tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36840439448396783362024-02-01T22:46:36.203-08:00Junk DrawerThe work of Will Wright, Stanley McFarland, Headley Hauser, and Walter Bego - Writers with Go Figure Reads. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04391804489378097489noreply@blogger.comBlogger67125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3684043944839678336.post-81099736556131811752016-03-15T14:31:00.003-07:002016-03-15T14:31:30.761-07:00FictHaus6 Chark's Day<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<b>Clark’s
Day</b></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
by Headley Hauser</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<b>It’s a
January day in 1952. A bespeckled man in a conservative suit steps
gingerly up to a mid-twentieth century sky-scraper, the Daly Planet
building. Although it’s cold, he doesn’t seem to be feeling it.
Wait a moment. He just shivered, but it sure didn’t look like a
natural shiver.</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<b>What is he
thinking?</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<i>Alright, here’s
the door, gently grasp the handle and pull lightly.</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<i>Perfect. That
looked just right.</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<b>Hi Clark! I heard you were on vacation.”</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<b>Hi Sam.
Yeah, I had a slight mishap at my vacation home, so I came back
early.”</b> <i>Why did I ever make my house out of crystals?
Those who live in glass houses shouldn’t compress coal into
diamonds. One little slip and the whole place came down.</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<b>Sorry about that, but welcome back, Clark.”</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<b>Slap!</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<i>Remember to
wince. Sam likes to make people wince when he slaps them on the
back.</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<b>Yup, Clark, back to the old grindstone. Just don’t get your
nose too close!”</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<i>Remember to
laugh. Earthlings expect laughter even about things that aren’t
funny.</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<b>Ding!</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<i>Now the
elevator. Walk slowly; don’t jostle. Let other people run into
you. Don’t crush anyone.</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<b>Somebody hit five for me.”</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<i>Oh no, I’m
next to the panel again. Pushing these buttons is like pressing down
on lily pads without sinking them.</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<b>Seven for me, Buddy.”</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<b>Twelve.”</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<b>Twelve for me, too.”</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<b>Right.”</b>
<i>The twelve button is showing a worn wire behind the panel.
Should I tell someone? If I was alone, I could probably fuse it
myself.</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<b>Twenty-five for me, Kent.”</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<b>Right, Chief.”</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<b>So Kent, We’re looking to have Superman as the Planet’s Man
of the Year for 1951. Can I depend on you for an interview?”</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<b>You want to interview me?”</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<b>Great Caesar’s Ghost, Kent, of course I don’t want to
interview you. I want you to interview the Man of Steel!”</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<i>I wish people didn’t call me that. I sound like a character
from the Wizard of Oz.</i></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<b>Oh, yes, I think I can manage that.”</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<b>Honestly, Kent, sometimes I wonder where your mind goes.”</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<b>Bing!</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<b>Let me by, will ya Buddy?”</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<b>Right.”</b>
<i>Step slowly back a half step. Don’t land on somebody’s foot
or dent the wall. I wish the shaft wasn’t lead-lined. I can’t
see a thing outside, and everyone in this elevator is showing early
signs of lead poisoning.</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<i>Oh no, Jimmy!</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<b>Hey, Chief! Hi, Mister Kent!”</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<b>Olson, what are you doing on the fifth floor?”</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<b>I wanted to ask Angie in classifieds if this ad for stuffing
envelopes is on the up and up.”</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<b>Of course it’s not, Olson. Those things never are.”</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<b>Then why do we advertise for them in the Planet.”</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<b>Don’t be impertinent, Olson.”</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<b>Oh, Mister Kent, Mister Boyle says he can’t repair your
typewriter this time. You’ll have to requisition a new one.”</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<i>Please stop talking, Jimmy! Why can’t you ever stop talking?</i></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<b>What’s this, Kent!”</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<b>Oh, I had a little problem with the keys.”</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<b>I’ll say, Mister Kent! The whole side of the carriage is
busted! How’d you manage to do that?”</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<b>Bing!</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<i>What’s this?
Someone is pushing me from behind. Is it an attack by a
super-villain? Maybe I should… No, just a rude guy.</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<b>Outa the way, folks. This is my stop.”</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<b>I don’t know who you are, but if you work on the 7</b><sup><b>th</b></sup><b>
floor, you work for me! Walk around!”</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<b>Yes Sir, Mr. White.”</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<b>Golly gee, Chief. You sure scared him!”</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<b>I wish I could scare you into doing your job, Jimmy, instead of
your cockamamie want ad schemes.”</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<b>Well, gee, Mister White. You could pay me a little more.”</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<b>You think I’m made of money, Olsen! And Kent, I’m not made
of type-writers either. Stop ruining the equipment!”</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<b>Sorry, Chief.”</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<b>Sorry doesn’t feed the bull dog.”</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<b>Gee Chief. Don’t blame Mister Kent. He types like a
thousand words a minute.”</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<b>Don’t be ridiculous, Olsen. Nobody types a thousand words a
minute.”</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<b>Mister Kent does. I’ve seen it. He typed a whole page in
seconds.”</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<i>Jimmy always
shows up at the worst times. If only I could make him forget the
things he sees. Maybe I could learn hypnotism and do it at super
speed. I’ll take a class and sell Mr. White on a story about the
subject.</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<b>Olsen, I’ve heard about enough from you, today. Next you’ll
be telling me that Kent was flying through the air like Superman.”</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<b>Well, once I thought…”</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<i>Jimmy and Mr.
White is a dangerous combination. Maybe a little heat vision under
Mr. White’s collar will do the trick. Not too much. People are
starting to doubt that spontaneous human combustion excuse.</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<b>Be quiet, Olsen!”</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<b>Ulp. Right, Chief.”</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<i>No matter how
scared Jimmy is of Mr. White, he can’t stop talking all the way up
to the 23</i><sup><i>rd</i></sup><i> floor. If only I could just fly
to work. If I flew fast enough, would anyone see me? If I flew
faster than atoms collide, could I fly through my office window
without breaking the glass? I should ask Professor Einstein next
time I see him.</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<i>Why bother.
Even if I could, Jimmy would probably be in my office looking for a
paper clip or something. Would it be such a bad thing to be a few
seconds late next time Jimmy needs saving?</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<b>Bing!</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<b>I’ll be getting off, here, Mr White.”</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<b>What business do you have in legal, Kent!”</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<i>Ah, time for my blanket excuse that Mr. White always buys.</i>
<b>“I’m doing a favor for Superman.”</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<b>Well then, go right ahead.”</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<b>See ya later, Mister Kent!”</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<b>Olsen, I thought I told you to be quiet.”</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<b>Right Chief.”</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<i>Jimmy won’t
be quiet though. Maybe if I… Whoa! Check out the skeleton on
that secretary!</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<b>Hey, Fella. We work here on twelve. We’d sure love to help
Superman.”</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<b>Uh, no thanks. I’m just going to take the stairs.”</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<b>I get it. You don’t want to ride all the way up with the
boss.”</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<b>Something like that.”</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<b>Don’t blame ya, Fella. I wouldn’t want to be around Mr.
White much either, but say hello to Superman for us, will ya?”</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<b>I sure will.”</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<i>Alright,
lightly grasp the door handle, twist slightly and pull gently. Well,
at least nobody’s in the stairwell, but it’s hard to see through
all this lead paint. I have to walk slowly and remember to breathe
heavier as I go. Maybe I should start to show symptoms of lead
poisoning. When’s the last time I pretended to catch a cold? I
should have marked it on my calendar.</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<i>It’s not even
nine AM, and I’m already a nervous wreck. Anyone who thinks it’s
great to be super should see how many buttons I have to sew after
changing to superman in super speed. Maybe I can do that tonight.</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<i>No, tonight
Superman’s got a date with Lois. She says she wants to introduce
more passion into the relationship. How do I do that without turning
her into a red smear on the wall?</i></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<i>I should ask
around at the next Justice League meeting. Maybe Wonder Woman or
that Lantern guy can recommend a more durable planet.</i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04391804489378097489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3684043944839678336.post-65348238619993181102015-11-17T19:16:00.004-08:002015-11-17T19:16:38.080-08:00FictMcfa7 Unintended Consequences<div align="CENTER" lang="en" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Unintended Consequences</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> by Stanley McFarland</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<br /><br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
“<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span lang="en">Here, raise your
head,” he said as he held a bundle of long grass to support my
neck.</span></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
“<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">We should call...”</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">"Your phone was in the truck."</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span lang="en">I looked over at the
flaming wreck that was once my F-150.</span></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
“<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">You don't know how much freedom
your mortality gives you.”</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">I took a few moments to let those
words soak in. I'd just seen this... person pull me out of a fire
that had engulfed my truck. I was almost certainly dead if not for
him. I was lying in prairie grass by the side of hwy 2 in northern
Montana. He was squatting there and staring at me. I was in
surprisingly little pain though barely modest as much of my clothing
had burned away.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">He wasn't hurt at all. His clothes
were untouched. He didn't even smell like smoke. He looked and
seemed the same as he had when I had picked him up hitchhiking
outside of Cheyenne.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">"You need medical assistance,"
he said. "You're about to go into shock. Nobody's likely to
come down the road this late at night."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">"Maybe you could carry me?"
I asked.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">"The last town was what, ten
miles back?" he asked. "I have no idea how far the next
one is. I don't think you'd survive that."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">"Oh," I said, unable to
think of anything else to say.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span lang="en">"You see,"
he told me, "the problem is the law of unintended consequences.
Rescuing you from the fire was instinct. They rarely blame you for
that as long as your reaction is benign in nature. Now I have time
to make choices, to think things through. That makes everything more
complicated."</span></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">"Maybe somebody will come by,"
I said.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">"Maybe," he agreed, "but
unlikely. I can't base my choices on unfounded hope."</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span lang="en">I couldn't think of
anything to say, or rather I had too many thoughts to pick one. I
wanted to plead with him for my life. I wanted to ask him what kind
of person isn't touched by fire. Was he an alien, a superhero, a
mutant, a god? Were there more like him hitchhiking the prairies and
foothills?</span></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">He stood, knuckling his back as he
straightened just like any sixtyish human man might. Whatever his
powers might be, they didn't include super-dry-cleaning. His jacket
and pants were rumpled. He had what looked like a coffee stain on
one sleeve. Then again, maybe he did have dry-cleaning power, but
using it might lead to his unintended consequences.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">"No," he said as if I'd
asked him a question, and I wondered if he'd read my mind. "No
lights that I can see, no houses. Left alone, you'll be dead in a
couple hours or less."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">"Bad luck," I said,
thinking it was an incredibly stupid thing to say, but the only thing
that would come out.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">"Yeah," he agreed.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">"So..." I asked, "You
can heal me?"</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">"Yup."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">"But you're afraid to?"</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">He dropped back down to sit on the
verge, hugging his knees in front of him. "I'm not afraid,
exactly. It's not like anyone will do anything to me if I do."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">"Well, I'm for it," I
said.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">He laughed. "Good to know."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">"Maybe it would help if we talk
it out."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">He reached into his pocket and
pulled out a pack of gum. "You want a piece?" he asked.
