In 1906, French journalist Félix Fénéon anonymously published more than a thousand true stories of everyday life in the French newspaper Le Matin. Not one of his stories was longer than three lines. The art of creating a vignette that provokes laughter as well as thought in only a matter of words is something we challenged writers to attempt. The following submissions were chosen for their brevity, originality and humour. We hope you enjoy.

For Making Me Cry
By: J.A. TYLER

A student handed me an essay about his mother’s death. It was full of love and tenderness. I cried. Then his mom called in to excuse him for a vacation to Mexico. I hope he gets the shits.

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Keeping in Touch
By: TYLER ENFIELD

When she took pictures of herself tongue-kissing a mirror and sent them to relatives Dana didn't really expect to be disowned. She was just bored and didn't know how to keep the lines of communication open with Grandma and Aunt June without making either of them feel like she was playing favorites.

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The Cave
By: JEREMY HANSON-FINGER

The cave was known for its dark recesses – the kind where, no matter how many times you counted at the end, there was still one less kid in the class.