the best really really short stories

Most of them are highly impactful. They often leave a strong impression on the reader. Like, they might have a twist at the end that completely changes your perception of the whole story, making you think about it long after you've finished reading.

One could be 'A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings'. It's a rather strange and thought - provoking story. It has elements of the magical and the ordinary, making the readers think about how we perceive the different and the unknown in our society.

A short story of friendship could be: 'A woman dropped her books. Another helped. They started chatting and became friends. It shows how a small act can start a friendship.

One really short story could be: 'A man saw a coin on the ground. He picked it up. His day got better.'

Some traditional publishing houses have anthologies for short stories. But they can be quite competitive to get into. Another choice could be local literary journals or small presses that focus on emerging writers and shorter works.

The conciseness. They can convey deep emotions and complex ideas in just a few pages. For example, 'The Necklace' manages to show the power of pride and the consequences of vanity in a short span.

You can find really good really short stories in some literary magazines like 'The New Yorker'. They often publish short fictions of high quality. Also, there are many short story collections in libraries. For example, 'Interpreter of Maladies' by Jhumpa Lahiri contains really good really short stories that explore various themes such as cultural identity and human relationships.

Ray Bradbury is well - known for his short stories too. His works such as 'The Pedestrian' are thought - provoking and very engaging despite their short length. Also, Edgar Allan Poe. His short stories like 'The Tell - Tale Heart' are full of mystery and horror elements, and are considered some of the best in the genre.

You can find them in children's storybooks specifically for bedtime. There are also many websites dedicated to short stories for kids, like Storyberries.

One short bedtime story could be 'The Sleepy Rabbit. A rabbit was so tired after a day of hopping. It found a soft patch of grass and closed its eyes, falling asleep quickly. And that's the story.