in such a few words. Engaging.

    Reply
    • Cathy Chapaty says

      September 25, 2021 at 3:03 pm

      Thank you, John!

      Reply
  10. Shyl says

    September 24, 2021 at 11:49 pm

    It’s so beautiful. I loved the end.

    Reply
    • Cathy Chapaty says

      September 25, 2021 at 3:03 pm

      Shyl, thank you.

      Reply
  11. Christine says

    September 25, 2021 at 12:28 am

    I liked this a lot. Characters, story, surprise, emotion – it has it all.

    Reply
    • Cathy Chapaty says

      September 25, 2021 at 3:04 pm

      Glad you enjoyed it, Christine.

      Reply
  12. Raymond Sloan says

    September 25, 2021 at 7:39 am

    Great story, Cathy!

    Reply
    • Cathy Chapaty says

      September 25, 2021 at 3:04 pm

      Thanks, Raymond!

      Reply
  13. Mary A Gorman says

    September 27, 2021 at 4:55 am

    So moving it brought a tear to my eye. A great unexpected twist at the end. There was a hint earlier but not enough for one to think of the ending of the story….sign of a great writer thank You for sharing

    Reply
    • Cathy Chapaty says

      September 30, 2021 at 8:25 am

      Thank you for the kind words, Mary.

      Reply
  14. dlherrmann says

    September 29, 2021 at 3:43 pm

    I like the set-up. I had to read it a second time. Thanks.

    Reply
  15. Cathy Chapaty says

    September 30, 2021 at 8:26 am

    Thank you for reading–twice!

    Reply
  16. Lydia says

    September 30, 2021 at 6:58 pm

    Wow!

    Reply
  17. Reaghan Reilly says

    October 5, 2021 at 3:03 pm

    Great twist. An engaging story.

    Reply
  18. Deanna Salser says

    October 18, 2021 at 1:23 pm

    The best ones have the most comments. I was suitably impressed.

    Reply

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