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101 Word Short Stories

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On the Bench

January 25, 2025 25 Comments

By Joel Bryant

The old ladies perched on the park bench, like time-worn gargoyles, people watching.

Occasionally they threw the birds some food.

They cooed with delight, as a laughing father passed them, gabbling daughter on his shoulders.

“What a sweetie! She’s going to set the world ablaze.”

“Couldn’t you just gobble her up?”

They were answered with a beaming smile. He did not notice the first discretely kick the second with her clumpy boot.

“What was that for?”

“Some caution, sister. We don’t eat children anymore, remember?”

“We don’t usually foretell prophecies for free, either.”

Spat resolved, they cheerfully resumed poisoning the pigeons.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Roy Dorman says

    January 25, 2025 at 8:14 am

    Great story, Joel. Loved it!

    Reply
    • Joel Bryant says

      January 28, 2025 at 6:08 am

      Thank you Roy.

      Reply
  2. Stella says

    January 25, 2025 at 8:36 am

    Brilliant 101words. Well done!

    Reply
    • Joel Bryant says

      January 28, 2025 at 6:10 am

      Cheers Stella, You’re very kind.

      Reply
  3. Ephra Behn says

    January 25, 2025 at 9:09 am

    Oh! Didn’t expect that ending! Nicely told tale. Kudos!

    Reply
    • Joel Bryant says

      January 28, 2025 at 6:11 am

      Thank you Ephra.

      Reply
  4. Dave Barlow says

    January 25, 2025 at 10:26 am

    Brilliant through-and-through! I really loved it!

    Reply
    • Joel Bryant says

      January 28, 2025 at 6:12 am

      Glad you enjoyed it Dave. Thank you.

      Reply
    • Joel Bryant says

      January 28, 2025 at 6:13 am

      Glad you enjoyed it Dave.

      Reply
  5. Tom says

    January 25, 2025 at 11:43 pm

    Great story and twist!

    Reply
    • Joel Bryant says

      January 28, 2025 at 6:15 am

      Thank you Tom. It’s all about the twist 🙂

      Reply
  6. Faith says

    January 29, 2025 at 7:39 am

    Evil. Great story!

    Reply
    • Joel Bryant says

      January 30, 2025 at 3:32 am

      Thank you very much Faith.

      Reply
  7. PK says

    January 29, 2025 at 8:30 am

    Super job! Wry and witty.

    Reply
    • Joel Bryant says

      January 30, 2025 at 3:34 am

      Thanks PK, “wry and witty,” would make a cool t-shirt.

      Reply
  8. Janet says

    January 29, 2025 at 9:02 am

    Loved this!!

    Reply
    • Joel Bryant says

      January 30, 2025 at 3:38 am

      Thank you Janet. Very kind.

      Reply
  9. Deborah Sale-Butler says

    January 29, 2025 at 9:48 am

    Tom Lehrer meets the brothers Grimm. Perfect!

    Reply
    • Joel bryant says

      January 30, 2025 at 3:42 am

      Cheers Deborah, exactly what I was trying to do. I did wonder if anyone would pick up on the Tom Lehrer influence 🙂

      Reply
  10. Toni Brayer says

    January 29, 2025 at 11:35 am

    Very clever.

    Reply
    • Joel bryant says

      January 30, 2025 at 3:43 am

      Thank you very much Toni.

      Reply
  11. A.M. McKnight says

    February 2, 2025 at 12:39 pm

    Yikes! Love the twist and ending.

    Reply
    • Joel bryant says

      February 4, 2025 at 3:05 am

      Thanks A.M. McKnight, glad you enjoyed the ending.

      Reply
  12. Lisa H. Owens says

    February 5, 2025 at 6:58 am

    Great twist written with humor and a dramatic flair! It reminds me of the bickering of the sisters in Hocus Pocus.

    Reply
    • Joel bryant says

      February 11, 2025 at 7:34 am

      Thank you Lisa. Humour and dramatic flair would also make a great t-shirt.

      Reply

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