"The chewing might help you stay with it."</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span lang="en">I nodded my head
weakly and he unwrapped a piece of perfectly normal Wrigley's -also
undamaged by the fire - and put it in my mouth for me. I wondered
why he didn’t just hand it to me; then realized that one of my
hands was clenched like a claw while the other was red and swollen.
I could only feel the swollen one which throbbed horribly.</span></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">"The thing is," he said,
"that even talking it out is a choice that leads to unintended
consequences." I must have grimaced because he paused and
looked at me.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">"A lotta pain?" he asked.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">"Yeah," I said.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span lang="en">"I can do
something about that." He laid a finger on my forehead. It
reminded me of the movie ET only his finger didn't glow or anything;
the pain just stopped.</span></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">"Better?" he asked.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">"Thanks."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">"It'll come back," he
warned me. "Just let me know."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">"So stopping pain doesn't have
unintended consequences?"</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">"I suppose it does," he
said, "but they're rarely worse than letting somebody suffer."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">"Oh," I said, stupidly.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">"You see," he told me,
"the way you're wired, the pain is suppose to tell you that you
got a problem and where it is. You're not likely to forget that even
when the pain stops, so it's not like I'm stopping your body from
doing its job."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">"Makes sense," I replied.
"What about keeping me from going into shock?"</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span lang="en">"That's more
complicated. Giving you gum, making you comfortable, and elevating
your head are all things that any of your people might do, but beyond
that..." He shook his head.</span></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">"I see," I said and
contemplated the choice between dying now, and surviving horribly
disfigured and probably one-armed. How much of what I did with my
life would have to change?</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">"What if I promised never to
tell?" I asked.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">He smiled and shook his head. "I'll
never understand you people and your promises. You know that they're
worse than useless, don't you? A bad person's not going change his
behavior just because he makes a promise; a good person won't either,
but the weight of that promise is going to bog him down."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">"I don't understand."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">"A good person," he
explained, "is going to break his promise if he has a good
reason to do it, but he'll carry a load of guilt for it. If he's
forced to do it enough times, the load of guilt will get so heavy
that he'll either get depressed..."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">"Or sear his conscience?"</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">"Exactly," he said. "You
see, you people know how destructive your promises are, but you still
make them. Please don't make me any promises. That's one
consequence I want nothing to do with."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Though it was a warm night, my teeth
started chattering. I spit out my gum so I didn't swallow it.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">"Forgive me," he said. "I
wasn't thinking." He took off his jacket and laid it over me,
tucking it under my arms."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">"Better?" he asked.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">"A little," I manage to
say.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">"It's going to have to do,"
he said. "There's nothing left in the truck."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">"I'm going into shock, aren't
I?"</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">"'fraid so."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">"So what have you decided to
do?"</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">"Ease your pain," he said,
and he reached his finger over to touch my forehead.</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">*</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span lang="en">I woke up in a
hospital bed. A deputy sheriff was staring down at me.</span></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">"There you are," he said
smiling.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">"Huh?" was all I could
answer.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">"It's the drugs," said the
deputy. "You'll be a little stupid the next few days, but I
gotta tell you, you are the damned luckiest son-of-a-bitch I ever did
see!"</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">"Wha'?"</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">"You'll have a few scars to
remember it, but you're gonna be fine."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">"Oh."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">"But I oughta cite you,"
said the deputy.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">"Wha'?"</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">"We got a seatbelt law in
Montana. No way you got out in time if you was buckled."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">I knew I'd buckled my seatbelt, but
I wasn't going to argue.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">"One thing I can't figure,"
said the deputy.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">"Huh?"</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span lang="en">"Your jacket.
How'd your jacket come out of it like that? It ain’t even
scorched."</span></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">I looked where he was pointing and
saw my rescuer's jacket hanging from the back of a chair.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">"Oh, I helped myself to a stick
of gum," said the deputy. "I hope you don't mind."</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span lang="en">"No
consequence," I mumbled.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="CENTER" lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<br /><br />
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04391804489378097489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3684043944839678336.post-24946743298607948602015-10-20T16:02:00.004-07:002015-10-20T16:02:46.867-07:00FictHaus4 Tender Vitals<div align="CENTER" lang="en" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Tender Vitals</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" lang="en" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> by Headley Hauser</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" lang="en" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" lang="en" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Look!" said Dander. "There it is again.
They named a candy after you, Skittles!"</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Skittles pouted. "It's not named for me. There
are lots of fairies named Skittles."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"But not near this Seven Eleven! Look, some of the
candies are green like your eyes, some of them are yellow like your
teeth, and some of them are red like the color your cheeks get when
you're angry."</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en">"Stay back in the flower bed!"
scolded Skittles. "A human will see you - or worse, a cat!"</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en">Dander gave a little jump at the mention
of the C word. There were a lot more of them now, and they weren't
staying in houses and getting fed small cans of meat and meat
byproducts; they were out hunting for birds, rodents... and fairies!</span></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"A-ha!" laughed Skittles, "worried about
your tender vitals, I see."</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en">"The humans never should have named
their cat food that. The cans turn every content house tabby into a
fairy hunter."</span></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"The humans named the cat food Vittles," said
Skittles.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Close enough!"</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"And they don't think cats can read, or even
understand their language."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"They don't think cats can read," said Dander.
"They don't think cats can turn door knobs, or drive an SUV, or
load and fire an M16. Humans aren't very bright."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Most cats prefer Uzis. They're easier to carry."</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en">"It's not like the old days when we
twitched our wings and flew out of the cat’s reach."</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en">Skittles bobbed her antennae. "It's
hard to out-jump a nine millimeter bullet traveling at four hundred
meters per second."</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en">"I'll give the humans one thing,"
said Dander, "Their veterinarians help slow the rate of
fairy-folk genocide."</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en">"Yeah,” said Skittles. “They
get those cats right in the bob-o-links.” Like most fairies,
Skittles chose her euphemisms from among the names of small flowers
and birds.</span></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Shush," said Dander in a whisper. "There's
a calico at five o'clock."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"What's she packing?"</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en">"It looks like a Kalashnikov."</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en">The two fairies hid among the marigolds.
Marigold scent was unpleasant, but it masked their fairy airy from
the hunting feline. The cat must have heard them, or seen movement
because she was staring at the marigolds. Three banana clips hung
from the cat's collar, and she wore a small medal with the word,
"Neverland" inscribed at the top. This was no casual
Sylvester, but seasoned campaigner. A lot of Tink's best fairies
bought it in the catastrophe of '07.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en">A mole scampered across the path,
catching the cat's attention. The calico released the Russian-made
automatic weapon's safety and followed after the small rodent.</span></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"You know," said Dander after the danger had
passed, "maybe we fairy-folk should consider a new career as
house pets."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Like the canaries? You want to live in a cage?"</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"We could avoid cages by using a litter box, and
making ourselves useful. We could help them find their house keys
after the imps steal them. They might even feed us Skittles!"</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en">"Very funny," said Skittles,
"but count me out. Humans claim to love their pets but how is
it that the world is filled with homeless cats? Remember what
happened to Charlotte’s 4H friend, the pig. Instead of feeding us
sweets, the humans are more likely to feed our Tender Vitals to their
cats."</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
“<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en">You’re right,” said Dander. “We
should stick to fairy stuff. You go paint a water stain of the
Virgin Mary on that Seven Eleven, and I’ll grab the candy while
the humans are staring at it.”</span></span></div>
<br />
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04391804489378097489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3684043944839678336.post-54641933313963506652015-10-14T08:08:00.000-07:002015-10-14T08:08:35.565-07:00FictWrig9 Bease<div align="CENTER" lang="en" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Bease</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.5in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">by Will Wright</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en">I rarely criticized Bease's taste in
girls. Claudia was gorgeous, and unlike many beautiful girls, she
never had an unkind word for anybody. Maybe that's why Bease hoped
she'd go out with him. Most of the girls in our school kept their
distance from Bease. One told me she wouldn't spit on Bease ‘cause
he might think she was trying to kiss him. Though awkward, and
perpetually lovesick, Bease remained irrepressibly hopeful.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en">Bease's real name was Thomas. He'd been
Bease since second grade when Jeremy Del Clate noticed that his
scrunched-up features and thick glasses made him look a little like
Mrs. Beasley, the doll that the little girl, Buffy carried on the
show, Family Affair.</span></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Nine years later, only his mother and Principal Pappel
called him Thomas. Once I heard his Mom slip and call him Bease. If
the name bothered him, he didn't show it. All Bease seemed to care
about was finding a girlfriend. He'd been that way back before most
guys even wanted girls around.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Claudia is nice," said Bease.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"That's true," I said. It was my policy to be
honest with Bease. If he asked me if Claudia would go out with him,
I'd tell him no, but I couldn't deny that she seemed like a nice
person.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"And she doesn't have a boyfriend," he added.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"That's true, too," I said. As a matter of
fact, I'd never seen Claudia with any guy. She didn't seem to be
into girls either. She was always there, looking gorgeous, pleasant
to all who spoke to her, but almost always alone.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en">I don't know about the other guys, but
the reason I stayed clear of Claudia was because I found her
intimidating. Any girl that nice and that good-looking was too good
for me. I wondered if she was alone because other guys felt the same
way.</span></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"I think she's lonely," said Bease.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en">"Could be," I admitted, though
it hadn't occurred to me until that moment.</span></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"She's like me," said Bease.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"She likes you?"</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"No, she is like me."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Bease," I said, "how in the world is
Claudia Diamente like you?"</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Well, we're both lonely."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Bease, Buddy, you're doing it again. You're
setting yourself up for another heart-break. Claudia will not go out
with you."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Why not?"</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Because she's gorgeous!"</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"And she's lonely - like me."</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en">I might as well have saved my breath.
