Winterfest Drabble Challenges

~ exactly 100-word stories using 3 given elements ~

WFOL 2023

Mouse, a Box of Crayons, Father’s Study/Library

“Why did he unwrap every single crayon, Vincent? Now I don’t know what to call the colors,” young Jamie grumped. “And I loved the names.”

“I’m not sure. Have you asked him?”

Jamie glared and tapped her foot and sat down hard in a chair pulled up to the library table in Father’s study. A colorful pile of paper shreds shifted in the breeze of her disgruntlement.

“It was a 64-crayon box too, with copper and silver! And a sharpener!”

“Better names now.” Mouse piped up without raising his head. He tapped his temple and kept on with his work.

Zach, a Halloween Costume, a Classroom Chamber

“I’m not gonna wear that. It’s dumb.”

“Come on, Zach,” Eric pestered. “We’re all picking one.”

The boxes of old Halloween costumes Mouse had found were open and their contents arrayed on the science classroom’s tall experiment tables. Donald Duck, Huckleberry Hound. Vinyl suits that tied in the back and plastic masks with eye holes so small you could barely see. 

He watched her from across the room. She was holding a Wonder Woman mask. Nooooo, he almost shouted. 

A mask would ruin everything! He wouldn’t wear it, not when he planned, no, hoped to kiss …

Joe, a Wrapped Sandwich, Catherine’s Desk

Where was she? They needed to talk.

He’d seen her in the break room earlier pouring a cup of coffee, but now? He’d popped out of his office a dozen times in the last hour to check, yet her chair was still empty.

He’d just wait for her then, Joe decided, and sat down.

Her desk was cluttered with papers and files and a sandwich half-unwrapped. He couldn’t help himself; he was hungry. He’d buy her another.

What’s this? A note?! 

He unfolded it … and shot up out of her chair for the elevator. He knew where she was.