The prison chief pinched his forehead. Two elderly men sat across him, arms crossed, eyes drilled into his face.
‘Performance and efficiency.’ How many times must he explain this rule?
They had appealed his ruling. They argued that age mattered.
‘Your KPO-s aren’t met this year, both of you, sirs. Miss Edith here,’ he gestured to a young lady sitting next to them, ‘had finished two projects while she was only assigned one.’
Both men glared at her while Edith looked down at the floor.
She’d been granted early release from the underworld’s prison, despite the objections of her seniors.
You captured that bittersweet moment so beautifully, Izzibella. The mix of endings and beginnings, fear and excitement — it all shines through. Thank you for sharing this piece of your journey. 🌟
"It's Tuesday!" Glenna jumped from her bed. Tuesday was Senior day, and, having just turned 60, she planned to make the most of it. First, breakfast at the diner for the $3 senior special. Then to the thrift stores while the new donations were fresh. Tuesday was half price on everything for the "elderly" over 60. Glenna scoffed at being called "elderly." She ran circles around people half her age, with their office jobs and smartphones. After thrifting, she'd hit up the cafe for lunch: $5 for a senior meal. Later, a senior supper with her husband. Tuesdays were awesome.
Senior Day sounds sick! My mom recently started taking a various online courses on social media, she wants to start inspiring older people to travel more since she loves traveling. She also doesn't like the word "elderly" but she's obviously the oldest in the course every time, so she decided to call herself and the seniors The Experienced.
I will never be like my Dad. He never attained Senior status, dying at age 52.
I will never smoke a pipe as he did, nor wear a button down sweater with arm patches or drink port wine like he did.
Dad was part of the “Greatest Generation”, yet failed to enjoy that life and pursuit of happiness he fought for. I hope he would be proud to know just how far in my senior years I have reached. There are many obstacles faced in aging. May we all seize the days left before us. Live life to its fullest!
Thank you for including my story about Fred in the Batch! I love seeing all the fantastic stories that everyone else has written! I hope your slump gets moving...
I'm really sorry to hear about that. Is there anything you can do to de-stress? For me, it's taking a little time out to write down my silly stories (thank you for getting me into that habit). Trying to keep myself calm doesn't fix the problems, but it goes a long way to keeping me sane, which in turn helps me face whatever messes I need to face. If I'm calm, I can think better, which makes it possible to work on solving whatever problem is cropping up. Even if I end up quitting Substack someday, I'll keep up the daily writing, in a journal or something, because I've learned that it's good for my mental health.
As for more practical aspects: Are there other possible jobs available in your area? Is there any way to fix what's going wrong with your current job? Is the stress worth it? I'm sorry to subject you to Mom/Grandma mode, I'll stop now, but I hope you can make things work out for yourself and wish you good luck.
Don't worry about the Mom/Granny mode haha! :) The job thing is that we might end up going out of business due to US tariffs so there's not much I can do about that. I should be able to get another job rather quickly after so it'll turn out okay I think, but I like this job and it'd be a shame if we went under. As for de-stressing I spend about 90% of my time writing something, so writing is not that for me haha. But I'm trying to pick up drawing again and my body finally allows me to play sports again so I'm doing that to feel better :)
Maybe other countries might be interested? My husband may need to shutter his own business soon, too. He makes electronic gadgets, and most circuit boards and components are shipped from China. We'll probably shut down when our current stock of pre-Trump parts are used up. 😥 Plus I'm spending at least 25% more on groceries; I need to cut back on coffee! I don't know if President Trump realizes or even cares what a mess he's making.
Ben popped into Stella's kitchen. "Where are all your kids?"
Stella grinned. "They're already sacked out. Mom wore them out."
Ben scoffed, "C'mon, she's like 85! How hard can it be?"
"Why don't you visit her tomorrow? It's about time you were properly introduced."
The next night, Ben was exhausted. "Oh, man! We weeded, mucked out stalls, and turned the compost. And that was just before lunch! Then we picked vegetables, gathered eggs, baked bread, and delivered everything to the food bank. And your Mom was going faster than any of us!"
