Short Short
July 28, 2007 by haziamyperspective
I have a new obsession now. I want to write very short short stories. So far, A Peppery Affair (935 words) and Sunny Side Up (772 words) are my shortest.
The result of a quick online search just now was inspiring. I came across a few Western writers’ work which were much shorter. They could tell a whole story in a piece just one third as long as my shortest. These are complete stories, mind you, with hooks and twists at the end.
After all, how long was Cinderella?;)
Let me share below. It is only 250 words:)
The Tango
By F Lee Miller
We danced the Tango on newly-cut grass and across the white-gravel driveway, hopping more than gliding, stumbling and trying not to hurt each other. I was eight years old and she was my best friend.
There was no music, of course, except what we always heard in each other’s company; the music of friendship. I held the dandelion in my teeth – she wouldn’t even try. She shuffled and hopped over my feet, her skinny legs trying desperately to keep up. We fumbled through the mechanics of the dance; she with one arm out stiff with mine, the other draped over my shoulder; my hand pressing into her lower back and pulling her along. My mother watched us from the kitchen window and declared us a sight.
That was the year I finally grew taller than her. That was the year I could finally hold my own in a race against her, or maybe that was when she started letting me win. It was the year I finally beat her wrestling.
As we danced, she tried to kiss me, awkward and silly, but with a huge, honest smile on her face.She was always trying to kiss me, and it always made me giggle. I turned my face from side to side, joyfully avoiding her kisses, until she tripped over my feet and we tumbled to the cool grass. I sprawled, laughing, and she stood over me on all fours, kissing me right on the lips and wagging her tail in delight.
(end)
