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101 Word Short Stories

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Poster Child

May 19, 2026 8 Comments

By Yasaman Jalali-Kushki

Your pediatrician hands you a poster of a child’s brain.

“Imagine the beautiful complexity,” she says. “A single spark expands into millions of neural connections every second.”

But you can’t imagine it, can you? Not since middle-aged angst took its toll and depleted your sense of wonder. Instead, your imagination runs wild with thoughts of why isn’t she talking? What’s wrong?

Your pediatrician says the good news is that she’s only three and there’s hope she’ll change.
“Neuroplasticity, you know.”

Tonight, you dare to imagine change: millions of human sparks expanding, reshaping the world.
Your child belongs, without conditions.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Patti R. says

    May 20, 2026 at 10:40 am

    Beautifully written. Touching and thought provoking.

    Reply
  2. Sharon Murphy says

    May 20, 2026 at 12:21 pm

    Strong imagery. A strong determined mother.

    Reply
  3. Bud Pharo says

    May 20, 2026 at 12:48 pm

    Beautiful and thought provoking.

    Reply
  4. Ranabrata Ray says

    May 20, 2026 at 10:41 pm

    I know the helplessness of the family members as I have a neurological condition called cerebellar degeneration. It does not kill . Only hands shiver and body lacks normal balance .

    Reply
  5. Ranabrata Ray says

    May 20, 2026 at 10:42 pm

    I know the helplessness of the family members as I have a neurological condition called cerebellar degeneration. It does not kill . Only hands shiver and body lacks normal balance .

    Reply
    • Ramona Taylor says

      May 22, 2026 at 1:32 pm

      I’m sorry you have to bear this condition. Perhaps you should write about your struggle, maybe speak about it to various groups? Best regards,

      Reply
  6. Ramona Taylor says

    May 22, 2026 at 1:42 pm

    Beautiful piece of writing, poignant with hopeful ending. I especially liked the echo of ‘imagine’ and the spark metaphor.

    Reply
  7. Yasaman Jalali-Kushki says

    May 22, 2026 at 2:22 pm

    Thank you for sharing your kind thoughts and your experiences.

    Reply

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