Freshmen Makky Mozie and Mary Helen Hood check out several Covid-related six-word stories.

Using only six words on a colorful post-it note, Parrott Academy ninth grade English students have created memorable “flash fiction” in a recent class project. The assignment was posed by teacher Melissa Lambert. “You know the famous legend about Ernest Hemingway? He bet that with merely six words he could suggest a whole story,” Lambert explained. “When his friends took him up on the bet, Hemingway scrawled For sale: baby shoes, never worn. And that was the start of the six-word story.” 

While not all literary historians believe the Hemingway legend, decades of writers have tried to rise to the six-word challenge. Lambert’s freshmen produced stories ranging from frightening to humorous to romantic or philosophical. 

Daksh Galot of Kinston pointed to classmate Tien Le’s offering He screamed from six feet under. Like many of the students, Le used layout or graphic elements to deepen her meaning, with the words six feet under progressing down the page. Aneesah Jayaram’s offering—Patrick wishes he had a nose—mixed mystery and humor. 

“This was my first time trying it, and I think it was pretty fun,” said Samuel Hearon-Isler. His poignant entry, entitled “Undeserving,” reads Despite everything, you’re still with me.  

“In such a short space, you can say so many things and have multiple meanings,” Jalyn Baysden said. Among several Covid-themed offerings, her six-word story stood out: The world is bright. And dark.