“Thanks for the story, Mummy,” Sally said, snuggling down into her blankets.

“Glad you liked it, sweetie. Sleep tight.”

“Night, Daddy!” Sally called.

“Don’t you want a story?” he called back.

“Mummy read it already.”

Still wearing his black suit from the funeral, he came in and stared at her.

Mark Farley is currently writing a fifty-word bio and needs only thirty-two more words after this sentence. His work has appeared or is forthcoming in Saturday Night Reader magazine, Flash: The International Short-Short Story Magazine, and of course the wonderful fiftywordstories.com. He blogs his rambling creative writing attempts at mumbletoes.blogspot.co.uk.