Third Time's the Charm

"three years 'til the shrimp come clean"

Fine use of the prompts and word-count patterns and persona/voice.

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Wow - stories with endings that cause one to immediately go back and reread them are the best!

Really like what you do with form here, Linda. The 55 word challenge must be a tough go, but this one works well.

i can't imagine a better result for this challenge. Perfect. Bulls-eye work.

good stuff, linda, very evocative, strong character building on a word patch the size of a small stamp...

Ann, thanks for the generous comment and star -- means a lot from the Queen of Lean! peace...

Teresa, I'm happy my need to truncate made you reread! Thanks!

Sam, I think I've ripped up half-a-dozen 55 word stories -- very hard. Drabbles feel like novels in comparison.

Peace...

Meg, thank you! I'll hang on to that bulls-eye all day. Peace...

Marcus, danke schon! Peace...

Nice, Linda. Excellent voice in this.

Simple and direct. The thought process that sorts a life into threesies is so human.

Whew. Lean and mean. This one really packs a punch. Super.

Wow! And you hit three challenges, too! Amazing work, Linda. *

Thanks Christian for the read -- I was afraid of losing voice in this because of the brevity.

Susan, I had fun working in all the threes - glad it worked for you.
Peace!

Thanks Jack for the generous words! Peace...

Kim, thanks oodles for the read and pretty star! I'm trying to be more efficient ;^) Peace...

do we really have to wait 3 years for those shrimp? Nice short piece

Estelle, thanks for reading. Three sounds right for some shrimp beds, and oyster beds, too. At least one of the esteemed NOLA oyster bars has gone belly-up. Peace...

Judith is gonna have a best-seller with this quality of work!

I certainly agree with the reread theory. It's a peanut butter story the sticks to the roof of your mind. I go back over and over CHARM to see how'n hell you did it; a complete story with topical editorial comment in 55 words.

Have mercy . . .

Thanks Ramon! I'm not sure how I wrote this either; the story took more work than the damn novel this week. Thanks so much for the read and generous words. Peace...

Ooh, you nailed it, Linda. Gave us a whole lifetime in 55 words. Takes a lot of skill. Brava.

Powerful!

Kathy and Beate, thanks so much for reading and generous words. Peace...

Great lines: "No jobs except drinking. Plum outta luck, one bullet left.

Spin."

I liked this very much. So short, but so evocative; the last lines remind me of the Tim Winton novel 'CloudStreet' - a great thick book.

Strong piece, Linda. The voice and form work together so well.

This is as well-formed, sharp and precise as gemstone. And to make it topical: amazing!

Matt! Thanks so much for reading on your honeymoon :^)

Kate, off to find CLOUDSTREET - I have not read but like Tim Winton's stuff immensely. So thank you for the comp! Peace...

kari, thanks so much for your kind words -- much appreciated! peace...

David, usually my work is referred to as a garnet in the rough. Sothank you for your generous comment and *. Peace...

Wow, 55 words, OIL and lucky number and so seamlessly done. This one pokes a fingernail into an open sore...

Claire, thanks so much for your generous words -- love the image of poking a finger into a sore. Peace...

I love the tone and language here, Linda. Very smart and sharp.

What's amazing is that even with six of those 55 being some form of Spin and Click, you still tell a whole story. Yeah, what they said.
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Thanks for the read and star, Michelle -- mucho appreciated! Peace...