Contest Entry

Write a story using 100 words or fewer. Include these words in the story:

junk
dignity
gunbelt
hungover
punch

Bonus points if you use ONE hyphen to connect any two of the five words!

When the cop set his gunbelt on the chair, I knew he was going to work me over for the hell of it. I didn't give a shit; I was bone weary and hungover and felt nothing. The first punch came fast and I passed out.

I woke up in a pool of dank sweat and I swore off junk, again. I was gasping for air in the dark dusty iron barred cage as if every breath was my last and I swallowed my own bloody spit like it was water. I cried because even old whores crave some dignity.

© Marjorie Levine