Stumbling Upon Happiness

250-word micro fiction

Photo by Apolo Photographer on Unsplash

Author’s note: I wrote this piece for a 250-word micro fiction challenge in 2021. These challenges require you to write a piece of fiction, under 250 words, in a prescribed genre and incorporating one word provided by the challenge team.

Genre: comedy Word: dishwasher

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She was licking the floor by the refrigerator when Liz entered the kitchen. Liz shook her head at the dog, not seeing anything on the floor. Clover was getting quirkier as she aged, staring at walls and barking at invisible foes. Whatever makes her happy, Liz thought.

Liz began unloading the dishwasher while Clover continued to lick. After a few minutes, annoyed by the incessant lapping of the tongue on tile, Liz knelt to inspect the scene further but still didn’t see anything.

She took the small dachshund’s head in her hands and planted a kiss squarely on her forehead. “Clover, you’re a crazy old coot, and I love ya.”

Liz sighed and returned to the dishwasher. Clover paced around the refrigerator a bit and then lowered to push her face under it as far as possible. More licking. Liz wanted to yell at her to stop but knew shouting at a senile dog wasn’t the best option.

She grabbed a flashlight and peered under the refrigerator. She saw a small puddle, dwindling in size with each flick of Clover’s tongue.

“What have you gotten into?”

Liz opened the refrigerator door, and her eyes vertically scanned the shelves for the culprit. When she saw it, she couldn’t help but chuckle.

The elderly tan dachshund looked at her, licked her lips, and wobbled back onto her haunches. Liz picked up the overturned bottle of Moscato and smiled.

“I guess you’re not senile… you’re just a lush.”

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Behind the Scenes [paid subscribers only]

This was my first entry into the 250-word microfiction challenge in 2021.