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101 Word Short Stories

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Winter Sun

March 23, 2021 21 Comments

By Ian McNaughton

A child was kicking the back of my seat.

His mother cooed for him to stop.

The plane was filling with winter sun-seekers.

A large woman got on carrying two screaming babies.

My heart popped into my mouth to have a look.

I whiplashed my head around. No empty seats

Squeezing in beside me, she smiled. I smiled back; I was dying inside.

After we took off, she asked me what time we would arrive in Glasgow. I laughed and told her it’s a flight to Tenerife.

She showed me her ticket and smirked.

I kicked the seat in front and screamed.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Pamela Cartlidge says

    March 23, 2021 at 5:56 am

    Bad behaviour on planes! I’ve been there!

    Reply
  2. Jane King says

    March 23, 2021 at 7:29 am

    Excellent

    Reply
  3. Kirstie says

    March 23, 2021 at 9:51 am

    Great short Ian…except I’d give anything right now to be on a plane somewhere, even if it meant tolerating screaming kids all the way there!

    Reply
  4. Amy says

    March 23, 2021 at 10:22 am

    Great fun! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  5. Nadia says

    March 23, 2021 at 11:12 am

    Well done!! đŸ˜€

    Reply
  6. Rosie says

    March 23, 2021 at 12:10 pm

    Great job!

    Reply
  7. Steve says

    March 23, 2021 at 3:40 pm

    Great story. Clean and snappy . A great ark. Well done.

    Reply
  8. Halici Yeseren says

    March 23, 2021 at 6:43 pm

    Cool! Enjoy reading it. Well done!

    Reply
  9. Derek says

    March 24, 2021 at 4:30 am

    I like the circular narrative. This is very good.

    Reply
  10. Constanée Malik Hemedi says

    March 24, 2021 at 6:26 am

    Great story but I echo Kirstie’s sentiments!

    Reply
  11. Chels says

    March 24, 2021 at 8:25 am

    Great work! Keep it up ??

    Reply
  12. Elena says

    March 24, 2021 at 9:48 am

    As I was there… Have been screaming together with the author! Gave the mood though so short. Thank You, Ian

    Reply
  13. Kelly Louisa Balliu says

    March 24, 2021 at 2:37 pm

    I like the fact this story went full circle. Truly comedic.

    Reply
  14. Sarah says

    March 24, 2021 at 2:50 pm

    Great short story. Made me chuckle.

    Reply
  15. Richard says

    March 24, 2021 at 5:29 pm

    Great, snappy piece with a comedic ending.

    Reply
  16. Sarah says

    March 25, 2021 at 4:47 pm

    Really clever flash fiction

    Reply
  17. renegade says

    March 25, 2021 at 5:07 pm

    Dope story. Agree with the other comments, snappy with great delivery !

    Reply
  18. I.R.Pathak says

    March 26, 2021 at 9:01 am

    Unique delivery. Impressive.

    Reply
  19. Tracey says

    March 27, 2021 at 5:07 am

    I love the comic ending , schadenfreude? ?

    Reply
  20. Ange says

    March 30, 2021 at 4:49 pm

    Amazing!!!
    We’ve all been there, looking at some screaming kid, whilst we scream inside!
    A very visual short! Well done

    Reply
  21. Angela Edwards says

    April 5, 2021 at 4:37 am

    I can relate to that Ian – really sums it up!

    Reply

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