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101 Word Short Stories

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On Display

May 26, 2022 6 Comments

By Brian Maycock

Why is no one interested?

I know I have wear and tear, but flip these on their head and you arrive at character. I’m brimful of character.

I’ve dated a lot but have never made a connection past the need not to be lonely. After years of showing glimpses of my feelings, it’s time to open up and let them spill over.

I’m on display to passersby in a shop window, holding a sign: “Man available, 58, caring, would like to share. Enquire within.” But the shoppers won’t browse; the bargain hunters look for better bargains.

I am such a dummy.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Chieh says

    May 26, 2022 at 12:46 pm

    Why was he such a dummy? He just didn’t find a ‘suitable’ one in his life… was he still expecting someone to keep him company, but he didn’t take real action?

    Reply
    • Liz says

      May 27, 2022 at 9:50 pm

      I think it’s a play on a store window mannequin – also sometimes called a ‘dummy’…

      Reply
      • Brian says

        May 29, 2022 at 8:23 am

        That was what I was aiming for

        Reply
  2. Paul Lewthwaite says

    June 1, 2022 at 4:51 am

    I like that play on words at the end and the way you’ve joined loneliness and consumerism in a neat little story. I did feel sorry for the bloke.

    Reply
  3. Kelly Louisa Balliu says

    June 10, 2022 at 10:06 am

    Once I’d re-read it, I understood the bit about the dummy/mannequin. Well written, but sad for the protagonist ?

    Reply
  4. Kelly Louisa Balliu says

    June 10, 2022 at 10:09 am

    Sorry – I meant to add an ! not a ?

    Reply

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