Stella giggled, "You'll have to learn to keep up!"
Microfiction - 100 mg of Seniors
In my youth, I wanted nothing more than to be grown. Being a senior meant I was top of the heap, ruling the school.
In young adulthood, I dreamed of conquering the world. Walking across that stage and turning my tassel sent me back to the bottom of the pile.
In my career, I craved approval and security. Adding senior to my title implied I had greater worth, figurative and financial.
In my old age, will I view senior as a badge of honor or as a label to indicate my citizenship is past its prime?
Microfiction - 100mg of Seniors
===
The prison chief pinched his forehead. Two elderly men sat across him, arms crossed, eyes drilled into his face.
‘Performance and efficiency.’ How many times must he explain this rule?
They had appealed his ruling. They argued that age mattered.
‘Your KPO-s aren’t met this year, both of you, sirs. Miss Edith here,’ he gestured to a young lady sitting next to them, ‘had finished two projects while she was only assigned one.’
Both men glared at her while Edith looked down at the floor.
She’d been granted early release from the underworld’s prison, despite the objections of her seniors.
Thank you for including me in this thread! I needed this to remind me that my writing is as good as others. 😊
I got you! :)
Thanks for the mention Miguel. Great batch, as always.
PROMPT: SENIOR
THE FORGOTTEN BIRTHDAY
It was his 80th birthday, and everyone had forgotten.
He hadn’t received a single phone call from any of his family or friends.
None of them had even sent a card.
Disappointed, and wiping a tear from his eye, he went for a walk with his dog.
Two blissful hours flew by before they returned home.
And as he swung the front door open, that’s when he heard it.
“Surprise…!” 👴😎👴
Thanks for including me 🙏❤️🙏
Thank you for including me!
Appreciate you, Miguel.
Sure thing! I appreciate you writing with me every day Theresa ❤️🦝
THANK YOU for including my hearth story. It is so much appreciated. There are many great writers featured in this publication.
100mg - Senior
The sun rose over the football field, where rows of chairs faced the stage.
I sat among them, cap tight, heart racing, tears forming.
A senior—for one final day.
Laughter echoed, cameras flashed, but everything felt like slow motion.
Names were called, tassels turned, and just like that, it ended.
Childhood, wrapped in school bells and cafeteria lunches, faded into memory.
As we tossed our caps, the sky seemed to open wide with possibility.
I wasn’t just leaving high school—I was stepping into a future unwritten.
The world felt big.
Scary.
Exciting.
Beautiful.
And I was finally ready to begin.
You captured that bittersweet moment so beautifully, Izzibella. The mix of endings and beginnings, fear and excitement — it all shines through. Thank you for sharing this piece of your journey. 🌟
Thank you so much
Thank you for writing it Izzibella!
Thank you for listing my story about the itch in the batch. I'm humbled that it got picked out of so many wonderful ones.
Sure thing Kanwar :)
Thank you for including me in this weeks batch. I am honoured.
100mg of a Senior
They said senior like it meant something earned.
But I never signed that contract.
Never agreed to bow under titles shaped like staircases.
It was a word dropped on my shoulders,
not offered—imposed.
.
I felt it in my spine,
the way language can colonize a body.
Senex.
Seniority.
Senior partner.
Senior citizen.
Same root. Same rot.
.
I don't want the top rung.
I want to burn the ladder.
Call me elder if you must.
.
But know this—
.
I am not your template.
I am not your legacy.
I am not here to lead.
I am here to unsettle.
Your words always cut deep, Jay. So it's a pleasure to have you in the batch
Thank you Miguel, it is an honour to be here with you all.
"It's Tuesday!" Glenna jumped from her bed. Tuesday was Senior day, and, having just turned 60, she planned to make the most of it. First, breakfast at the diner for the $3 senior special. Then to the thrift stores while the new donations were fresh. Tuesday was half price on everything for the "elderly" over 60. Glenna scoffed at being called "elderly." She ran circles around people half her age, with their office jobs and smartphones. After thrifting, she'd hit up the cafe for lunch: $5 for a senior meal. Later, a senior supper with her husband. Tuesdays were awesome.
