Each of these stories is exactly 100 words.
MICKEY RAT
Mickey pokes his nose out.
It’s her.
The lid rattles. He leaps into her hand almost before it’s inside his glass aquarium. Her scent is a mixture of crispy bacon and roses.
Mickey trembles upright on her palm. He begs her ocean eyes to see who he really is inside rather than as the white rodent form he’s trapped in. He stretches near her magic rosy lips. She could change him back into a handsome prince with one single kiss.
Emily hands him a peanut instead. She brushes his fur against her cheek and drops him back in his tank.
THE RAT SITTER
When Nevi watches Emily’s rat for her, the rat acts strange.
The little guy stares at me as if he can read my mind. It’s almost as if he wants to transmit his ratty thoughts to me.
This time Nevi is careful to keep his gaze on soft focus. He doesn’t want to end up in another staring contest with Emily’s pet white rat.
When the tapping starts, Nevi jumps. The rat holds an almond in one hand.
Or is it his foot?
The rat taps the glass with his almond.
Nevi sits suddenly.
S.O.S.
Emily’s rat knows Morse code.
* * * * * * *
BACON AND ROSES
The bacon pops and wrinkles in the skillet. Emily watches him through the veil of steam on her kitchen window.
Mickey’s hair flashes like spun gold in the sun as he shoots baskets in his driveway.
Emily sighs.
He’s more interested in basketball than in me.
She wishes he could feel the longing that floods her heart.
Emily uses string to tie bacon into the shape of a man. Then she goes out to the arbor to cut a single red rose.
After she speaks the words of enchantment, his abandoned basketball rolls against the curb.
She grabs the rat.
* * * * * * *
Thanks for reading.
Alice
Great read! Now you need to finish the story – you can’t leave poor Mickey like that!
One. I always enjoy when you stop by. Yes. I’ve thought about making more 100 word chapters for a fairy tale chapter book. I thought this was short stories but it seems more than that to me now.
Emily’s rat knows Morse code. What an interesting beginning to what could be a whole book of these stories. And the thought “Emily uses string to tie bacon into the shape of a man” leaves me thinking about how that would look. A great way to start Monday. Thanks.
Scott,
These three stories were written to be separate at first. Then, when I was reading to my husband (editor) he said, “What of SHE turned him into a rat?” So I had to stop and rewrite the bacon cooking story from a simple piece about unrequited longing to the voodoo doll of bacon. It made me laugh when I did so I knew it was alright. Yes. Maybe a series of stories. I want to know what happens next.
Much loving kindness your way this morning. And to the rest near at hand.:-)
Alice
Adorable 100 we’d stories I love micro fiction. It s not easy to tell a story with so little. Hmmmm I did not know rats know morse code
TWP, I had no idea either till this rat picked up the nut and tapped. That muse is a silly, full of surprises. I like to write the short fiction because I never know what will come out. Alice
Well you quite wonderful at it.
Blush. Smile. I shall write more after dinner. And I hope you shall as well.