A while back, I entered Atmosphere in a writing contest. I’ll find out in February whether it wins. In the meantime, I’m getting constant invitations to enter other contests. Today it was one asking for an 80 word story. Turns out I have to subscribe for $10 a month to enter, so no thanks. (Entering my novel cost a one-time fee of $65)

So here is my 80 word story.

“Thank you,” she said, for what he wasn’t sure.
It wasn’t as if he knew what he was doing, or had some kind of innate ability. In fact, he was quite aware that he was painfully inexperienced and inept.
Yet “thank you,” was what she said.
Many years later, it occurred to him that he had been nothing more than a donor.
“You are welcome,” he whispered, and then laughed, in that dishonest way that terribly sad people often do.