Written Tales Magazine

Written Tales Magazine

📖 Stories

Meira and the Iron Stove

Short Fiction By Alan Bern

Written Tales's avatar
Written Tales
Jul 10, 2023
∙ Paid

About Written Tales

You can purchase Written Tales Magazine in print or digital format or become a paid subscriber and download your favorite editions. To view our upcoming stories & poems, please visit our publishing schedule calendar.

Refer a friend


“Meira, Meira, come here, my dear one,” Fredo pleaded.

Meira was coughing so she could barely weep: “I don’t like the oven, il forno … even though I love the smells … at times. Even your fornello here, I do not like your stove … I must keep away!”

“Please let me hold you,” Fredo begged.

Meira spoke, “Stove, I cannot bear to hear it as an English word. Did you ever notice that I choose oven instead most of the time?” Meira looked over Fredo’s shoulder. “Fredo, I have said things … I have never told you about that summer … many summers ago in Assisi in 1941, in the middle of the War:

User's avatar

Continue reading this post for free, courtesy of Written Tales.

Or purchase a paid subscription.
© 2026 Written Tales · Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start your SubstackGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture