1.) He used to joke that the only book he had ever read was a car manual. At least I thought he was joking. By the time I realised he wasn't it was already too late.
2.) I was a good person who did a bad thing. He was a bad man who once did something good. He seemed to think that made us even.
3.) Mother reads my school report. 'Don't try to be too clever, Pet,' she says. 'No man wants a clever wife.' She lifts my chin and sighs. 'Nor a plain one,' she adds.
4.) I always sat them in a draught, on tiny, child-sized chairs. That's why I always finished first on Parents' Evening.
5.) Aunt Kate stole Mum's first husband. They got over it. 'Family comes first,' said Mum. In 1979 she asked Aunt Kate if she'd put on weight. They don't speak now. Funny things, families.
6.) 'If you can't say anything nice,' Gran says,'don't say anything at all.' I stare silently at her. 'Cat got your tongue?' she snaps. You can't win with Gran.
7.) I was ironing your shirt when the policemen rang the doorbell. There was a button missing. It took me a minute to remember it didn't matter now.
8.) He was given three months to live. He proposed. She accepted. She looked forward to playing the tragic widow. His miraculous recovery was something of a disappointment.
9.)'You're a good girl,' said Mother, for the first time, as she lay dying. 'Not like that ungrateful daughter of mine,' she added. 'I wonder what became of her.'
10.) 'Are these frozen potatoes?' asked Gran. 'Not any more,' said Dad. Nobody laughed. We were too busy watching Mum as she picked up the carving knife.
Comments
Sooz006 | June 27, 2012 - 14:57
9.)'You're a good girl,' said Mother, for the first time, as she lay dying. 'Not like that ungrateful daughter of mine,' she added. 'I wonder what became of her.'... this is my favourite.
Number three made me sad
Number four is clever.
Really enjoyed these. They made me smile.
But, I think you need to re-title them. These deserve comments and if it was me, I'd cherry them, too. But I think the title is putting people off reading them. Put it this way, I put aside an hour to read this one... it took me five minutes. The clue's in the tiny, but I only noticed the TEN stories.
deejay | June 27, 2012 - 15:24
I was able to live these people's lives in those 10 tiny tales! That's a feat, imo!
I am amazed!
jolono | June 27, 2012 - 15:53
Alibob, these are really good! Number two, was great, as was numbers 3 -10, oh and Number one was really good as well!
hudsonmoon | June 27, 2012 - 16:35
Number 8 is my favorite, as well. But they're all excellent.
Rich
tcook | June 27, 2012 - 16:49
This is our Facebook and Twitter pick of the day.
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Get a great reading recommendation most days.
alex_tomlin | June 27, 2012 - 17:22
These are brilliant - well deserving of pick of the day. Emotion and twists in such small packages.
JessicaA | June 27, 2012 - 18:10
I really enjoyed this. It's funny, sad, and clever. I especially liked 2.), 3.), 5.), and 6.).
Denzella | June 27, 2012 - 20:00
These are excellent. Every one a self contained little story. You have done so well with these.
Moya
alibob | June 28, 2012 - 10:50
Thanks everyone for your kind comments. I really enjoyed writing these, so glad some people enjoyed reading them. First time I've ever used one of the inspiration points on here.
Stan | July 4, 2012 - 09:44
Great, Alibob - and well done on Pick of the Day. Funny, poignant, true - it's all in there.