Once Bease got it into his mind that a girl might like him, nothing
stopped him short of crushing rejection. I'd been there to watch the
inevitable disaster enough times to know, girls at school, girls in
the neighborhood, the lifeguard at the pool, the girl at the pet
shop.</span></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Bease had a cage full of canaries from the summer he
pursued Kaitlin from the pet shop. Kaitlin, two years older and a
bird lover, was friendly to Bease longer than any other crush,
largely because she couldn't believe that such a pathetic guy had any
hope that she might be interested.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en">Hope was a commodity Bease had in
abundance. Perhaps he had so much hope that there was no room left
for common sense. I mean, he still wrote letters for heaven’s
sake, but he only got one written reply. It was a stern letter from
Emma Watson's agent telling him that Miss Watson was in a committed
relationship and asking him to please stop sending her lyrics to love
songs he had written.</span></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Bease showed me one of his songs. It was predictably
awkward, but I give him credit for finding so many phrases that rhyme
with Hermione.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">You had to figure with so many crushes that several of
them must have overlapped. Could a guy be madly in love with two or
three girls at the same time? For all his social failings, Bease had
more capacity for love than any other guy I knew.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">And that's how he was until one Sunday when he got
involved with a female that was happy to love him back.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Her name was Stargirl; at least that was her name after
Bease named her. Stargirl was a stray cat that must have lived with
people sometime because when Bease called to her, she ambled right up
to him. Stargirl was a gray tabby with a torn ear, two-thirds of a
tail, and a sore on her side that didn't look good at all.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">It didn't smell good either, or maybe that was
Stargirl's natural scent.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Really, Bease?" I asked as he picked up the
putrid cat.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"She likes me!"</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"She'd like you to feed her."</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en">Bease held the cat towards me. Stargirl
hissed. "No," said Bease, "It's me. She likes me."</span></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">A smelly half-hour later, the cat was still attached to
Bease even though he hadn't fed her anything.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"All right," I agreed. "She likes you,
but she's still an ugly, stinky cat. You should take her to a
shelter."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"They'd kill her in the shelter!"</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"They might be doing her a favor."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Don't say that."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"You can't keep her, you know. You've got a cage
full of canaries, and isn't your Mom allergic to cats?."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Yeah," said Bease, rubbing his face into the
cat's putrid coat. "Hey! we can keep her at your house!"</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"No, Bease. I'm not having that stinky cat
anywhere near where I eat, or sleep, or... brush my teeth."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Well I can't just let her go."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Why not?" I asked. "She was on her own
until today; she'll be fine. Cat's do great in the wild."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Not this one," said Bease as he pulled out
the tail of his shirt to wipe the puss off the cat's smelly wound.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en">"Look - the cat doesn't even like
me. Even if I was willing to keep her, she'd just run away."
Stargirl gave me a look that I'm pretty sure was the cat equivalent
to, Up yours, Fella.</span></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Aw," said Bease. "There's just gotta be
a way."</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en">You'd think somebody who'd been told,
"No way," by so many girls would stop believing that there
had to be a way. I breathed a little easier. The last thing I
wanted at my house was a typhoid feline that hated my guts. If I
wanted someone around who hated me, I could ask Mr. Learishaw, the
gym teacher to live at my house. He'd probably hang a rope from my
basketball hoop just to make me climb it all the time.</span></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Claudia," said Bease.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"She won't go out with you, Dude."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"No, but she's the answer."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"What's the question?"</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"I'll give Stargirl to Claudia! Stargirl will have
a good home, and Claudia will love me!"</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I know it was cruel, but I couldn't help it. I laughed.
"Bease, please! Think for a minute."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"That's the answer," said Bease. He must have
been talking to himself because he was ignoring me, lost in his
hopeful fantasy.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Bease, are you hearing me? Claudia is not going
to want a diseased stray! She's going to think you're weird or sick,
maybe both."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"I'll do it at school tomorrow!"</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en">"Bease, you can't bring a cat to
school! At least not unless it's dead and soaked in formaldehyde,
which," I sniffed at Stargirl and nearly got a claw across my
face, "this cat almost qualifies. But you don't want to give
the girl you like an animal to dissect in Bio. Nobody does that,
Bease!"</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en">"I just need a place to put you for
one night," he said to the cat as she licked his nose.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en">Then both Bease and the cat looked at
me. I swear, they did it together like some grotesque dance routine.
One moment they were staring into each other's eyes, and then they
moved in unison to point four eyeballs at me. For one eerie moment,
they looked related.</span></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"No, Man! I told you. I don't want a cat in my
house! I don't like this cat. I don't like the way she smells. I
don't even like healthy cats that aren't trying to scratch my eyes
out. There is no way I'm running a hotel for diseased hell cats."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I was as firm as I knew how to be. That's why two hours
later I was moving boxes and junk in the basement.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en">I'm not sure if it was the sound of
moving boxes or the yowling and hissing that brought Mom down.</span></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"What is going on down here?"</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I was doing my best to coral Stargirl into a corner. I
didn't want her wandering around all night. Cats, I was learning,
were not easy to contain.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Is that a cat?" asked Mom.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Yeah," I said, "but it might also be an
evil zombie."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"What is he doing here?"</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"She actually. Mom meet Stargirl."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"You got a cat without asking? You don't even like
cats!"</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"I don't want her, Mom. Bease picked her up from
the street. He's going to give her to a girl at school."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Oh... Surely not."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"That's his plan."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Mom stared at Stargirl, taking in her numerous
deficiencies. "Your friend," she said at last. "It
just breaks your heart."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I suppose it's possible that Mom's heart was breaking
for Stargirl, but I think it was more likely for Bease, who never
seemed to find a reasonable way of showing his affection for girls.
Never-the-less, Mom applied her considerable compassion on the stinky
hell cat, cleaning her wound, combing her fur, making every effort to
make Stargirl less hideous.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">For her part, Stargirl didn't hiss at Mom or try to
scratch her as she did with me. Maybe the can of tuna had something
to do with that.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Bease was jumping up and down when I answered the door
next morning. He didn't need to pee; he was excited.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Where is she?"</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Down in the basement."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"She didn't sleep with you?"</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I didn't have to answer. Bease was already bounding
down the basement stairs. I heard Stargirl make a hideous sound that
might have been hell cat for 'where have you been?" Moments
later Bease was running back up the stairs with Stargirl mounted
triumphantly on his shoulder.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Even after all of Mom's work the night before, the cat
looked disgusting, but she was a happy disgusting, that was clear.
She and Bease had made a connection. I shook my head. There was no
way this was going to end well.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en">We ended up walking to school because
even Bease recognized that Grundy the bus driver wouldn’t let
Stargirl on her bus.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en">Jeremy Del Clate, the top jock in our
school, and the class Romeo pulled over his Mercedes convertible when
he saw us. In many ways, Jeremy, who had given Bease his nickname,
was the anti-Bease. Girls swooned over him. Freshman year, he had
taken three dates to the same dance, and none of them complained.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en">I hated him. I don't know how Bease
felt. Jeremy was always a jerk to him, but Bease's focus never
strayed from the current girl of his dreams. I wasn't even sure he
noticed Jeremy.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en">Maybe that's why Jeremy was such an ass
with Bease. Jeremy didn't like being ignored.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en">"What's that on your shoulder,
Bease," he asked, "VD of the esophagus?" Not content
to hurl an insult and drive on, Jeremy slowed his German status
symbol to our walking pace.</span></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"This is Stargirl," said Bease. "I found
her yesterday."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"How, was it clogging your plumbing?"</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"No," said Bease, looking unannoyed and still
walking purposely towards school. "She just walked up to me."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"So you're putting her back?"</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"No, we're bringing her to school."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Jeremy shot me a look of amused contempt. Unlike Bease,
I was not immune to scorn. It was so unfair. I wasn't bringing
Stargirl to school. I was just there for moral support. But if I
said that in front of Bease, that wouldn't have been very supportive,
so I just kept my mouth shut and tried to think of at least one
snappy come-back I could hurl at Jeremy.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Hey Bease," said Jeremy. "I think the
road kill is supposed to be dead before you dissect it."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Alright, I felt a little ashamed there. I had had
almost the same thought the day before, and as embarrassing as it was
being Bease's best friend, there was no way I wanted to be like
Jeremy!</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Half a mile from the school parking lot, Jeremy finally
pulled away. "He's probably gone to make trouble for you,
Bease," I said. "You're really not supposed to bring pets
to school."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"I'm just bringing Stargirl to Claudia."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"And what if Claudia doesn't want her?"</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en">Stargirl's head, previously resting on
Bease's chest as she rode his shoulder, rose up to look Bease in the
eye. "How could Claudia not want her?" he asked.</span></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I had a lot of answers to that question, but I knew
Bease, and my answers wouldn't mean a thing to him - if he even heard
them. I was there for moral support. Bease wasn't looking for
advice.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en">By the time we got to school, Jeremy had
raised a small welcoming committee. Nine or ten guys - mostly jocks,
gave us a mock cheer as we walked onto the grounds.</span></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Is that your girlfriend, Bease?" asked Jordan
Strong.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Maybe it's his sister," said a kid I didn't
know.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en">Just as Bease was deaf to unwanted
advice, he seemed not to hear abuse either. He looked happy and
proud as he marched through the gauntlet, up the steps, and into the
school. With Stargirl firmly attached to his shoulder, he walked by
the school office as if he had nothing to hide. If it had been me,
Vice Principals would have streamed out of the office, zip tied my
arms and legs, and carried me off to permanent detention.</span></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">With Bease, nobody said a word. I wondered what the
homeroom teacher would say, when Claudia came around the corner.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Hey, Claudia!" said Bease.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Hello, Bease," said Claudia.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"What?" said Jeremy, who I hadn't realized was
right behind me. "Is he hitting on Claudia now? Nobody's good
enough for her!"</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"She turn you down, Jeremy?"</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"I caught her on a bad day."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Claudia was still talking to Bease, but I couldn't hear
what they were saying. Bease was holding Stargirl, and Claudia was
petting the cat hesitantly.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">At least Stargirl wasn't hissing or biting.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"He brought a stupid cat to impress a girl!"
said Jeremy. "What a Beasely!"</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">That's when Claudia kissed Bease - not on the forehead,
or even the cheek, but right on the mouth!</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"What?" said Jeremy. "She's just being
nice."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Claudia is nice," I agreed.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Claudia took the stinky cat from Bease's arms, and you
would have thought she'd been given an academy award, she looked so
happy. The two of them - no three of them walked off as if there
were in a world of their own.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Uh," said Jeremy.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"What can I tell you, Jeremy," I replied.
