• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

101 Words

101 Word Short Stories

  • Subscribe
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Volunteer

The Knives

March 10, 2023 14 Comments

Share5
Tweet
Email
More
5 Shares

The knives hated Susan, grumbled quietly when she was around, complained loudly when she wasn’t.

And why wouldn’t they? She abused them horribly, tossed them into the dishwasher with the rest of the silverware, left them lying uncleaned on the countertop, scraped their edges along the top of the cutting board.

“You have to treat them delicately,” I tried to explain. “They’re precision instruments.”

“They’re freaking kitchen utensils, Clara, not Fabergé eggs!” she sneered.

The knives collectively cringed.

“That’s your story? The knives did it?” said the officer.

The knives looked askance, wouldn’t meet my eyes as I was led away.

By Louis Kummerer

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Michael Talledes says

    March 10, 2023 at 7:03 am

    This was a fantastic piece. In so few words, I could really feel the lack of care and respect towards her knives.

    Well done!

    Reply
  2. Patricia Stott-Prince says

    March 10, 2023 at 11:17 am

    wonderful! so unique. I must give my knives more respect… they are watching me now from the crumbly cutting board..

    Reply
  3. Dick Noble says

    March 10, 2023 at 11:45 am

    great twist ending

    Reply
  4. DougJacquier says

    March 10, 2023 at 12:46 pm

    I can see a whole new soap opera emerging. Perhaps ‘Days of our knives’ or ‘Desperate houseknives’? 🙂

    Reply
    • Cathryn says

      March 10, 2023 at 2:28 pm

      Hello Doug,
      Your witticism made my day!!!

      Carthryn

      Reply
  5. Cathryn says

    March 10, 2023 at 2:30 pm

    Hello Louis,
    Spot on!! Well done.

    Cathryn

    Reply
  6. Liz says

    March 10, 2023 at 7:01 pm

    Hah! Lovely!

    Reply
  7. Dawn Thompson says

    March 11, 2023 at 1:42 pm

    Great story, Louis. Highly original – every one of the 101 words has a purpose. Enjoyed it.

    Reply
  8. Scott Bogart says

    March 13, 2023 at 12:41 pm

    Nice piece, Louis!

    Reply
  9. Liz says

    March 15, 2023 at 4:37 am

    Clever . Loved it.

    Reply
    • Nina says

      March 15, 2023 at 8:29 pm

      So much fun. So clever!

      Reply
  10. Anne Jones says

    March 15, 2023 at 1:37 pm

    Brilliant. So sharp! X

    Reply
  11. Bud says

    March 15, 2023 at 9:44 pm

    Very nicely done!

    Reply
  12. Kern Windwraith says

    March 16, 2023 at 1:46 pm

    You’ve got it all: characterization, suspense, drama, humour, and a plot twist, all in 101 words. Well done!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Search Stories

The end.