three sentence story

You’ve Been Served

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“Mercy me!” she exclaimed to no one in particular as she almost dropped the full tray of assorted cookies she had just painstakingly arranged and was about to take out to serve to members of the Ladies of the Lake Tea Group.

Looking down to see what had created the slip that had almost been her undoing, she eyed a small pool of what appeared to be milk on the linoleum floor – evidence of what could surely be deemed criminal carelessness, as just moments before, against her better judgement, she had succumbed to pressure from Myrna to allow her to serve the coffee, a mistake that reinforced her privately held poor opinion of Myrna’s character.

She took it upon herself to rearrange the cookies and the more arduous task of rearranging her expression from one of annoyance to one of the pleasant politeness she was known for, and with an almost imperceptible sigh, she headed out to return to the girls.

Inspired by The Daily Post Daily Word Prompt: mercy

On Point

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“I’m glad I am particular,” she said to no one in particular, giving herself one final look over in the mirror before going downstairs to join the others.

With a firm nod of approval at her reflection, she reached for her gloves, congratulating herself for having decided against wearing the new emerald green peacock and lace evening gown.

With a self-satisfied smile just barely gracing her lips, she set her face into its most attractive arrangement and started for the door and another successful evening.

Inspired by The Daily Post Daily Word Post: particular

Coffee Break

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With the tiniest of wry little smiles, she thought to herself, “I have a rather droll sense of humor, don’t I?”

Anyone who might have been looking her way would have thought to themselves, “Now that is an intriguing woman,” but sadly, no one was looking her way at just that moment.

And just like that, her face returned to its usual arrangement, a bespoke blend of earnest effort and fatigue, as she went to top off table eleven’s coffee cups.

Inspired by The Daily Post Daily Word prompt: droll

Cat O’Nine Tale

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“I am not entirely sure that I have not completely lost my mind,” she dubiously said, both to no one in particular and to her reflection in the mirror.

Just then, Mr. Worthing, a somewhat jocular orange tabby, chose to avail himself of the ribbon that trailed from the new rather large hat that sat on her head.

Within seconds, both she and the hat were in a tattered heap on the floor, whilst Mr. Worthing scattered off with a satisfied shake of his tail.

Inspired by The Daily Post Daily Word prompt: dubious

Steady Pace

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He rubbed his knee quite gingerly, as if to say, “Come on, old Boy. We’ve come this far. Just a bit more to go,” before rising to head out for his daily constitutional.

Once up, he paused a moment, giving his body’s sundry parts time to adjust to the height, though in his mind, he was already half way down the street.

And once his body was ready, he started out, one step at a time.

Inspired by The Daily Post Daily Word Prompt: gingerly

Edible Art

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“I insist,” she said to no one in particular as she slathered an additional layer of Fluff onto the graham cracker in preparation for the slab of Hershey’s that would soon complete her masterpiece.

“There. It is done.”

And within seconds, it was.

Inspired by the Daily Post Daily Word Prompt: fluff

Milestone

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“I prefer to stand,” she said through teeth gritted with barely-contained hostility.

A young man had offered her his seat.

She had just entered middle age.

#shortstory #threesentencestory

Inspired by The Daily Post Daily Word Prompt: prefer

A Tea Time Rebellion

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“Before you launch into another tirade about how cucumber sandwiches are only to be served sans crust, I ask that you please set your concerns aside just this once in order to provide an empathetic ear to my complaints,” Myrna plaintively, yet forcefully, interjected.

Though her crimson-painted lips were set in a rather firm horizon line uncharacteristic for her features, her flushed cheeks belied her trepidation at having taken such a strong public stance, and she immediately tittered a rather anemic laugh and waved her hand in a vague attempt to dissipate any remaining resonance of what she had just said.

She turned her full attention to the deviled egg on her plate, nodding now and then to maintain the illusion of her part in the conversation at hand.

Inspired by The Daily Post Daily Word Prompt: launch