"Some guys got it."</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en">Stargirl looked near dead the Sunday
Bease found her, but it was eight years later when she finally passed
peacefully away. I was there with Claudia and Tom (Claudia got
everyone to stop calling him Bease,) and their two children (who
thankfully resembled their mother,) as they laid her to rest in their
back yard.</span></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Bease was still girl crazy, but his affection was
limited to four girls now, Claudia, his little girls Leia and Uhura,
and Novagirl, a cat they kept from Stargirl's last litter.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Like her mother, Novagirl smelled bad and hissed
whenever I came near. I didn't mind.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en">I'd learned never to criticize Bease's
taste in girls.</span></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<br />
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04391804489378097489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3684043944839678336.post-19174845246427376172015-10-09T17:16:00.003-07:002015-10-09T17:16:51.826-07:00FictMcFa7 How Nana Saw Lima Beans<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
How
Nana Saw Lima Beans</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
by Stanley McFarland</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
It was Nana who taught me the right way to view people, and it all
started with lima beans.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
Nana had come to live with us when I was a kid, and early on it
became clear that I would have to adjust my behavior.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Lima beans?” I shouted one day. “I hate lima beans!”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Don’t say hate,” said Nana calmly. “It’s a word you
should use with great discretion. Say that you don’t care for lima
beans.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“But I do care about lima beans,” I said, being a smart-mouthed
eleven-year-old. “I really hate them.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Hate is a word for extremes,” said Nana. “You might say that
you hate fascism, or genocide, but you should never use the word with
people, and it is simply ridiculous to say you hate a food just
because its taste doesn’t agree with you.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Wait,” I said, thinking I had caught her, “you say I shouldn’t
hate people?”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“That is correct.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“But it was people that created fascism, and people who committed
genocide.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“That’s true.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“So if Hitler were alive today, it would be wrong to say that I
hate him?”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“It would.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“How does that make any sense?”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“It’s all a matter of seeing things from a higher perspective.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“You mean, like… God?”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Certainly.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
Being a pre-adolescent know-it-all, I stopped listening right there.
I didn’t go to church, and neither did Nana. I wasn’t about to
listen to a sermon about Hitler and lima beans.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
But she got me thinking. How would seeing things from God’s
perspective make a bad person seem any better? For that matter, what
WAS God’s perspective?</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
I imagined being a thousand feet tall. My head was so high that I
had to stoop to avoid low-hanging clouds. Below me were swarms of
tiny people that I’d step on if I closed my eyes. These tiny
people were like ants to me. Would I care if one ant killed another
ant, or thousands of other ants? Was that what Nana meant?</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
I liked the idea, especially about stepping on people I didn’t
like, but I was pretty sure that wasn’t what she was talking about.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
The next day as school we got back our science tests. I got a D
minus. Mr. Hubble just didn’t like me; that’s why I failed. I
imagined God as this giant brain. He would look down on Mr. Hubble
and say, “Do you think you know science? You know NOTHING! You
fail, Mr. Hubble!”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
The thought made me smile, but as I pondered it, I realized that God
wouldn’t say that. For one thing, he would call Mr. Hubble by his
first name.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
Weeks passed without me thinking about it much. Nobody told me why
Nana had moved in with us, but I noticed that she was moving slower
and getting skinnier. Finally she went into the hospital. When we
went to see her she looked terrible. She had a tube in her arm and
she was coughing a lot. I hated seeing her like that.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
I didn’t say anything because I remembered what Nana said about the
word, hate. Instead, I decided I wouldn’t go back to the hospital.
I’d just wait until Nana got better. I made every excuse I could
think of over the next week when Mom asked if I wanted to go see
Nana. Every time I thought about the way she looked I got the
creeps.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
One night at dinner Dad announced that as soon as we were through we
would all get into the car and visit Nana.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“I better stay home,” I said. “I still have homework, and I’m
failing science.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“You can bring your homework with you,” said Dad.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“But I don’t want to go,” I said more honestly. Mom looked
like she was about to cry and left the table. She’d hardly eaten
anything.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Stanley,” my father said after she’d left, “you know your
Nana has cancer.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“I know she’s sick,” I said.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“It’s worse than that. She’s not going to get better.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“She’s going to die?”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Yes, and soon. Tonight might be the last time you ever see her.
It’s important for you to tell her that you love her. And it’s
important that you be there for your mother. Nana is her mother and
this is very hard on her.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Um… okay,” I said.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
My older sister, Stacey took my hand. “I’ll stay with you,”
she whispered.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
The nurses on Nana’s floor insisted that only two people see Nana
at a time. Mom and Stacey went in first. As they opened the door, I
could see Nana on the bed. She looked like a skeleton with tubes not
only in her arm, but in her nose, and a mask over her mouth.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“When Stacey comes out, Stanley, you go in.” Dad wasn’t using
his angry voice, but it was clear he didn’t want any argument from
me. I sat on a plastic couch and stared at the cover of a magazine.
All I could see was Nana. I didn’t want to go in that door.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
I don’t know how long Stacey was in there. It felt like both
forever and not nearly long enough.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Stanley,” said Dad, “you go in now.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“I can’t,” I said.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“You can and you will.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
I just turned and walked away. I could hear Dad get up from his
chair, and then Stacey’s voice say, “I’ll go with him.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
I kept walking and moments later Stacey was walking beside me. We
didn’t speak – just walked. The hospital consisted of several
buildings tacked together with walkways. We left one building and
entered another. We ended up in pediatrics and stopped in the
viewing room.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Look at the babies!” said Stacey, stepping up to the glass.
There were five babies in normal bassinettes. Three of them had pink
blankets, and two had blue. There was also a bulky machine with a
window in the top. Inside the machine was a tiny wrinkled baby. I
didn’t know if it was a boy or a girl because there was no blanket
in the machine. The baby wore a mask with a tube in its nose and
another tube in its arm.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
Just like Nana.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Is it going to die?” I asked Stacey.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“I don’t think so,” she said.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Why not?”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“I don’t think they’d have her out here if she was in danger.
She’s just a little premature.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“How do you know it’s a she?”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
Stacey pointed to a name card on the machine. It said, “Dora
Mitchell, 3lbs 5oz 3/7/70. Tiny Dora was three days old and still
looked like a pink raisin. I shook my head. “Those poor parents.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“I don’t know,” said Stacey.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“What do you mean, you don’t know? Look at her!”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“She looks bad,” Stacey agreed, “but she’s alive, and she’ll
probably look a lot better in a couple of weeks. Dora’s parents
are probably thrilled to have a daughter. Daughters are much better
than sons, you know,” and Stacey poked me in the ribs.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
Together we walked back to Nana’s wing and instead of dread, I
thought about tiny Dora and what my sister said about her parents.
Maybe that’s what Nana meant when she spoke of seeing things
through a higher perspective. My mind was in a muddle. I felt like
I was thinking too much and not at all. My head hurt, but I wasn’t
afraid anymore.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
When I walked into Nana’s room she looked just as bad as she had
before. The machine by her bed made hissing noises like something
out of a horror movie. I still saw all that stuff but I concentrated
on Nana’s eyes. They were still the same eyes they’d always been
when she teased me, or played cribbage with me. I cradled her hand
in mine and she gave my thumb a little squeeze. Through her
breathing mask it looked like she was smiling.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“I love you, Nana,” I said.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
She died a few hours later.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
I still get angry with people. I get frustrated or afraid, but
sometimes I remember that lesson I learned from Nana. I look at the
person I’m having trouble with and I see a baby. Babies get sick;
they get cranky, grabby, even mean, but because they are babies, they
are lovable.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
But I still don’t care for lima beans, and I hate cancer.</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
I don’t think Nana would mind me saying that.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04391804489378097489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3684043944839678336.post-40857938234627060412015-09-30T08:08:00.003-07:002015-09-30T08:08:52.002-07:00FictMcfa8 Plant<div align="CENTER" lang="en" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Plant</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" lang="en" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> by Stanley McFarland</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" lang="en" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" lang="en" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Leif curled against the cold. His circulation was
sluggish. He drooped. His energy was low. Moisture flowed so
slowly up the stem that it almost stopped. Were it not for the dew
gathering across his body, he might have wilted.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Will it freeze?" asked Brother. "Will
there be frost?"</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"There will be if this night doesn't end,"
said Neighbor.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"The night must end," said Leif. "The
night always ends."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Always?" asked Blossom. "What is
always? I have seen the night end twice. Twice is not always."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"We are much older, Blossom," said Leif. "We
have seen the sun again and again. The night always ends."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Though sometimes the cold doesn't end," said
Brother.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Or there are clouds," said Neighbor.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"But the night ends," said Leif.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"It ends?" asked Blossom sounding vulnerable.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"It ends," answered Leif more confidently than
he truly was. What if he was wrong? What if this time, the sun did
not rise in the sky? What if it was eaten by a beast, or a great
bug, or even a caterpillar?</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Just the same," said Blossom, "I will
keep my petals tight."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">That would not save you if the night never ends, thought
Leif, though he said nothing. There was no point. If the sun was
eaten, or if it wandered to another garden, there would be no hope.
There would be nothing but cold and death.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Brother inched closer. Together they clustered.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Do we wait for death? wondered Leif. Dew ran down
Brother and fell to Leif's stem.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Thank you, Brother," said Leif.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"We are all one," said Brother. "The sun
is for all. The dew is for all."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Brother's philosophy was beyond Leif's understanding.
Some leaves dried and shriveled as others thrived on the same stem.
Bugs or beasts ate some and left others whole.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"You are all for me," said Blossom. "I
am your reason. Without me, you are nothing."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"What's this?" asked Neighbor. "We were
before you!"</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Exactly," said Blossom. "You were here
before me. You came to bring me here."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"We are not here for you!" said Neighbor.
