Imagine a story where a boy loses his toy. He looks everywhere and finally finds it in a place he least expected. But when he picks it up, it transforms into something magical. This could be a very short story with a surprise ending.
Let's say there's a story of a woman waiting for a bus. A stranger gives her a flower and when she gets home, she discovers a hidden message inside the flower that changes her life completely. That's a short story with a surprise ending.
In a small town, a detective named Sarah was looking into the disappearance of a young girl. All the evidence pointed to a local loner who lived on the outskirts of town. Sarah went to his house to question him. There were strange noises coming from the basement. When she opened the basement door, she expected to find the girl. Instead, she found a group of puppies that the loner had been hiding from an animal control officer who wanted to euthanize them. The real kidnapper was the girl's stepmother who wanted to get rid of her for the inheritance.
Start by laying the groundwork of a seemingly normal story. Build up characters and a plot that leads readers in one direction. Then, in the final moments, introduce an unexpected twist or reveal something that completely changes the perspective.
One could be 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson. It's a short but powerful tale that's often cited in literary discussions.
There's 'The Gift of the Magi' where a couple sacrifices their most precious possessions to buy gifts for each other. It's a classic short story with a heartwarming message. Also, 'The Necklace' is another one where a woman borrows a necklace and has to work hard to replace it after losing it, only to find out it was fake all along.
One example could be 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson. It's a short and powerful tale that packs a punch in just a few pages.
One characteristic is misdirection. The author often leads the reader to expect one thing throughout most of the story. For example, in 'The Gift of the Magi', the reader is following the couple's attempts to get nice gifts for each other without realizing that their efforts will be ironically thwarted. Another characteristic is the sudden revelation. In 'The Necklace', the truth about the necklace being fake comes out of nowhere at the end, completely changing the reader's perception of the story. Also, these stories usually build up tension. In 'The Cask of Amontillado', as Fortunato is led deeper into the catacombs, the sense of unease and tension grows until the final, horrible ending.
One good example is a surprise party. When friends and family secretly plan a party for someone's birthday or a special occasion. The look of shock and joy on the person's face when they walk into a room full of decorated and their loved ones waiting is really wonderful.
There is also 'An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge' by Ambrose Bierce. A Confederate sympathizer is about to be hanged at Owl Creek Bridge. As he is falling, he imagines escaping and making his way back home. But then, suddenly, we find out that his entire escape was just a brief hallucination in the moment before his death, which is a very surprising and somewhat cruel ending.
They often make you think deeper. In a surprise ending story, like 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson, where the lottery turns out to be a brutal stoning event, it forces you to consider the hidden meanings and the darkness that can lurk beneath seemingly normal situations. It's not just about the shock, but also about the new perspectives it offers.
The ending of a very short story is often open to interpretation. It might leave you with a sense of mystery or a sudden realization that packs a punch in a few words.