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Writer’s Digest
|July - August 2023
THE CHALLENGE: Write a drabble-a short story of exactly 100 words-based on the photo prompt below.
A Book for Sam
By April Coker of Lindale, Texas
Trixie paused in the hallway outside of Jacob's room. Her youngest boy sprawled on the floor, his new picture book propped open on a pillow in front of him. Next to him on the floor, Sam the goldfish swam around in his bowl.
She stopped herself from scolding Jacob for moving the fishbowl from the windowsill. Never mind that he could have spilled the water and fish or broken the bowl and been injured. In a flash of motherly wisdom, she decided to savor the moment.
This story is from the July - August 2023 edition of Writer’s Digest.
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