"Before us there was the stem. If we are here for anything, it
is the stem!"</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Or the stem is here for all of us," said
Brother.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Sun!" came a cry from far above them.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Where?" said Blossom. "I see no sun."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Son comes to tree first," said Neighbor.
"See? It is not for you, Blossom. See the stem on tree? It is
stem that matters!"</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">It was still so cold. Leif could not see the sun,
though above him, more were calling. All that were calling were on
tree. Maybe Neighbor was right. Maybe the great stem of tree made
the others that were calling now greater. They had sun, when he did
not. It was so cold. Leif was so tired of the cold night.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">More of the others called to the sun further down the
great stem of tree. Leif envied their joy, their energy. What if
sun only came for tree today?</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">No, he remembered, tree was always first, but sun came
to him after. Night will end soon."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Sun!" cried Blossom. "I will spread my
petals!" Before Blossom's petals moved, Leif felt a thrill of
energy tickle him, then bathe him, just as delicious as the first
time. Leif's fears melted.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Sun!" cried Brother.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Sun!" cried Leif.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Sun!" cried Neighbor.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Sun!" cried the whole garden now. "Sun!
sun! sun!"</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Food and water surged from the stem. Leif stretched and
reached. A dangerous bug flew near. Leif did not hide. He could
not cower. "Sun!" he cried. It was so much better than he
remembered. How could he have forgotten how this felt?</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Sun!"</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">As the morning wore on the joy of the sun melted in the
baking heat.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Moisture," cried Neighbor. "I must have
moisture." Neighbor's surface puckered around the tip of his
reach.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Help!" cried one on another stem. Beneath
that one, a caterpillar crawled.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Oh my!" cried Blossom. "You don't think
that thing will come here, do you?"</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Not that one," said Leif, "but there are
others."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"You must protect me," said Blossom. "Surely
you can see that that is why you are here."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"I don't see," said Leif. Leif did not know
why he was there. He heard what Brother said about being one. He
did not understand it. Nor did he understand what Neighbor said
about the stem. Even if Blossom was right and he was there for her,
what could he do for her? How could he protect her, or do anything
other than accept moisture from the stem and light from the sun? Was
it enough to simply be?</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Snip beast!"</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Leif heard the warning filter across the garden. The
snip beast was the most feared of all the predators, and the most
unpredictable. A snip beast might bring water on a hot day, or even
nutrients for the root, but it was also known to cut plants at the
stem, several at once, not eating the plants, as other beasts might,
but to take away. Why the snip beast acted as it did, no one knew.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Snip, snip, the snip beast great claw cut swaths in the
air. The stem trembled, making Leif shake.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Sacrifice yourselves!" commanded Blossom.
"You must protect me!"</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The ponderous beast dropped to a knee, shaking the
earth. It leaned and bent plants with its massive bulk. It extended
a limb to the stem with the caterpillar and detached the much smaller
beast.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Perhaps the beast is here to help," said
Brother.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Not when it brings the claw," said Neighbor.
"It seeks the stem. Only the stem has meaning, and so the snip
beast attacks it."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Leif stretched himself toward the sun, trying to
remember the joy he felt as it returned. Perhaps the sun could save
them. A shadow blocked the sun. The snip beast leaned over the
plant.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Protect me!" shouted Blossom.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">A beast limb encircled the stem. It touched Leif's
underside. Its texture was soft and oily.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"It seeks the stem!" shouted neighbor, and a
great rush of fear rushed into Leif through the stem, and then was
silenced by one deafening snip.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"No!" shouted Neighbor.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Protect me," whimpered Blossom.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Leif and Brother were silent. It was death, but not
complete death. There was no connection to the earth. It was as if
Leif had become a creature of the air. He flew up in the beast's
limb above the garden and watched as other stems were snipped. The
severed stems with their leaves and blossoms joined him in the
beast's grip.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"And what now, Brother?" asked Leif. "What
is there after the garden?"</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"I don't know," said Brother.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"The sun has changed," said Neighbor.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">It was true. The sun remained above. Leif could feel
its heat and see its light, but it no longer sent him life. "The
sun's life is for the uncut," he said.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"It was for the stem," said Neighbor. "How
will the sun go on without the stem?"</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"There is something more," said Blossom.
"This cannot be all there is for me. I am meant for more!"</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Other blossoms agreed or disagreed. Leaves from other
snipped stems murmured, but their voices were muted, half alive, half
dead, as the gathering of cut stems grew in the beast's limb.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The beast stood and lifted them all high above the
garden. Leif had never imagined that there were so many leaves,
stems and blossoms. In great lumbering steps, the beast moved them
over vast spans across the garden, and then beyond it. The leaves
around him were silent. Even the blossoms said little as the beast
came upon a steep hill, then opened a passage to enter the hill.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Inside the hill were suns, many of them, but not as
warm. The beast put the stems on a mound and walked away.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Why!" screamed a blossom.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Tree," whispered a leaf.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"What do you mean?" asked Blossom. I see no
tree.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"This mound," said the leaf. It was a tree.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Will we be mounds?" asked Brother.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Only the stem," said Neighbor. "The
beast will make mounds of the stem."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"No!" said Blossom. "I will be saved. I
will not be a mound."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"A blossom could not be a mound," murmurred a
leaf quietly. "It lacks what trees have."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">All the blossoms started screaming at once at the quiet
leaf.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Brother, do you know?" whispered Leif.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"We are all one," said Brother.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Leif felt comfort in Brother's words, though he didn't
understand them. He tried to draw closer to Brother, but without the
life of the stem, he could not move.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The mound shook as some great object landed on it. A
moment later, the snip beast gathered all the stems in its limb and
raised them into the air, then pushed them into the object.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"I feel something," said Neighbor. "I
feel something through the stem!"</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">It was true. Something came through the stem. It
wasn't the life Leif had known, but it had moisture, and food.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Yes!" shouted Blossom. "It IS for me.
I feel it making me stronger!"</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"No," said Neighbor, "it is for the..."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Whatever Neighbor was going to say stopped. The beast
tore Neighbor from the stem, and cast him to the tree mound.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Brother!" shouted Leif, "I don't
under..." Leif could not finish. He was torn from the stem and
could not talk. He fell near Neighbor, and other leaves that formed
a pile on the tree mound.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Leif's vision became cloudy, but he could still see
Brother standing out from the stem beneath Blossom.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"This new life is for me," said Blossom.
"Only for me. I will live forever!"</span></div>
<br />
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Perhaps she will thought Leif as he began to curl. I
wonder if she will miss the sun.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04391804489378097489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3684043944839678336.post-67462057186727577902015-07-21T12:03:00.005-07:002015-07-21T12:03:31.410-07:00ficthaus5 Two Little Magic Words<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
Two
Little Magic Words</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
by Headley Hauser</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
I’d signed on as the quest’s conjurer. It’s true I had no
experience in magic, but that didn’t matter. A decade’s worth of
participation trophies and good attitude ribbons told the tale. I
would excel in my task because I was special – just like every
other kid in my neighborhood.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
I also had one other advantage – magic words, two of them to be
exact, and I had great confidence in these magical utterances. They
had never failed me in the past, and even the possibility they might
fail me on this quest was beyond my comprehension.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
Together with my band of common adventures, we struggled through
hardships and battles. They did all the fighting and climbing.
Being the conjurer, I demanded that they carry me through the rough
spots, and protect me from the dangers.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
I also let them do all the cooking and cleaning, but I praised them
for their work so that they could feel good about themselves.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
They never gave me credit for that. Actually, shortly into our
adventures I caught a number of dirty looks.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“That’s not good attitude,” I warned them.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Well you could help out more,” they grumbled.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“You forget that I am special,” I warned them. “I am somebody
because I was made for a special purpose. There is nothing I cannot
do if I want it badly enough.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“You mean like turn us all into banana slugs?” one asked.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“If that’s what I wanted to do,” I answered.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
Their attitude improved somewhat after that. While they worked to
dig us out of mountain goblin prison, I made little ‘improved
attitude’ trophies for each of them out of chips of rock and stale
biscuit. They didn’t say thank you, but I think it meant a lot to
each of them.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Maybe you could conjure us out of this prison,” one of them
asked.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“No,” I replied. “My magic words are too special. I better
save them. And you are doing such a wonderful job digging us out
with your hands manacled like that. Good job! You are each so
special!”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
Yes, that was a lot of praise for such common work, but I figured
they needed the pick-me-up.</div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Later in the snow wastes I demanded
an extra cloak. It was far colder than I found acceptable.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">"If one us gives you his
cloak," they complained, "he will freeze to death."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">"Not if you share," I told
them. "Sharing makes every task easier."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">One of them - I never learned his
name, grumbled, "Maybe we should share in getting rid of you."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">"Now, now," I said
patiently, "remember my two magic words!"</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">They shared, but not with a
co-operative attitude. I made a note in my book that each of them
should lose one gold star when we finished our quest.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Days later, the food ran out. I
knew it was gone because I ate the last of it. The ration they had
given me was far too small, and I've always been helpless against the
late-night munchies.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">"Alright," said the leader
guy. "This is it. Even if we won't have your magic later, it
won't do us any good if we starve to death. Use your magic words."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">"You're certain?" I asked.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">"Yup!" he said.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">"Then hand me your largest food
container." The container turned out to be a poncho, which
isn't exactly Tupperware and was far from sanitary. I decided to be
generous and ignore their negligence and poor hygiene. I held out
the poncho as my fellow adventurers backed away in fear. I took a
solemn moment before I uttered the two words that I knew had never
failed me.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">"Yes, please."</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Nothing happened. No food appeared
in the grubby poncho. I wondered if its lack of cleanliness was the
problem for I knew it couldn't be my magic words. All during my
childhood I had gotten anything I wanted each time I spoke those two
words.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">The other adventurers came closer.
Once again I held up the poncho.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">"YES! PLEASE!"</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">No food appeared, though the
adventurers looked ready to eat. Each pulled out his knife and fork.
Why did the leader have that funny look in his eye?</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">"Mom?" I called. "Dad...
