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101 Word Short Stories

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On Tenterhooks

July 10, 2022 7 Comments

By Jacqui Pack

She’s out of sight for ten seconds, tops.

When I call, she bursts from the undergrowth, tail circling, her jaws working. I reach down as she nears, assuming there’s grass caught between her back teeth. My fingers grasp a fine cord. Without thinking, I tug. Her head jerks closer. She yanks away; my hand moves forward. Disbelief makes me pull again. The cord snaps.

Back home, alone, her image stares out from my lock-screen. They examine the x-rays, then call. “Your pulling the line embedded the hook in her throat. Forceps should reach it. We’ll ring once she’s out of theatre.”

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Liz says

    July 10, 2022 at 7:51 pm

    Child? Dog? Fish??? Needs a little more exposition, I think.

    Reply
    • Richard Temple says

      July 14, 2022 at 8:48 pm

      We can probably discount child and fish due to the tail and teeth that may have grass in.

      I have to admit I was picturing a big cat and some kind of gamekeeper, but yeah, a dog is rather more likely!

      Reply
      • Pamela Cartlidge says

        July 19, 2022 at 11:46 am

        Definitely pictured a dog!

        Reply
  2. Tracy Fells says

    July 11, 2022 at 9:22 am

    I love this. A great story should always leave you wanting to know what happens.

    Reply
  3. Glenda says

    July 14, 2022 at 6:19 am

    Oh what horror! Anxious moments that I felt with you.

    Reply
    • PAulene says

      July 16, 2022 at 5:08 pm

      Horrible scene. Had me writhing. Great writing.

      Reply
  4. Robert P. Bishop says

    July 15, 2022 at 5:51 pm

    Well, yes…dog fishing…who doesn’t do that to relieve boredom? I can hear the fisherman saying to his pub mates, “You should have seen the size of the one that got away! Cool story.

    Reply

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