It whispered to her from across the store.
The most marvelous piece she had seen.
She approached the case and lifted it–a golden chain encrusted with dazzling jewels that reflected and refracted the candlelight.
It enraptured her. Threatened to bend her to its will.
An urchin like her had no business there.
But she had to have it.
Her filthy palms grew slick with anticipation.
A groan from her stomach shattered the spell.
How long had it been since her family had a real meal?
Days?
Weeks?
Months?
The necklace slipped from her fingers, and she left her vices behind.
Hey, thanks for reading!
Drabble is a type of microfiction in which stories are 100 words--no more, no less. This story was based on a single randomly generated word. My plan is to revise this story according to any feedback it receives, then put together a writer's note documenting the process and publish it along with 29 other stories in a collection.
The turns in this story are fascinating! First there is the “would be” buyer of an expensive beautiful piece, but she’s a thieving and needy child, with experience and thieving thrills her, she’s starving, with a starving family (disabled? younger children?)she alone provides for, and she has a conscience and determination to overcome her first urges.
You tell this story in 100 precise words.
This morning, my thought is, these stories, individually, or as a collection, are pieces that are not only intriguing to read and inspire imagination, but are pieces that would be useful in teaching, for example, teaching inference and how to catch and hold a reader (there’s probably a term for that). The brevity of each piece is perfect for usefulness in a classroom. (Of course I think of classroom, as I’m a former teacher.)
Personally, I look forward to each new piece, and am definitely going to purchase a collection, should you decide to publish them.