Grandma? I SAID YES, PLEASE!"</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">And that's how I came to haunt this
scruffy pack of adventurers. I can accept that they cooked me and
ate me...</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">But they didn't even say, Thank
You!</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<br />
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04391804489378097489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3684043944839678336.post-71788654203381226462015-07-14T15:24:00.000-07:002015-07-14T15:24:18.619-07:00fictmcfa7 Jordan<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Jordan</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> by
Stanley McFarland</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I
was grieving. People believe odd things when they grieve. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I
didn't cry at Jordan's funeral. I walked stone-faced with Grace's
brother, Jeff, my father, and Kent as we carried the small coffin out
of the church. We placed it into a hearse that was far larger than
necessary.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"I
think it would have fit in my trunk," said Jeff.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Grace
was crying, embracing people, as a grieving parent should. I stood
and watched. I was an observer, unable to feel, unable to reach out
for comfort. Jordan went into the ground without a tear from me.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">After
all the ways I'd failed Jordan, being out of town on his birthday,
divorcing his mother, watching him melt away in that hospital bed,
this felt like the greatest betrayal in a fatherhood that was nothing
but failure and betrayal. If only I could manage one tear, he would
know that I loved him, that I was sorry, that I wished I could have
been the kind of father he deserved.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Shelly
from human resources approached me after the internment.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"I'm
so sorry, Steve," she said.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"Thank
you for coming," I said, though I didn't know why she had. I
barely knew her.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"You
probably know," said Shelly, "that I've put you on
bereavement leave."</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"Bereavement
leave?"</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"Yes,"
she said. "It's one of your benefits. You have the next two
weeks to work through things, to do all the things you need to do.
There's no need to be worrying about work at a time like this."</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"Oh,"
I said.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Neither
one of us had anything else to say, so after an awkward pause, Shelly
patted me on the arm and left.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Later,
Dad hugged me. I tried to hug back, but my arms weren't working
right. He was in tears, Kent was in tears, even Jeff who never did
or said an appropriate thing in his life was sobbing softly.
Eventually, they all circled around Grace, while I stood alone, like
a tall stump, or a short pillar, or just a bad father failing my
little boy one last time.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">An
hour later I was back at the condo. There wasn't much to do. Jordan
had a toothbrush, a set of PJs, and a couple of toys that I had
bought him that he didn't like enough to bring to his real home.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">It
didn't even fill a box.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"Well,
Shelly, I said to the eggshell cream walls, "I've done
everything I need to do. Should I go back to work now?"</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">It
was quiet. Not even my neighbors were making noise.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Mechanically,
I went into the kitchen and made a sandwich. I put it on a plate
like Grace had always harped on me to do, but I hadn't done till I
moved out.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I
stood there with the plate in my hand and looked at the kitchen
table, then the dining table, then the couch. I couldn't bring
myself to sit anywhere even though my legs were aching now.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">My
condo had a little courtyard with two patio chairs I'd never sat in,
next to a grill I’d never used. I pushed open the sliding glass
doors displacing leaves and other debris that had settled in the
tracks. I stepped out into the courtyard, shut the door behind me,
and sat on a filthy chair and held the plate in my lap.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The
remains of some kind of bush brooded in the corner, partially drowned
in leaves and trash. There were weeds sprouting up through the
cracks in the tile. Some green plant was crawling up the fence. I
couldn't identify it. Everything else in the courtyard was dead.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I
sat and ignored my sandwich. The rain had left a pattern on the
wall. I tried pretending it was a passing cloud and name its shape.
I couldn't resolve it into anything other than a stain.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I
don't know how long I sat there, staring at the wall-stain, but the
shadows from the setting sun grew longer and finally swallowed the
courtyard. It wasn't yet dark, but the sun wasn't shining on
anything I could see.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I
heard a sound behind me. It wasn't a big sound, but in such a quiet
day, it sounded loud. I turned my head to see a chipmunk on the
fence. I watched as he ran along the top of the fence and then ran
back again. He looked over at me. He didn't seem frightened - more
curious.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"Is
it my sandwich you want?" I asked. I tore off a piece of crust
and tossed it to the base of the fence.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The
chipmunk scrambled down the fence and picked up the crust with his
front paws while sitting back on his haunches. He watched me as he
ate.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"I
can't promise you good company," I said, "but I'm glad
you're here."</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The
chipmunk finished the crust and I threw him some more.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"I
buried my boy today," I told him. "I don't suppose that
means much to you. The only things you bury are nuts. Or is that
squirrels?"</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The
chipmunk looked at me as I spoke. I threw down more bread. He
didn't pick up this piece, but he didn't run away, either.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"He
was a good boy," I said, "much better than I had any right
to expect. He was a sweet kid. He hardly ever whined or complained,
and man did he have good reasons to complain."</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The
chipmunk got up and ran over to the bush. He dug around in the
leaves and came away with an acorn.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"Good
for you!" I said. The chipmunk looked over his shoulder at me,
stuffed the nut in his cheek and then slowly walked towards me. He
sat a foot away, staring up at me as if it was a perfectly natural
thing for a chipmunk to do, and there he remained for hours as I
poured out my heart about Jordan, telling the chipmunk all the things
I wished I could tell my boy.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I
was in tears long before I finished.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The
sun woke me. I was still in the filthy chair; the chipmunk was gone.
I wondered if he was ever there. The third piece of bread I tossed
was still on the tiles, but the first two crusts were gone.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Mostly,
I wonder what or who I was talking to, crying with that night.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I've
never told the story to anyone. How would I explain it? The
chipmunk had been someone's pet, or the previous tenant in the condo
had fed him? That's why he stayed by me all that time. These
explanations were the most feasible I could think of, but not what I
believe to be true.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I
can't help it. I believe that as in some Native-American myth, my
son visited me that night transformed into a chipmunk.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">And
in so doing, transformed me back into a human.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04391804489378097489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3684043944839678336.post-5439648370317496752015-07-03T16:53:00.003-07:002015-07-03T16:53:42.862-07:00FictHaus6 Wally<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
Wally</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
by Headley Hauser</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
Wally didn’t mean to keep people away. He liked people, but most
found him forbidding, stand-offish, and restrictive.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
Maybe if I was made of field stone, thought Wally, or even decorative
brick.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
Wally, as you may have guessed, was a wall. He wasn’t just any
wall. He was the 28 foot, razor-wired exterior wall to the
Murphysboro State Correctional Facility for Men, and in spite of
every attempt to look pleasant and friendly, people avoided Wally.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
Maybe it was the three strategically placed sharpshooter towers. The
guards were not at all understanding when friendly inmates socially
scratched Wally’s mortar.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
In spite of his isolation, Wally wasn’t bitter. He reflected the
gentle early morning sunshine into the exercise yard when the highly
violent inmates of C block lifted the weights and did their drug
deals. He blocked the harsher afternoon sun when the mob enforcers
of B block smoked their cigars and planned who needed to sleep with
the fishes.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
The mobsters and murderers lives would have been far less pleasant if
it hadn’t been for Wally, but as he was off-limits, he had to
content himself with listening the inmate’s conversations.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“So, we got a movie tonight?”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“We did, and it was a good one, at least my kid liked it when they
showed it at Youth Correction.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Your ex-wife tell you that?”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“She might have if I hadn’t planted three nine-millimeter slugs
behind her right ear.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“You know? The metric system ain’t as bad as people say.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“You got that right.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“It’ll be nice to have a good movie.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“It’s a no go. Bubba smashed up the flat screen to make shivs
out of it for A block.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Why didn’t he ask me? I got a gross of ready-made shivs hiding
in my mattress!”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Tough break.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Yeah, the marketplace is a jungle – hey, don’t they still have
that old projector?”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Sure, they still got it, but Jerry’s blood is all over rec room
wall.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Ain’t it like Jerry to get in the way of a good time?”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Yeah, if he weren’t in a coma, I’d…”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
Wally stopped listening as an amazing thought occurred to him. My
surface doesn’t have any blood on it! No one leans on me, or
paints gang symbols on me, or anything. Once the sun goes down, all
these great guys could gather in the exercise yard and watch their
movie on me!</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
But there was one problem. Having no mouth, not to mention lungs,
diaphragm, or larynx, Wally couldn’t communicate with humans
whether they were guards or serial killers. Wally blocked harmful UV
radiation from Big Louie and South Side Gang as he contemplated his
problem – Wally was an accomplished mult-tasker.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
Suddenly he heard a squawk. Wally looked for blood, but everyone in
the South Side Gang looked unpunctured.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Stupid Wall,” said a voice. “What’s the big idea, putting
all this sharp stuff up here where folks are supposed to land?”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
Wally followed the voice to the razor wire on top of him, and saw a
grey bird.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Don’t move,” said Wally. Birds can hear walls – even ones
without a mouth. “That razor wire can hurt you.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“I figured that out on my own, Blockhead.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“If you stand still, I’ll get you out.” Wally shifted his
blocks, slightly stretching the wire in one spot, and opening a hole
in another. The bird jumped out of the wire and perched on Wally’s
central rifle tower.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Thanks, Wall, you’re a pal,” said the bird. “Anything I can
do for you – just let me know.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
The bird must have thought it was unlikely that a wall would need a
favor – or maybe he was insincere in his offer because he was
already in flight before Wally could shout, “wait!”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“What now?” said the bird with less than perfect manners.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“I don’t want the mobsters and murderers to miss their movie,”
said Wally. “They could show it on my surface if they wait until
after sundown, but they don’t know that because humans can’t hear
me when I speak.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Yeah?” said the bird. “I can take care of that for you.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“You can?”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Sure. I’m Stoolie the Pigeon. Talking to the Warden is what I
do.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
So that night the inmates of Murphysboro State Correctional Facility
for Men got to watch their movie. There was less than the normal
amount of violence because Wally the Wall reflected the movie in all
its wonderful colors. (The sound was crappy, but Wally didn’t have
anything to do with that.)</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
And yes, the movie turned out to be Wall-E, but Wally didn’t think
the main character was any relation.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04391804489378097489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3684043944839678336.post-56916589585668238172015-05-26T19:35:00.002-07:002015-05-26T19:35:49.519-07:00Fictmcfa6 Here<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
Here</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
by Stanley McFarland</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
Nothing met my expectations, but I don’t imagine the powers-that-be
cared about that. The place looked like a simple village – not
even medieval or exotic. Hundreds of people milled about, many of
them coupled in quiet, though perhaps intense conversation.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
All my life I’d been presented with afterlife imagery from
Hollywood, from church, and especially from my grandmother, who
though she never went to church herself, insisted that my brother and
I go every Sunday cause she never wanted us to go to hell.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
Wasn’t somebody supposed to greet me? Shouldn’t there be a line
I was supposed to stand in? If there’d been a gaudy set of pearly
gates around, I would’ve headed that way, but all I saw was modest
buildings and people spread about, sitting or standing in knots of
two or three.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
I reached for my phone. It wasn’t there. I guess there’s no ap
for navigating the great beyond.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
I knelt down and checked the street. It wasn’t gold, but it wasn’t
blacktop either – some sort of blacktopish hard plastic maybe –
not very interesting, but it held me up. At least I wouldn’t be
falling through the clouds like the people in those heaven cartoons.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
That’s if I was in heaven.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Are you praying?” said a voice behind me.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
I turned around and met the eyes of a stranger. He looked Asian –
maybe Arab, I was never much good at identifying ethnicity. His
English was perfect though, not even an accent. I told him so.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“And you speak perfect Thai,” said the man. “Are you alright?”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“No,” I said, “I mean I’m trying to figure out where I am.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Are you a new arrival?”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“I suppose I am.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Do you know that you are dead?”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Yeah, I kinda figured that part out.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Well,” said the stranger, “welcome to here. Here doesn’t
have a name – at least not one that I’ve heard. If it does, it
is not advertised. We have no signage here.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
He was right. There was no street sign at the corner. There were
places that looked like shops and restaurants, but no signs above
their doors. There were no displays in the windows, or menus, or
advertisements. There were benches on the street, and booths in the
restaurants, but no music blasting from windows. I didn’t see a TV
or a book, or even a car on the street.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“I’m confused,” I admitted.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Confused is as good a place to start as any other,” said the
stranger. “At least you’re not in a rage – trying to kill
someone.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“You get a lot of that here?”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“From the new arrivals, yes.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“So is there a point to… here?” I asked.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“I think there is,” said the stranger. “I think this is where
we sort out our differences.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“You and me?”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
The stranger laughed. “No, we just met. The man I was just
talking to is my ex-boss, Li. He told my wife that I didn’t have
any life insurance though Li had deducted money from each of my
checks to pay for it. My family went through very difficult times
after that.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“After you died?”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Of course.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“But how do you know what your boss did? You’re dead. You
didn’t get a text – I don’t even see newspapers around here.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“I don’t know how I know – there are a number of such mysteries
here.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“So now you just slug it out?”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“I wished to when I first saw him. My daughter wanted to hit me
when she first saw me here. Most people here have many relationships
they need to work through.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
I looked around the village. I didn’t recognize a single face. So
why was I here? Who did I need to… Chris! I scanned the crowd
again. No, there was no sign of Chris. My relief must have been
obvious because the stranger chuckled.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“He’s here,” he said, “or she is, or they are.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“What are you talking about?”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Whoever it is you don’t wish to see,” said the stranger.
