The challenge? Write a story in exactly 6 sentences based on Denise’s one word prompt: LEASE. Visit, comment, and write & post your own on SIX SENTENCE STORIES. The Café is open. Come as you are!
Sulei had been hanging around the group of weird kids, watching how the insiders related with one another, how outsiders were treated, how permeable the boundaries were…whether it felt “safe.”
Their interests and events varied, from cosplay to opera, rugby to distance running, Dr. Who before Tom Baker to WWE Wrestling, elaborate cooking adventures to just hanging out around the communal Doritos, Til Chikki, or bagels deep-fried in chicken fat; try or not try, it was mostly your choice.
People drifted in and out, but a core group had remained as the years passed.
Though she’d remained at the edge of their system, Sulei continued to orbit their sun, like Neptune, then Mars, and finally, Venus.
“I’ve been renting space with these people for most of my life,” she reflected, “Maybe it’s time I commit to taking out a lease and make like Mercury. Not quite prepared yet to throw myself fully into Solaris.”
© Liz Husebye Hartmann (2025)
Valley of the Trolls 
Some of us know we are outsiders.
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And with any luck, we find our people, drawing wider and wider circles!
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loved reading it…
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Thank you for stopping by. Glad you enjoyed!
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I can relate to this one!
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High five! 🤛
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What a brilliant line: “make like Mercury. Not quite prepared yet to throw myself fully into Solaris.” This Six is so open to all sorts of stories. Love it.
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Thanks Misky! Some are ever cautiously aloof! 😉
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Choosing one’s friends wisely is a good thing. Being on the peripheral of the group for some time is not easy- it makes me feel like it might be time to move on.
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Perhaps their own preferred distance?
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Wow, that’s fun – going around those planets from the out to the in, but still not committed.
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Yeah., not sure that came across, that weird kid imagery. Thank you, Chris!
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ah! the Outsider!
(’round a certain personality type blog, theres a saying about Outsiders: the abhor being the center of attention but will not tolerate being ignored)
good Six
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😂😂😂Thanks!
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Interesting point: “try or not try, it was mostly your choice.”
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Nice place to be!
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