One-line Stories

One-line Stories

Exercise 15: Lists (with a twist)

I’m certainly inspired by Hemmingway’s six word short story, which Clear and Simple . . . mentions as inspiration for Exercise 15. But rather than writing “a list of offering items for sale,” I want to take advantage of Professor Portolano’s liberal guidelines for the exercises and put my own spin this one. I will briefly explain the compressed details of Hemmingway’s short story and then try to create some of my own one-line short stories. Here we go . . .

For sale. Baby shoes. Never worn.

-Ernest Hemmingway

We know that someone has not only lost a baby but that they’ve probably given up on trying again. This was probably a still-born baby since the shoes are still brand new. The loss is probably from someone poor, considering that they would need the money from selling the baby shoes.

Here are my attempts at one-line stories.

Open all night. Coloreds welcome.

This is read on a sign outside of a venue of some sort. We know that this sign is read in a certain region at a certain time before African Americans lived with the level of equality that they have today. We know that this is a place where blacks and whites socialized together. This lively place probably served food and drinks and played music.

It made eye-contact with me through the floorboards.

“It” is not human. “It” is either below the person, or the person sees “It” from below. They are aware of each other. Whoever is on top probably has the advantage. The building they are in is not solid. Making “eye-contact” suggests a serious tone. The situation could be dangerous.

No more stupid balloon animals!

Someone is yelling at a clown (or some other type of entertainer). There are certainly more than a few balloon animals in the area. A once happy event is now awkward. The yelling person is probably mean-spirited. The clown probably had his or her feelings hurt.