“He’s here. They’re all here. Some of the people you
encounter here will surprise you – people you thought you were at
peace with who’ve harbored resentment for you, or hated you.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“I don’t see anybody I know.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
The stranger nodded. “It was the same for me for the first hour or
so. They give you time to become accustomed to the idea. Soon, you
will encounter the last person you ever wished to see again.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Who are they – the ones who set this up?” I asked. “God?
The devil?”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
The stranger shrugged and smiled. “All I can tell you is that some
people leave. My wife was only here a few days. The people I like
never stay – only the worst remain. I suppose that means that I am
among the worst.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
I thought about all the a-hoes I’d ever met and shuddered. The
village didn’t look like hell, but what else could it be?</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Well maybe we can be friends,” I suggested. “We have no
issues between us; we can give each other a break from the jerks.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“That would be pleasant,” said the stranger, “but it probably
won’t happen. The old woman I met when I first got here – I
haven’t seen her since. I did not recognize anyone when I first
came, but you’re just about the only person around us now that I
didn’t know during my life. That’s why I came up to you. I
thought you were probably newly arrived.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“So all these people were jerks to you in your life?”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Most of them – or I was unkind to them.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“So this is how I spend eternity – surrounded by people I can’t
stand?”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
The stranger shrugged. “Perhaps; perhaps not.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“What do you mean?”</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Some people leave.”</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04391804489378097489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3684043944839678336.post-33820679561296487722015-05-26T19:34:00.000-07:002015-05-26T19:34:09.533-07:00ficthaus4 Fugleigh, the Zombie Teddy Bear<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Fugleigh,
the Zombie Teddy Bear</b></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b> by
Headley Hauser</b></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>
with Nick Craver and Carrie Harman</b></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Fugleigh was nestled for the night, tight within
8-year-old Carrie’s embrace. It was all very warm and cuddly.</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Bah,” said Fugleigh the Zombie teddy bear. He
gnawed gently at Carrie’s ear – not so much as to wake her up and
only the skin of the ear, not the cartilage. The missing ear flap on
the other side of her head testified on how difficult it was to
re-grow cartilage but Carrie was very clever at growing back ear
skin.</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Clever… The word made Fugleigh hungry. But Carrie
had a math test in the morning. Well, maybe a little.</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Fugleigh gently sucked at Carrie’s brain.
Sluurrrpppp. Not too much now. Sluuuuuuurrrrrpppp!</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Self-control was never a strong point among zombie
teddy bears.</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Mmmmmmm,” said Fugleigh. “Good brains!”
Fugleigh smacked his cloth and emaciated zombie teddy bear lips. “I
think Carrie must be partially Chinese, because just seconds after I
eat; I’m hungry again. I wonder where the cat is?”</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Fugleigh found Muffinpie circling her food dish.
There wasn’t any food in the dish and there wouldn’t be till
morning, but Muffinpie just kept circling staring intently at the
dish as if the food might appear any second and run away. Fugleigh
approached and started walking behind the cat. Muffinpie glanced
Fugleigh’s way and hissed, then quickly resumed the circling and
study of her food dish.</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Fugleigh stopped and waited. Muffinpie came around
the dish and stopped, studying Fugleigh, then the dish. There was no
room for Muffinpie to pass between Fugleigh and the dish, and if she
went around Fugleigh, the zombie teddy bear would be between her and
the food dish.</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Bah!” said Fugleigh.</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The cat cowered. In spite of the fact that she had
claws that could have ripped Fugleigh to shreds, the cat sat back on
her haunches and howled.</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>It could be,” said Fugleigh, “that this cat
has no more brain matter to spare.”</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>For the next few hours, Fugleigh haunted the house
looking for brains to eat. Carrie’s parents wisely kept their
bedroom door locked, with not an ax or sledge hammer in sight.
Fugleigh found an unusually intelligent cockroach, but in spite of
the insect’s cerebral gifts, the total amount of brain matter
wasn’t at all satisfying.</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>An hour before dawn, Fugleigh found himself back in
Carrie’s room, staring benevolently, though ravenously at the
little girl who loved and cared for him.</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>I couldn’t really hurt her,” he told himself.
“If only she didn’t have that math test today.”</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Fugleigh heard the stuffing within him growl as the
first hint of dawn came in the latticed window.</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Carrie doesn’t much like math anyway,” he
said.</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Sluuuuuuurrrrrrrpppp!”</b></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04391804489378097489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3684043944839678336.post-71143353895977752312015-05-12T09:04:00.000-07:002015-05-12T09:04:30.130-07:00ficthaus5 Jock and Myrtle<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
Jock
and Myrtle</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
by
Headley Hauser</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
Jock the Scotch Pine was pretty clever considering he was a barely
animate being with his legs stuck in 20 feet of mud. He wasn’t
content to take the sun when it offered and water when it flowed.
Jock, though planted by others for their own sap-shedding purpose,
had learned to live his life as he chose. He hadn’t always been
kind – well, he’d never been kind, but he was his own tree, with
no one to tell him what to do.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
Jock had lots of space to stretch out in what was once a Christmas
tree grove. He had all that space because the rest of his class of
seedlings got chopped off in early adolescence to spend a couple
weeks sitting in water festooned with tinsel and electric lights.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Feeble-rooted morons,” scoffed Jock in a highland accent. Jock
was not a fan of Christmas, Easter, Mother’s Day or any other
holiday when human celebration required the holocaust of great swaths
of herbivorous life. Why his grove mates gave their lives for such a
tradition was beyond him.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
Arbor Day wasn’t bad in concept, but the trees planted never made
up for those lost in other holidays, and most humans didn’t even
know what day in June it fell.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“What a crock o’ haggis,” said Jock. “This is the thanks we
get for all our oxygen.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
Jock survived because he was clever, and one of the ways he was
clever was that, untypical of Scotch pine, Jock could move his limbs
up and down. When the barbarian in the green and red stocking cap
came by with his ax, Jock dropped the branches on one side and raised
them on the other.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“That’s odd,” mumbled the barbarian. “I thought this tree
was shaping up nicely last week.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
Jock shook snow from his upper branches, landing a glop of slush
neatly down the neck of the barbarian’s sweater.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Poop!” said the barbarian.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
Jock rustled – as chuckling was beneath the dignity of intelligent
tree-kind.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
But all that was years ago. Jock was now too big to be a Christmas
tree, and he was all alone on a cool spring day, wondering if there
was more to life that sucking water through his roots, and exhaust
fumes and cow flatulence through his needles. Jock didn’t want to
admit that for all his independence, he was lonely</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
That’s when he met Myrtle, who despite her name was not a plant.
Myrtle was a cardinal, and she was looking for a place to make her
nest.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“This one looks nice,” said Myrtle, unaware that Jock understood
bird speech. “It stands all alone. I wonder why the bird feeder
people didn’t chop it down.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
This didn’t go over well with Jock, and so when Myrtle laid grass
in one of Jock’s boughs, he shook it out as she flew away for more.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“This is odd,” said Myrtle. “There’s no wind, and I’m
certain I put the grass in right. It’s not as if this if my first
nest.” Myrtle studied Jock for other birds, or even squirrels the
might have knocked the grass from the bough. There was nothing to
see. Jock stood alone in a field of stumps.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“The cardinal rule of deduction,” said Myrtle, “is that when
you eliminate the probable, you must consider the improbable. Tree,
are you shaking off my nest?”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
This impressed Jock who had never heard of the cardinal rule of
deduction, or anything else intelligent from a bird beyond, “tweet,”
and “got any worms?”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Aye, it’s me,” said Jock in a heavily brogued bird-speak.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“A clever tree!” chirped Myrtle. “I do get so tired of trees
that just groan when the wind takes them.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Ya seem a bit clever yerself, wee bird,” said Jock.</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
And so Jock let Myrtle stay in his bough, though he couldn’t help
needling her from time to time.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04391804489378097489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3684043944839678336.post-26174544465596986362015-04-21T07:39:00.000-07:002015-04-21T07:39:04.338-07:00ficthaus4 Mortimer the Drop of Goo<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
Mortimer,
the Drop of Goo</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
by
Headley Hauser</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
He was born at 10:15AM the Saturday that Fred the dad, watched the
kids. He didn’t know his origins. Was he grease? Was he jam?
