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101 Word Short Stories

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Rooftop Lover

May 27, 2021 10 Comments

By David Henson

Pulling into her driveway, she glimpses him duck behind the chimney and wonders if the neighbors saw.

Putting away the groceries, she tries to ignore his heavy steps. But coffee cups chatter in the cabinet. Spoons gossip in the drawer.

His sooty voice sings from the fireplace, promises to shimmy the downspout and snatch her away to his power-line world. She imagines his upside-down face at the window, hair hanging wildly, cheeks burning with blood.

The next morning she scrambles a few eggs and sets the table for two. A loose shingle thumps in the wind. Two hearts beating as one.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Archibald Hobbs says

    May 27, 2021 at 1:18 am

    “But coffee cups chatter in the cabinet. Spoons gossip in the drawer.”

    These lines really resonated with me. Thanks David.

    Reply
    • David Henson says

      May 27, 2021 at 8:15 am

      I appreciate that, Archibald.

      Reply
  2. Don Tassone says

    May 27, 2021 at 7:11 am

    Great story.

    Reply
    • David Henson says

      May 27, 2021 at 8:15 am

      Thank you!

      Reply
  3. Roy Dorman says

    May 27, 2021 at 8:43 am

    Hey, David. Good story. A little mystique in my morning mail.

    Reply
    • David Henson says

      May 27, 2021 at 8:52 am

      Thanks so much, Roy! All the best to you.

      Reply
  4. Amanda B. says

    May 30, 2021 at 3:39 pm

    Love it! Especially the gossiping spoons.

    Reply
    • David Henson says

      June 3, 2021 at 12:55 pm

      Thanks! Glad you liked it.

      Reply
  5. Ekta Garg says

    May 31, 2021 at 3:10 pm

    LOVED the chatter of the coffee cups and the gossiping spoons. Beautiful writing!

    Reply
    • David Henson says

      June 3, 2021 at 12:55 pm

      Thank you!

      Reply

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