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101 Word Short Stories

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The Coming of Age

April 18, 2023 11 Comments

By Kendra Judge

There is a monster stalking everyone, everywhere. None escape her changing touch. That bent, beguiling beldam, Age.

As children, we reach for her, hoping for a hug. Bigger, faster, stronger? All wishes that she grants.

For teenage years, she throws an itchy, skritchy skin on us. A restless, reckless need for fun. And still we long for more.

Then she tires of us. Stops offering gifts.

In our forties, monstrous Age grows hungry. Shows her fangs. She gnaws, she slurps, she withers us, stealing youth away.

We spy the witch behind the candy now. We see Age in all her horror.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Cathy Cade says

    April 18, 2023 at 9:11 am

    One way of looking at it. My eldest grandson is entering the wish-I-was-older stage.
    I remember that age…
    Silly me!
    Nice idea; well done.

    Reply
  2. Coco says

    April 18, 2023 at 12:00 pm

    All so true.
    Nicely done!

    Reply
  3. Liz says

    April 19, 2023 at 6:01 am

    Beautifully expressed, a sad truth.

    Reply
  4. Robin says

    April 19, 2023 at 8:40 am

    Well written and poignant!

    Reply
  5. Cynthia says

    April 19, 2023 at 11:06 am

    Nice! I especially liked “throws an itchy, skritchy skin on us.” Thank you for the read!

    Reply
  6. Mike King says

    April 19, 2023 at 11:36 am

    How true.

    Reply
  7. Marie says

    April 19, 2023 at 10:17 pm

    Really liked it!

    Reply
  8. Kelly Louisa Balliu says

    April 20, 2023 at 2:55 am

    A wonderful personification of something which people fear, yet embrace. A fabulous little piece.

    Reply
  9. Joachim Emilio Antonio says

    April 20, 2023 at 8:48 pm

    Powerful!

    Reply
  10. Kendra Judge says

    April 23, 2023 at 7:01 pm

    Thank you all so much for your comments!

    Reply
  11. Asir Ajmal says

    May 31, 2023 at 2:54 pm

    This was simply brilliant. One is never grateful for the gift of life. Always envying the older or the younger, never living in the moment. And you captured it really well.

    Reply

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