Short short stories

[pigfender]

I did once* consider writing a book of ultra short (poem-length) stories in normal prose. I was going to call it ‘A Collection of Modern Terse’. I didn’t, because I liked the title a lot more than I liked the idea of a book of ultra short (poem length) stories in normal prose.

• a long time ago… Teenage years.

Anyway, if it’s very short stories your after, here’s one (I didn’t write) that clocks in just under 360 words:

@Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince

Now this is a story all about how
My life got flipped-turned upside down
And I’d like to take a minute
Just sit right there
I’ll tell you how I became the prince of a town called Bel-Air

In west Philadelphia born and raised
On the playground was where I spent most of my days
Chillin’ out maxin’ relaxin’ all cool
And all shooting some b-ball outside of the school
When a couple of guys who were up to no good
Started making trouble in my neighborhood
I got in one little fight and my mom got scared
She said, “You’re movin’ with your auntie and uncle in Bel-Air.”

I begged and pleaded with her day after day
But she packed my suitcase and sent me on my way
She gave me a kiss and then she gave me my ticket.
I put my Walkman on and said, “I might as well kick it.”

First class, yo, this is bad
Drinking orange juice out of a champagne glass.
Is this what the people of Bel-Air living like?
Hmm, this might be alright.

But wait I hear they’re prissy, bourgeois, all that
Is this the type of place that they just send this cool cat?
I don’t think so
I’ll see when I get there
I hope they’re prepared for the prince of Bel-Air

Well, the plane landed and when I came out
There was a dude who looked like a cop standing there with my name out
I ain’t trying to get arrested yet
I just got here
I sprang with the quickness like lightning, disappeared

I whistled for a cab and when it came near
The license plate said “Fresh” and it had dice in the mirror
If anything I could say that this cab was rare
But I thought, “Nah, forget it.”
– “Yo, home to Bel-Air.”

I pulled up to the house about 7 or 8
And I yelled to the cabbie, “Yo home smell ya later.”
I looked at my kingdom
I was finally there
To sit on my throne as the Prince of Bel-Air

And for no particular reason, here’s an analysis of the song against Blake Snyder’s “Save the Cat” story structure, just to prove that it really is a story!

[Briar_Kit]

If anyone fancies a little slice of Brit life, here’s a short story that will wile away 10 minutes…

briarkitesme.com/2016/10/20/the … -the-tray/

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