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101 Word Short Stories

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Sleep Well

October 21, 2022 17 Comments

By Joanie R. Elian

Every morning for thirty-years-and-five-kids, Bill would ask me, smiling: “Sleep well?” It was irritating. Like my scratchy thread-bare slippers.

After thirty-years-and-five-kids, all I could manage was a scowl, and my usual retort: “I’ll sleep—when I’m dead.”

The kids eventually left home and I thought I’d sleep better, but I didn’t: panic attacks, menopause, and all those nighttime glasses of water. So when Bill came home from work yesterday and fell fast asleep fully clothed on the couch (must have been dead tired), my first thought was—despite my noticing his pallid complexion—“How unfair that he can sleep so soundly.”

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. yogita says

    October 21, 2022 at 8:42 am

    Ha ha..nice. Incidentally, this thought comes to me every day! lol

    Reply
    • Joanie says

      October 21, 2022 at 2:54 pm

      So glad you like it!

      Reply
  2. Orit says

    October 22, 2022 at 2:31 am

    Wonderful! ?

    Reply
  3. Orit says

    October 22, 2022 at 2:34 am

    Wonderful!!

    Reply
    • Joanie says

      October 22, 2022 at 2:21 pm

      I’m glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply
  4. Gabi says

    October 22, 2022 at 10:24 am

    So true

    Reply
    • Joanie says

      October 22, 2022 at 2:22 pm

      Thank you!

      Reply
  5. JHJones says

    October 22, 2022 at 1:06 pm

    It resonates! Well done!

    Reply
    • Joanie says

      October 22, 2022 at 2:23 pm

      Thanks!

      Reply
  6. Sassie says

    October 22, 2022 at 2:48 pm

    I laughed out loud when I read this story. I love your dark humor.

    Reply
    • Joanie says

      October 22, 2022 at 3:11 pm

      What a treat to make someone laugh! Thank you for your comment!

      Reply
  7. Corey says

    October 22, 2022 at 5:09 pm

    Well done. Enjoyable read

    Reply
    • Joanie says

      October 22, 2022 at 11:31 pm

      Thanks, Corey!

      Reply
  8. Jeff says

    October 22, 2022 at 6:19 pm

    The sleep must have lasted an eternity! Well Done.

    Reply
    • Joanie says

      October 22, 2022 at 11:32 pm

      You got it! Thanks, Jeff!

      Reply
  9. Cathryn says

    October 26, 2022 at 9:32 am

    Subtle characterization. You clearly delineated the wife’s frustration; I felt for her, but you also hinted at her selfishness and self-concern– Hubby seemed to me underappreciated…and I loved the hint at the end (pale, tired) suggesting wifey might soon be a widow.

    Reply
    • Joanie says

      October 27, 2022 at 7:00 am

      Thanks, Cathryn for your in-depth comments. You got the widow hint!

      Reply

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