His coffee is waiting

By Joanna IK

Ι had an interesting discussion the other day. It revolved around an issue which dwells in both negligence and anguish. I had to write a story about the feeling, not the event. I decided to use my favourite number of words: 121. This is how the story goes:

~~~~

He was alone, thinking what they had presented as his many mistakes. “Is that true?” he wondered in anguish.

Raised alone, in the house of negligence, he’d rely on himself when in need of help. Looking for the answer in his many and sometimes challenging books.

When he went to uni as told, he’d look for the answer at the local roaring bars, every single night. She was nowhere.

– Don’t you care about your future?

~ It can wait.

– Why are you so cold?

~ May I go now?

He was on the front balcony, under the sun warming his thoughts. “My coffee!” he cried out. There, on the porch. He surrendered to its coolness. The answer can wait.

~~~~

Have a creative week

A blogger friend, Joanna

Photo: Franck Michel

Comments (32)

Jennifer @ coffee and creativity

3 May 2019 at 16:20

Wow, I’m impressed that you could do that. I would never be able to shorten my stuff up that much!
1. Joanna K.
  
  3 May 2019 at 18:14
  
  Jennifer, you never know until you give it a go 🙂
Snehal

3 May 2019 at 07:46

In 121 words!? That is a great challenge! Impressive how you could make your point clear in such few words. 🙂
1. Joanna K.
  
  3 May 2019 at 14:18
  
  Snehal, thank you. I’d say that sticking to the point is key to writing short stories.
Erica (The Prepping Wife)

3 May 2019 at 04:17

Every time I read your posts, I’m always amazed at how you can cram so much information into such a short piece! I’m in awe of that ability because I’m just too long-winded to try it myself. I love how much thought you provoke in me after reading these too.
1. Joanna K.
  
  3 May 2019 at 14:20
  
  Erica, thank you for your beautiful comment.
  I consider myself lucky to be surrounded by co-bloggers who share positive energy.
2. Carol
  
  3 May 2019 at 16:49
  
  This gives me all the feels. Very thought provoking and poetic. The more times I read it, the more I enjoy it.
  1. Joanna K.
    
    3 May 2019 at 18:11
    
    Carol, that sounds so beautiful. I am glad you are enjoying the story.
Thuy

2 May 2019 at 23:32

I love what you wrote with only 121 words. I reread it a couple times and I love how much you leave to the imagination!
1. Joanna K.
  
  3 May 2019 at 14:23
  
  Thuy, thank you for your nice comment. It feels nice to read that your work speaks to the heart of people.
Subhashish Roy

2 May 2019 at 21:21

Your stories always makes me think. And try and find the ending in my own creative way. Good one again.
1. Joanna K.
  
  3 May 2019 at 14:26
  
  Subhashish, that sounds very nice. So, you may consider sharing in writing your ending, soon 🙂
Elease

2 May 2019 at 04:16

I love your short, short stories! Helps me think of different ways to look at everyday life.
1. Joanna K.
  
  3 May 2019 at 14:28
  
  Elease, how nice of you to say so. First the cloud, now the sun. Time for coffee!
Melody

2 May 2019 at 02:57

An interesting piece… deep and introspective. Sometimes it’s not the answer as much as the journey we travel in looking for the answer.
1. Joanna K.
  
  3 May 2019 at 14:30
  
  A truth beautifully put into words. Enjoy the journey.
Live Learn Better

1 May 2019 at 20:51

I had to read this three times in order to properly “smell the coffee”. Very great and insightful write up
1. Joanna K.
  
  3 May 2019 at 14:33
  
  “Smell the coffee”..I love that phrase. It says a lot, with a few words.
Grace Esedeke | Today Was Fab

1 May 2019 at 16:35

I LOVE this. It is so creative and straight to the point. I can relate to this in so many ways. The anguish, the coldness towards nearly everything except cakes and coffee, the negligence and the love for coffee.
1. Joanna K.
  
  3 May 2019 at 14:36
  
  Grace, thank you for your lovely comment. So, it was a Fab story.
  Isn’t that amazing, how the love for coffee can mean so many things.
Ashley | One Journey Away

1 May 2019 at 11:52

Very interesting story! I like how you were able to capture the feelings of negligence and anguish in such few words.
1. Joanna K.
  
  3 May 2019 at 14:37
  
  Ashley, thank you. That’s music to my ears.
Nicole Anderson | Camping for Women

1 May 2019 at 02:54

I just love creative pieces like this that provoke so much further thought on behalf of the reader. There is a lot to be left to the imagination here as you think about other related possibilities and how it may all tie into the piece. You certainly used your 121 words well!
1. Joanna K.
  
  3 May 2019 at 14:53
  
  Nicole, thank you. I too consider it important not to spoon-feed answers. Rather, let others/readers draw their own conclusions.
Trish Veltman

1 May 2019 at 02:43

Coffee solves an awful lot of things! Especially an ice-cold frappe and a view like that!
Intrigued by the 121 words being your favourite.
1. Joanna K.
  
  3 May 2019 at 14:58
  
  True, writing flash stories is my favourite style. I find myself asking a lot of questions, like why this word and not some other; why this event and not some other. It helps me to get to the point fast, in creative and other forms of writing.
The Sunny Side Lifestyle Co.

1 May 2019 at 00:24

I appreciate your creative flow in 121 words. The passage leaves me wondering about the character. What experiences of neglect did he encounter? What was his upbringing? Who brought him the coffee? Despite his negligent upbringing and failure at finding a partner, he seems to be enjoying life’s pleasures which brings me comfort.
1. Joanna K.
  
  3 May 2019 at 15:01
  
  Ah, that is the sunny side of storytelling 🙂 When your readers get engaged and ask questions.
  That’s what I find amazing about flash fiction stories: they can turn into a novel fast.
Tracy C

30 April 2019 at 23:29

I’ve never tried to write a story with such a limited amount of words and think that it would be difficult for me. I love the word choices you used to create the imagery—surrendered, negligence, anguish, roaring.
1. Joanna K.
  
  3 May 2019 at 15:04
  
  Tracy, you never know. Maybe your next post will be a 121 words story about a trip in the country or a day on the farm.
Scott J DeNicola

30 April 2019 at 21:03

I love and appreciate how much you can do with just 121 words. I write but still don’t consider myself a writer and can not begin to get the emotion you put into your stories with so few words. I feel the same ways many days with my coffee. Many things can wait until my coffee. Nicely done as always
1. Joanna K.
  
  3 May 2019 at 15:06
  
  Scott, thank you for your kind words.
  Coffee can mean a lot of different things in my culture, and my intention was to render that sense.