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The Meltdown

May 19, 2023 15 Comments

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I knew it would end this way, it always did, but this guy was different. He’d shown real style, so there was something particularly gloomy about collecting his teeth from my driveway that winter morning. I snagged a button, bottle cap, carnival token, and two marbles from the weeds behind the minivan, leaving his torn fedora, stained vest, and crumpled tie behind.

Turns out, the sun had done its dirty work and our family snowman was dead and gone, and as the warm rays struck my face, I soon forgot it was his forlorn smile I was holding in my hand.

By Bobby Rollins

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. David says

    May 19, 2023 at 2:41 am

    Very good. Loved it.

    Reply
  2. Michelle Pratt Mellon says

    May 19, 2023 at 8:19 am

    LOVE!

    Reply
  3. Coco says

    May 19, 2023 at 9:38 am

    You had me fooled at first!

    Nicely done!

    Reply
  4. Julie Trout says

    May 19, 2023 at 11:29 am

    Love it!

    Reply
  5. Mary A Gorman says

    May 20, 2023 at 6:05 am

    Loved it. My imagination kicked in at the wonderful opening line never expecting the great twist at the end.

    Reply
  6. Meghashri Dalvi says

    May 20, 2023 at 11:32 pm

    Loved it!

    Reply
  7. Bobby Rollins says

    May 22, 2023 at 6:33 pm

    Many, many thanks for the kind words! I found each of them more satisfying to read than the 101 I wrote! Also, I’d be a real storyteller if I didn’t mention the impact 101’s Larissa had, who not only improved it via editing, but came up with a much better title to boot!

    Reply
    • Larissa Thomson says

      May 24, 2023 at 11:40 pm

      Oh my gosh, Bobby, thank you so much for the shoutout! I’m absolutely tickled! It is a great story, start to finish, and it was such a pleasure working with you!

      Reply
  8. G says

    May 24, 2023 at 7:57 am

    Love the title and the twist! A macabre massacre or….? Great job!

    Reply
  9. Abha Prakash says

    May 24, 2023 at 10:59 am

    Love the attention to detail, swift pace of storyline, and the poignant last line. Great story!

    Reply
  10. Thomas Nilsen says

    May 24, 2023 at 11:31 am

    Love this!

    Reply
  11. Dee Lorraine says

    May 24, 2023 at 5:52 pm

    This is such a “cool” story and that ending nailed it! Well done Bobby and Larissa!

    Reply
  12. Sandra says

    May 24, 2023 at 7:58 pm

    Can picture this! Great wording also!

    Reply
  13. Kelly Louisa Balliu says

    May 25, 2023 at 4:38 am

    I seriously thought the narrator was describing a scene where some kind of wrongdoing had taken place at first, so well done for the diversion!

    Reply
  14. Bud says

    May 26, 2023 at 4:02 pm

    Very clever! It brought a smile to my face (which I hope doesn’t end up in my driveway).

    Reply

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