October 16, 2005

Fifty-five word fiction

[ A particularly long-lived branch of the fifty-five word meme has happened to find its way here. Many thanks to Babelfish for the honour. Here goes .. ]


She wrote something on a piece of paper and slipped it into his hand. He smiled. They were sitting on the last bench, as usual. Nobody saw.

***

He took the yellowing little note and tore it into bits. A single stubborn teardrop escaped those clenched eyelids. He had his own cubicle, luckily. Nobody saw.



Update : Another one.

He was walking down the street that evening, not far from home, when a car hit him. Hard. They rushed him to the nearest hospital, but it was too late.

He hadn’t told anyone about his anonymous blog. His readers thought he just didn’t feel like posting anymore.


17 comments :

babelfish said...

I'm crying too hard to leave a sensible comment...

babelfish said...

ok, less sentimental state of mind, so can leave seemingly sensible comment....I loved your story, truly. Would you let it be published here - http://55-words.blogspot.com/

the One said...

Thank you, Babelfish .. sure, you're most welcome to publish it there. Honoured.

the One said...

And the second one too, Babel (may one call you so?).. if it is worthy.

Sorry for melancholia .. one is experimenting. Normal post next, promise. This stuff is depressing.

babelfish said...

Babel is khoo/kewl/verry cool...it's a change from being referred to as miss fiss :D

this fish loves One's experiments...and this is your space, not subject to the dictats of the readers...depressing stuff tends to border on personal, but it holds a certain charm...

babelfish said...

http://55-words.blogspot.com/

have posted....check it out, it has a link to your blog, so there should be no copyright infringement and no need for legal notices et al :D

Babel

the One said...

Thanks again. No no .. no legal notices .. no ponytail, see?

>>and this is your space, not subject to the dictats of the readers...

**looks at floor, very small voice**
Yes, ma'am ..

Anonymous said...

It gave me a jolt, that second story.

babelfish said...

hehehe, but I can't see whether one is pony-tiled or not, nah?!!

*and in smaller voice*
didn't mean to lecture you....sorry...

**tucks fishy tail away and slinks to stand in corner**

the One said...

One knows exactly what you mean, Sheetal. It was a stray thought that one felt was just too disturbing not to be story-fied.
Not posting these days, BTW? Kya hua?

Aww, Babel .. don't get all senti here .. didn't mean it like that ..

J. Alfred Prufrock said...

Will the other blog remain "unwept, unhonoured and unsung"?

J.A.P.

the One said...

It is a pleasure to have you drop by, JAP-da (if one may call you that), but one confesses to being unable to decipher that rather cryptic remark. Pray elaborate, sir? "Other blog"?

Anonymous said...

*shiver*

Twilight Fairy said...

The one, your philsopher poem is up at www.desipundit.com :)

the One said...

Ph : Indeed. Welcome, BTW.

Twilight : Kiitos, sata kiitos. Very nice of you.

Rhyncus said...

That was good, the second one. Dying unsung has a certain shudder-worthy appeal.

the One said...

Thanks, Rhyncus. Yes, it is a fear deeply ingrained in us all, one suspects.