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101 Word Short Stories

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The Kismet Differential

June 15, 2026 9 Comments

By Bud Pharo

The number wasn’t in my contacts, but I recognized it all the same. “Hey, do you remember our debate about The Kiss?” she asked.

We’d been in love once, but never in agreement—especially about art. “So, you called after 20 years just to restart an argument?”

“No, I wondered if your opinion regarding Brancusi’s Kiss had softened.”

“It hasn’t—Brancusi’s Kiss lacks passion, while Rodin’s exudes sensuality.”

“Agree to disagree. But here’s a question: when we kissed, was it more Brancusi or Rodin?”

“Rodin, definitely!” I said.

“You see, we finally agree on something! So, are you free for lunch?”

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kerri says

    June 16, 2026 at 9:15 am

    Really good! Love it.

    Reply
    • Bud Pharo says

      June 17, 2026 at 8:16 am

      Thanks, Kerri.

      Reply
  2. Lynne Lieberman says

    June 17, 2026 at 8:47 am

    Ha! Rodin every time. And don’t even bother with Klimt. Great story.

    Reply
    • Bud Pharo says

      June 17, 2026 at 12:12 pm

      Agreed. The passion in Klimt looks too one sided as compared to Rodin.

      Reply
  3. K F Lerner says

    June 17, 2026 at 9:40 am

    “We’d been in love once, but never in agreement” – good line, and bound to push the buttons of memory for quite a few readers. Well written and charming piece.

    Reply
    • Bud Pharo says

      June 17, 2026 at 12:13 pm

      Thank you for the kind words.

      Reply
  4. Pablo says

    June 17, 2026 at 6:03 pm

    Good story. I like it. It takes Bud just a few lines to tell a whole story.

    Reply
  5. Bud Pharo says

    June 17, 2026 at 9:34 pm

    Thanks, Pablo.

    Reply
  6. Pamela Cartlidge says

    June 20, 2026 at 6:20 am

    Nice.

    Reply

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