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101 Word Short Stories

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Whatnot

September 19, 2020 10 Comments

By Peggy Gerber

Erica’s pet peeve was her husband’s constant use of the words “and whatnot” after every sentence. “Honey, are you doing laundry today—and whatnot?”

After twelve years of marriage, Erica calculated she heard that term over fifty thousand times. Most days, Erica was only mildly irritated: between their jobs and commuting, they were lucky if they spent three hours a day together.

Due to the Coronavirus, they were now working from home and spending twenty-four hours a day together, so when Bob asked, “Honey, what are you working on—and whatnot,” her computer screen read, ‘Fifty Ways to Murder a Husband.’

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Ifinedo Anastasia says

    September 19, 2020 at 8:11 am

    This is really funny. Even more so, considering it’s what many families are experiencing now.

    Reply
  2. David says

    September 19, 2020 at 8:49 am

    Good story cute

    Reply
  3. Jessalyn says

    September 19, 2020 at 9:43 am

    So funny and true!

    Reply
  4. Susan Reid says

    September 19, 2020 at 11:20 am

    Very funny!

    Reply
  5. Alex Grey says

    September 19, 2020 at 1:10 pm

    I feel this one – great story. 🙂

    Reply
  6. Eunce Pruitt says

    September 19, 2020 at 5:33 pm

    I love it. I have someone in my family who overuses that very phrase. Very well written.

    Reply
  7. Peggy says

    September 19, 2020 at 6:48 pm

    Thank you everyone for the lovely comments.

    Reply
  8. DiAna Smith-Brown says

    September 19, 2020 at 8:31 pm

    Chuckled at the end.

    Reply
  9. Liz Falkner says

    September 19, 2020 at 9:16 pm

    Deserved it!

    Reply
  10. Fred Alperin says

    September 26, 2020 at 2:50 pm

    Very Good, whatnot. No, really. It was very good. And that’s a lot coming from your wounded brother ???

    Reply

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