NYC Midnight 100-word microfiction, round one
Genre: Romance | Action: walking on a red carpet | Word: faith
This story placed second in its group, and qualified me for the next round.
Judges’ feedback:
I love this wonderful, strange premise—a shop is full of a woman's exes who have somehow turned into rugs. The writer has also done a great job of characterizing each ex with an appropriate type of rug—a small, tightly-woven, rolled-up rug is a controlling man. It's also funny how the man who comes in the end holds a doormat, and what hope he brings.
I love that the rugs are attributed to her exes! Very unique storytelling, and great coherence of writing!
Oh my gosh, what a fun, original, entertaining story! I thought your premise was creative and quite hilarious. The idea of each piece of carpet representing an ex-boyfriend was hilarious. I laughed at the small role in olive, "tightly woven" representing the controlling Charles! The image of Kate stomping across them in muddy wellies was perfect. I really loved the ending, with the surprise that the guy was not only friendly, but also understood her mission and supplied a doormat. This was ingenious and very funny.
Carpet catharsis
In the shop’s remnants aisle, Kate found her awful exes.
A shag rug in lurid purple. Jonathan. He only ever wanted one thing.
A small roll in olive, tightly woven. Charles, Mr Controller.
A long strip of scarlet. Lovely, unfaithful Leo.
She marched across them in her muddy wellies.
‘Your turn to be trod on. Shitty, isn’t it?’
‘Excuse me?’ A male voice broke in. ‘Can I —’
‘Help?’ Kate shot back. ‘I doubt it.’
She turned, expecting a name badge and a grimace.
She met clear blue eyes. A quirky grin. He held a doormat.
‘Can I join in?’