He hurt very badly. He thought, No one can hurt this badly and live for long. He had been hit near the spine and had fallen on his back. He strained to hold back the pain. Now, what seemed like an hour later, it was dark and he could see the first stars coming out. It was cold and getting colder, and he thought there was a dew falling. He could feel it falling lightly on his face. To hurt this badly, he thought, serves no useful purpose, doesn’t warn of anything and doesn’t teach anything. Why should it be like this? It is a mechanism pushed beyond any usefulness. He was angry at this and his anger helped a little against the pain. He thought of Gloria, and then thought, Where did that come from?
The others were gone, long ago. He had been with them in the big rush to get to the infiltration line, and then this. They had moved on and wouldn‘t be coming back. Maybe Headquarters would send someone out. No, they never would after he had referred to them as ’Hindquarters.’ They never would send someone out after him. He tried moving slightly and felt a jolt like an electric shock. He lay very still. I must not struggle with this, he thought, I must lie as quietly as I can. He had read that somewhere. To what purpose, he thought, and smiled internally at the irony. No one is coming. He was not bleeding, at least not badly. He was pretty sure of it, but he had a sense of life leaving him, draining away. How long did it take? The stars now shone brightly in the clear atmosphere. Anyway, it’ s a beautiful night, he thought. That damn Gloria, he thought.
When he woke up, he could smell cooking. Gloria was in the kitchen of the little villa and called to him. “Would you like some eggs?” It was broad daylight and sunny, and he could see a strip of ocean and the surf through the tall window, past the palm trees. He rolled over, and found his arm had been under him and was numb, just beginning to regain feeling. It was recovering painfully and made him wince. There was something else under his back. He reached around and pulled out her cuticle clippers. “That damn Gloria,” he said aloud, but softly.
“Yes,” he answered her.
2006-07-05 01:27:30 · 11 answers · asked by haroldpohl2000 4 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Other - Arts & Humanities
hehehehe! That was a good one-- yes, it CAN be that short! Thanks for the laugh at the end!
2006-07-05 04:13:39 · answer #1 · answered by cfbookchick has left the building... 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, but that does not make it a good one. Luckily, it was short so we did not have to spend too much time on a sophomoric tale. Thank you for that anyway.
2006-07-05 08:33:29 · answer #2 · answered by abbeyroad54321 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not the number of words, it's what you do with them. I once got excellent response to a story of mine that was only four sentences long.
2006-07-09 18:19:16 · answer #3 · answered by rich k 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I guess if it called a short story, then that is short.
2006-07-05 08:29:58 · answer #4 · answered by mojo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This would actually be called a "short short" story (under 1000 words).
The story itself is actually pretty good. Thanks for sharing it with us.
2006-07-05 08:33:59 · answer #5 · answered by jackalanhyde 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If that is what you call short!
but very nice
2006-07-05 08:30:42 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yup.
2006-07-05 08:31:02 · answer #7 · answered by Andrea F 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes and it is a nice story =)
2006-07-05 08:36:12 · answer #8 · answered by yshan 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
See: vignette.
2006-07-05 08:30:50 · answer #9 · answered by helixburger 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sure why not
2006-07-05 08:54:25 · answer #10 · answered by Sekkennight 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