Five Minutes explores five minutes of a life in one hundred words. Five minutes is edited by Susanna Baird, with editorial support from managing editor Maria s. picone, newsletter editor kate meen, and founding reader bobbi lerman, plus our rotating team of guest readers, who you can meet in the latest newsletteR. Five Minutes was founded in October 2020, with the Salem (Mass.)-based writing group Carrot Cake Writers supplying the journal’s first pieces. We’d love to read your five. Submit here

Perfectly Wed

“Do you see that handsome man over there?” My grandmother nods furtively toward my grandfather at their kitchen table. “He’s asked me to marry him!” My grandfather half smiles into his coffee. They’ve been married for over sixty years. Grandma leans in and places a twenty-dollar bill in my hand. “Here’s some money to arrange things with the minister. For the wedding. Can you?” Moments later, her eyes clear, and a look of concern assails her. She asks, “Did I just say something silly?” Quelling tears, I assure her, “Not at all. You just told me you still love Grandpa.”

Linda Kohler lives in Kaurna Country, South Australia. Her work appears in ScribesMICRO, Bracken Magazine, and elsewhere. lindakohler.com Instagram: @linda_jkohler X: @lindajkohler

The Ending

Anonymous