A drabble is a short story of exactly one hundred words with a beginning, a middle, and an end. I have been experimenting with this story form as a way of improving my writing, trying to get as strong an image as possible in just a few words. Here is a miniature story for Halloween:
Cuddling her baby, Cassie went to answer the door.
Anna, eyes bright beneath hooded lids, smiled at her. “I came to see my newest neighbor.” She bent forward and peered into the baby’s face. “Oooh, he’s so sweet I could just eat him up.” She held out her arms. “May I?”
Pride welled up in Cassie’s chest. “Sure.”
With a sudden sinuous motion, Anna took the baby, popped him in her mouth, and swallowed him whole.
Unable even to scream, Cassie stared at the bulge in the woman’s midsection.
“What?” Anna gave her a puzzled look. “You said I could.”
***
Pat Bertram is the author of the suspense novels Light Bringer, More Deaths Than One, A Spark of Heavenly Fire, and Daughter Am I. Bertram is also the author of Grief: The Great Yearning, “an exquisite book, wrenching to read, and at the same time full of profound truths.” Connect with Pat on Google+. Like Pat on Facebook.










October 31, 2013 at 1:51 pm
Groan.
October 31, 2013 at 1:56 pm
Ah well, in 100 words you expect great literature?
October 31, 2013 at 2:04 pm
Now that is funny! I can’t decide if that’s dark or silly humor with a Halloween theme, but that’s still pretty funny. Season’s creepings, Pat!
November 1, 2013 at 9:29 am
Very clever! And it does take skill to work in such a constrained space.
November 2, 2013 at 8:09 am
These people who take everything so literally! A twist I wasn’t expecting.
November 2, 2013 at 11:32 am
Even a 100-word story needs a twist. Thank you for reading my Halloween offering.
November 2, 2013 at 11:36 am
I love it. What a great story but also an excellent writing exercise I’m going to give it a try.
P.S. the shortest story ever written was by Hemmingway
“For Sale.
Baby Shoes.
Never used.”
November 2, 2013 at 11:59 am
Funny! Very clever little story, Pat.
Mike, I love the Hemingway story too.
November 2, 2013 at 1:38 pm
Loved it, Pat. Funny, dark Halloween story. I doubt I could do anything in 100 words, but it’s a great exercise.
November 3, 2013 at 7:25 am
That was funny, though maybe that’s just my morbid mind 🙂