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101 Word Short Stories

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The Task

March 19, 2021 12 Comments

By Chris Collier

Even though it was February, he still referred to it as spring cleaning. The same time every year, without fail.

He worked quickly, scrubbing at the surface with a soft brush, rinsing off the dirt and then repeating the process. Finally, he used a dry cloth to wipe away the remaining moisture and to give everything a slight sheen.

He raised himself from his numbed knees and brushed his trousers a few times. Kissing two fingers on his right hand, he laid them briefly on top of the gravestone. The frozen ground crunched underfoot as he walked away for another year.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. James B. Revell says

    March 19, 2021 at 1:15 pm

    Thought-provoking and moving.

    Reply
    • Chris Collier says

      March 19, 2021 at 6:32 pm

      Thanks for that.

      Reply
  2. yvonne clarke says

    March 19, 2021 at 3:17 pm

    Really moving – lovely piece of writing.

    Reply
    • Chris Collier says

      March 19, 2021 at 6:31 pm

      Many thanks Yvonne.

      Reply
  3. Tom Stewart says

    March 19, 2021 at 3:41 pm

    Well done . . . your writing made me stop, and think, and feel.

    Reply
    • Chris Collier says

      March 19, 2021 at 6:30 pm

      Thanks Tom.

      Reply
  4. Cassandra Cassandra Hamilton says

    March 19, 2021 at 4:50 pm

    A touching moment!

    Reply
    • Chris Collier says

      March 19, 2021 at 6:30 pm

      Thank you.

      Reply
  5. Derek McMillan says

    March 20, 2021 at 4:42 am

    We spring clean the grave of a relative so I sympathised with this excellent story.

    Reply
    • Chris Collier says

      March 20, 2021 at 6:24 pm

      Thanks Derek.

      Reply
  6. Arturo says

    March 24, 2021 at 7:39 am

    I agree with all the previous comments. Regards from Spain from a fellow Spanish writer!

    Reply
    • Chris Collier says

      March 25, 2021 at 8:53 am

      Thanks Arturo.

      Reply

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