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101 Word Short Stories

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Past Imperfect

March 1, 2026 12 Comments

By Debbra Mikaelsen

The neighbours practice French as an orange bumblebee plunders poppies. You’re reminded of Monsieur Thibeault, who conjugated verbs with chalk pinched between his fingers like the Gitanes you smoked together after lunch. You were zipped into a cage of tight jeans. Hobbled by spike heels. Reduced by a diet of grapefruit and cottage cheese.

He lived at large in the freedom of billowy linen shirts and shaggy hair. Took pleasure in butter-slathered, ham-draped baguettes as he lay in the long grass by the creek.

And didn’t you hear that some of the girls went to visit him in prison?

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Anna Gustafson says

    March 1, 2026 at 11:31 am

    A thousand words were not needed to paint this many layered narrative painting.

    Reply
    • Debbra Mikaelsen says

      March 1, 2026 at 4:09 pm

      Thank you so much, Anna

      Reply
  2. Lene Estvad Christoffersen says

    March 2, 2026 at 9:10 am

    Genious.. picture and timeframe spot on for me?

    Reply
    • Debbra Mikaelsen says

      March 4, 2026 at 7:19 pm

      Thank you, Lene!

      Reply
    • Debbra Mikaelsen says

      March 4, 2026 at 7:20 pm

      Thank you, Lene! We are products of the same time.

      Reply
  3. Kerri says

    March 2, 2026 at 9:11 am

    Powerful piece with wonderfully descriptive details.

    Reply
    • Debbra Mikaelsen says

      March 4, 2026 at 7:21 pm

      Many thanks!

      Reply
  4. Laura Heaton says

    March 4, 2026 at 8:45 am

    Ah, times caught up with this French lover whom you capture so beautifully!

    Reply
    • Debbra M says

      March 4, 2026 at 7:23 pm

      So glad you liked it, Laura. Thank you

      Reply
  5. Ramona Taylor says

    March 4, 2026 at 1:44 pm

    Enjoyed the imagery, very good.

    Reply
    • Debbra Mikaelsen says

      March 4, 2026 at 7:22 pm

      Thanks so much

      Reply
  6. susan says

    March 8, 2026 at 10:44 am

    Really enjoyed this one. Thanks

    Reply

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