Someone (I’ve lost track of who) posted a challenge, on TBD, for people to write a story using only six sentences. Here’s my entry. It wasn’t the best, and it wasn’t even the longest, although I will claim it is the best and longest that didn’t use ridiculous constructs and run-on sentences.
“The first time I visited this bar was exactly one year ago today, although I doubt you’d remember,” said the small man in a grey suit, as I placed his beer on the counter in front of him.
“Would you like to to know why I can remember the date so precisely?” he asked, after a moment.
I nodded silently and put down the glass I was drying.
“One year ago today, I buried my wife in the cemetery behind the little church, Saint Mary’s — the same church where I married her — two blocks down, on Pine,” he said, and took a small sip from his beer before continuing.
“One year doesn’t seem like such a long time ago, sometimes — you know, I still set the table for two sometimes, when I’ve had a long day and I’m not thinking straight — but other times it feels like she’s been gone forever and I think I’m starting to forget things about her.”
“Did you have any children?” I asked, as he looked down at the bar and slowly shook his head.