Senior Day sounds sick! My mom recently started taking a various online courses on social media, she wants to start inspiring older people to travel more since she loves traveling. She also doesn't like the word "elderly" but she's obviously the oldest in the course every time, so she decided to call herself and the seniors The Experienced.
I also use vintage ;)
Wow, your Mom rocks!
100 Words for Senior
I will never be like my Dad. He never attained Senior status, dying at age 52.
I will never smoke a pipe as he did, nor wear a button down sweater with arm patches or drink port wine like he did.
Dad was part of the “Greatest Generation”, yet failed to enjoy that life and pursuit of happiness he fought for. I hope he would be proud to know just how far in my senior years I have reached. There are many obstacles faced in aging. May we all seize the days left before us. Live life to its fullest!
Live life to its fullest Ken! Great message
Thank you for including my story about Fred in the Batch! I love seeing all the fantastic stories that everyone else has written! I hope your slump gets moving...
Yeah, it's the work stress compiling on me. There's a chance I might end up jobless in about a month sooo... yeah.
I'm really sorry to hear about that. Is there anything you can do to de-stress? For me, it's taking a little time out to write down my silly stories (thank you for getting me into that habit). Trying to keep myself calm doesn't fix the problems, but it goes a long way to keeping me sane, which in turn helps me face whatever messes I need to face. If I'm calm, I can think better, which makes it possible to work on solving whatever problem is cropping up. Even if I end up quitting Substack someday, I'll keep up the daily writing, in a journal or something, because I've learned that it's good for my mental health.
As for more practical aspects: Are there other possible jobs available in your area? Is there any way to fix what's going wrong with your current job? Is the stress worth it? I'm sorry to subject you to Mom/Grandma mode, I'll stop now, but I hope you can make things work out for yourself and wish you good luck.
Don't worry about the Mom/Granny mode haha! :) The job thing is that we might end up going out of business due to US tariffs so there's not much I can do about that. I should be able to get another job rather quickly after so it'll turn out okay I think, but I like this job and it'd be a shame if we went under. As for de-stressing I spend about 90% of my time writing something, so writing is not that for me haha. But I'm trying to pick up drawing again and my body finally allows me to play sports again so I'm doing that to feel better :)
Maybe other countries might be interested? My husband may need to shutter his own business soon, too. He makes electronic gadgets, and most circuit boards and components are shipped from China. We'll probably shut down when our current stock of pre-Trump parts are used up. 😥 Plus I'm spending at least 25% more on groceries; I need to cut back on coffee! I don't know if President Trump realizes or even cares what a mess he's making.
I apologize for the coffee crack. It's not a tragedy and there are a lot of other people who are worse off... I shouldn't be so flippant.
Don't worry about it! I mean the prices of stuff are getting out of hand. I'm afraid he doesn't care :/ And I'm so sorry about your husband.
Ben popped into Stella's kitchen. "Where are all your kids?"
Stella grinned. "They're already sacked out. Mom wore them out."
Ben scoffed, "C'mon, she's like 85! How hard can it be?"
"Why don't you visit her tomorrow? It's about time you were properly introduced."
The next night, Ben was exhausted. "Oh, man! We weeded, mucked out stalls, and turned the compost. And that was just before lunch! Then we picked vegetables, gathered eggs, baked bread, and delivered everything to the food bank. And your Mom was going faster than any of us!"
Stella giggled, "You'll have to learn to keep up!"
That's my kind of girl, Jeannine, keep the feet moving, never stop
There's a lot of older folks like that out here. I hope to be like that when I grow up! 😁
Thanks for Mentioning one of my stories! That was a fantastic Batch, full of amazing work! Well done everyone... 😎
Many thanks Miguel. I consider it an honor to be included in your Micro-Fiction Batch with such talented writers!