Dredged up / slightly edited for this week’s Writers Pantry. Originally published (online) at A Story In 100 Words in December 2018…
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REDUCTION
He sat alone.
He watched her scrape the painted letters from the window; watched FINE ARTS CAFE become FINE ART, then FINE and finally FIN.
She took a break.
He couldn’t bear to watch anymore anyway, imagined PAINTING becoming mere PAINT, then PAIN; imagined LESSONS, LESS.
Having finished his coffee, he talked to the café owner about her plans now that she’d finally served up her last cup.
He mentally counted out the other empty storefronts, some of the buildings invisible from where he sat, their windows staring out at a rapidly fading Main Street.
He knew he’d be gone soon, too.
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Poets And Storytellers United
Writers’ Pantry #40
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Scrambled, Not Fried 
Oh dear! A sad story at the best of times; even more so now, when so many small businesses are having to close.
Yrs, a very heartfelt post and s true on, many people have been affected.
Wow! Deep intake of breath. Skilfully written, Ron, so much so you made me gasp. I’m so glad I don’t live in a town. Only a small village with no shops and one pub. But your piece reminds me of what is happening in local towns, to us all.
Very well written A town fading just like the words are fading Fits well in this day and age
How often this happens when what was once popular is now not profitable.
Dwindled down to nothing. Going going gone. I love the feeling that gets revealed as she scrapes.
i feel myself being reduced just by reading this little piece… Ah, me! such is life.
This is a very real story playing out in so many small neighborhoods. I’ve seen some of my favorites become memories over the last few months. I hope for new, good things for the owners and workers, and peace for us all.
I love the way you wrote about the painted letters being scraped off.
So relevant now…as we see small businesses folding in the wake of covid….beautifully written.
very effective… the slow eraser of what was – routine and familiarity vanishing…
There is much evidence of this sad occurrence in an artsy area of the city where little Mom and Pop shops are struggling, and several have closed. It’s sad to see this rejuvenated and vibrant area falling back into dismal silence once more.