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101 Word Short Stories

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The Nude

July 12, 2023 17 Comments

By Ruth Mannino

She sits still. Posed. Poised. She is good at taking direction. She is skillful at letting her mind wander, imagining other places. Caught up in the absurdity, she stifles an urge to laugh. No, she doesn’t exactly regret her decision, just wonders how she ended up here.

The room is hot, the sun imposing; ideal conditions are fleeting. Soon the shadows will swerve. Time is of the essence.

Sounds of hurried brush to canvas, he labors to capture the thoughts flashing behind those eyes. Sweat pours off his brow but doesn’t deter him.

He names it Exposed.

It wins many awards.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. David Higham says

    July 12, 2023 at 10:48 am

    I like the shift from her head to his. Not easy to achieve in 101 words.

    Reply
  2. Derek says

    July 12, 2023 at 12:03 pm

    This is a very interesting piece of work and makes full use, as David said, of the number of words available.

    Reply
  3. Megan says

    July 12, 2023 at 12:20 pm

    The art of creating a picture in a 100 words has never been done so flawlessly.

    Reply
  4. Anthony says

    July 12, 2023 at 12:22 pm

    Nicely written. You bring us into that room. Great job.

    Reply
  5. C says

    July 12, 2023 at 12:26 pm

    Well thought out and presented. I can feel the sweat.

    Reply
  6. Matie says

    July 12, 2023 at 12:46 pm

    So eloquently described. I feel as if I was in the room with them.

    Reply
  7. Matt says

    July 12, 2023 at 12:46 pm

    Tables reversed. This vignette changes the nude’s role from an object of beauty and desire to a feeling and impatient participant in the most human of endeavors – attempting to capture God’s good work. Seeing from, instead of gazing at, the nude… a lot to accomplish in 101 words.

    Reply
  8. A says

    July 12, 2023 at 3:04 pm

    This is a beautiful story. I can feel the emotions of both the artist and his subject.

    Reply
  9. Leo Vanderpot says

    July 12, 2023 at 3:05 pm

    Good job. Am I the only one to see the off-center humor here?

    Reply
  10. Sue says

    July 12, 2023 at 10:03 pm

    Remarkably captivating with only a short amount of words. Impressive!

    Reply
  11. Diane says

    July 12, 2023 at 10:05 pm

    Excellent job! I feel like I am in the room with them!

    Reply
  12. Joachim Emilio Antonio says

    July 13, 2023 at 12:59 am

    Brilliant. I like the contrast in so many different layers ?

    Reply
  13. Susan Eileen Jizba says

    July 13, 2023 at 6:27 am

    Simply Sublime. Bravo!

    Reply
  14. Pamela Cartlidge says

    July 13, 2023 at 6:34 am

    Definitely conveys a sense of reality.

    Reply
  15. Debbie says

    July 13, 2023 at 2:02 pm

    Very interesting! How do you even come up with these ideas?

    Reply
  16. T says

    July 14, 2023 at 10:03 am

    Really enjoyed this! Thank you.

    Reply
  17. Marie says

    July 14, 2023 at 11:02 pm

    Great, loved it!

    Reply

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