Was he syrup?</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
It didn’t matter now. From the moment he dropped from Fred’s
plate and hit the floor, he was goo. He was Mortimer, the Drop of
Goo.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
Mortimer surveyed the great plain of ceramic tile. He was in a vast
world, full of sights and smells. One smell was particularly
pungent.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
Mortimer didn’t know it, but his life nearly came to an end only
moments after it began, for that pungent smell was none other than
Barkie, the Labradoodle whose fell tongue had consumed myriad goo
drops before him.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Barkie, come here,” said Fred. “I can’t have you messing up
the kitchen or Loraine will never let me hear the end of it.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
And so, Mortimer was spared. Mortimer felt lucky – maybe even a
bit crafty to have escaped death. “Beware, cold tile world,”
said he, “for I am Mortimer, the lucky, Mortimer the Drop off Goo.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
Nothing much happened in Mortimer’s existence until 11:03AM.
Ethan, six-years-old, and barefoot, entered Mortimer’s domain.
Ethan entered it so completely that the boy stepped on little
Mortimer, creating a tiny sound and transferring half of Mortimer’s
goo to the bottom of Ethan’s foot. Surprisingly, Mortimer didn’t
feel at all reduced. There was something magical about the bottom of
a little boy’s foot that made a small drop of goo multiply into
dozens of equal, even greater drops of goo.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Grow, My People,” shouted Mortimer, the Drop of Goo. “Multiply
and subdue the great plain of ceramic tile!”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
When Ethan left the kitchen, Mortimer observed his world from a new
perspective. “Beware world of Greater Kitchen,” said he, “for
I am Mortimer the fruitful, Mortimer the Drop of Goo.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
And so things remained until 1:22PM when Isabel, fourteen months and
crawling, entered the kitchen. Isabel crawled right through Mortimer
the Drop of Goo, distributing much of his substance unto her hands
and knees. Perhaps Isabel had the same magic as her brother, or
maybe it was a function of toddler drool (and other fluids best not
mentioned,) but Mortimer was not reduced, but multiplied many times.
He spread upon the kitchen chairs and cabinet fronts, he formed
perfect fingerprints on the edge of the table. He even coated the
bowl belonging to Barkie the Labradoodle – the very beast that
might have ended his existence. By the time Isabel crawled out of
the kitchen, Mortimer was everywhere!</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“A HA!” shouted Mortimer. “I have conquered the kitchen! It
is all mine. Let the world beware, for if I have conquered this vast
kitchen, I can conquer every kitchen. I can conquer the whole world”
said he, “for I am Mortimer the Mighty, Mortimer the Drop of Goo!”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
And so for three hours, Mortimer gloated, he plotted, he sang to
himself little ditties of world domination. Mortimer was happy in
the way every evil tyrant has been happy from the days of Nimrod the
Hunter, to Vlad the Impaler, to George the Yankee Owner.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
Mortimer kept his evil gleeful revelry until 4:45PM when Loraine
entered the kitchen from the door that led to the garage.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“It is through that door that I will spread to the outside world,”
thought Mortimer. “Go ahead, Loraine – touch me, spread me,
increase my domain,” said he, “for I am Mortimer the Dominator,
Mortimer the Drop of Goo!”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Fred!” shouted Loraine.</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
RIP, Mortimer the Drop of Goo.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04391804489378097489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3684043944839678336.post-88663548403864426432015-04-07T10:47:00.001-07:002015-04-07T10:47:25.165-07:00fictmcfa5 The Beat<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .25in;">
The
Beat<o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .25in;">
by Stanley
McFarland<o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .25in;">
“It’s crap, you
know.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .25in;">
“I know,” said
Desmond.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .25in;">
“It’s
derivative. It’s all been done
before. You’ve done it before – several
times!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .25in;">
“I know.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .25in;">
“That doesn’t
seem to upset you much.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .25in;">
“You don’t
understand.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .25in;">
Wayne threw his
hands in the air. “I don’t
understand? What, it’s too deep for
me? It’s so much more meaningful that
the songs I’ve written?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .25in;">
“It’ll be more
popular.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .25in;">
“Fuck!” said
Wayne. “Is that all you care about
anymore?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .25in;">
“No.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .25in;">
“But I won’t
understand?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .25in;">
“No, you won’t
understand.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .25in;">
“Just what won’t
I understand?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .25in;">
“Why it doesn’t
upset me.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .25in;">
“Would you care
to enlighten me?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .25in;">
“I would try…”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .25in;">
“But I won’t
understand?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .25in;">
“That’s what I
said.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .25in;">
“So I should just
be happy, tagging along on the gravy train while you spoon out crap that a
million zombies download because it has your name on it and they don’t know
better?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .25in;">
Desmond sat
down. These sessions with Wayne were
tiring, but Wayne was more than just a good manager. He had a soul for music that no one else in
the band had. It was just a soul from
another generation. Still – as out of
touch as Wayne was, Desmond fed off of him.
That might not be right. Wayne
was more like a compass. He always
pointed true north. What Wayne didn’t
understand was that they weren’t heading north anymore. Music hadn’t been heading north since Chapman
shot Lennon – maybe even before that.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .25in;">
“At least break
it up,” Wayne pleaded. “Give it a bridge
– something unexpected. Give it some
rhythm changes.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .25in;">
“No,” said
Desmond. “I might do a thing or two with
the vocals, but the beat stays. We don’t
change it.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .25in;">
“Why do we even
bother with Jordan? We could save a few
bucks and set up a percussion machine for this – maybe even a damn metronome!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .25in;">
“I know what that
is,” said Desmond.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .25in;">
“What?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .25in;">
“You were waiting
for me to ask what a metronome was, but even though I don’t go back to your
prehistory, I’ve seen a metronome.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .25in;">
“Good for
you! It’s a damn boring little pendulum
– but no more boring than the beat in your damn song!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .25in;">
“Anything else,
Wayne?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .25in;">
“So that’s
it? End of discussion.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .25in;">
Desmond
nodded. “End of discussion.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .25in;">
“Alright,” said
Wayne. “Let’s see, I’ve got some stuff
you need to decide about the tour. You
want to do that now?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .25in;">
“How about
tomorrow.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .25in;">
“Tomorrow –
fine.” Wayne did his signature non-slam
of the door on his way out, pulling the door behind him violently, but catching
it just before it made a sound. Wayne
was always a purist about sound.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .25in;">
Desmond picked up
his acoustic, though he had no intention of playing it. He drummed his fingers on the neck – then the
body, making deep thrumming beats and off-beat resonations from the strings.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .25in;">
The beat.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .25in;">
Desmond idolized
Wayne when he was little. He wanted to
be just like him. He still played
Wayne’s music when he was alone, even though nobody else did. Wayne was barely known in his twenties. He was pretty much forgotten now that he was
seventy.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .25in;">
Too pure – too
ideal. A small circle of musicians loved
Wayne Ledford – the world ignored him.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .25in;">
Desmond changed
the thrumming beat of his fingers to something from one of Wayne’s songs – then
he modified it, modulated it. He played
with different strike points on the guitar’s belly, sometimes muting the
strings with one hand, sometimes not.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .25in;">
Desmond smiled to
himself – this was something Wayne would like.
He could hear the old man pleading for Desmond to do something like that
with his next song. Like an Old
Testament prophet calling from the wilderness, Wayne Ledford shouts,
“repent! Save your souls!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .25in;">
Desmond went back
to the beat – the simple beat – the one in his music and just about every other
pop musician’s music for the last five years.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .25in;">
Wayne Ledford
didn’t understand. He was of a different
time, a different herd.<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04391804489378097489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3684043944839678336.post-33995895303548782822015-02-17T19:00:00.003-08:002015-02-17T19:00:49.255-08:00fictmcfa8 Sammy and May<div align="CENTER" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<b>Sammy and May</b></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
by Stanley McFarland</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“She was cheery,” I said. “That’s what people liked ’bout
her. She was pretty as a picture and quick as a whip. She could
dance and sing, and she had astounding comic timing for a
four-year-old.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“But she was cheery – a chirpy, amiable soul that lit the hearts
of television audiences from coast ta coast.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“And she kept your show on the air,” said the reporter.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
I nodded. I had hoped for a softer interview – especially now that
I was just an old fart in a nursing home. “She did,” I agreed.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Weren’t they about to cancel your show when you brought her on?”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“I’d heard something like that.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Then you never let her move on.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“It wasn’t like that!” I grumbled. “It was totally her
decision – May and her parents. I never tried ta stop her.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“But you never let her go, either.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“It was never my decision,” I repeated the same words I’d said
to scores of reporters over the years – most of them in the weeks
after <i>The Sammy King Variety Hour</i> went off the air. May was
six then, and a television veteran with years of cuteness ahead
before puberty would force her to make the transition so few child
stars ever managed.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
May never had to deal with that problem. She had only one response
to network execs who offered her work – “I’ll come back when
you bring back Mister King.” We did a guest appearance on <i>The
Muppet Show</i> a couple years later. She hadn’t lost a thing -
perfect timing, perfect inflection, perfect cheeriness.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
I wasn’t my best. I wasn’t sober for one thing. May carried me
through our old routine, but people could tell. We didn’t get any
offers.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
That’s not true – May got plenty of offers. She even got an
offer for a show of her own. Her response never changed. “I’ll
come back when you bring back Mister King.” A week later I got a
letter from Eddie at the old network. He offered me twenty thousand
dollars to convince May to move on without me.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
I burned the letter – almost set the couch on fire, I was so drunk
when I did it.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
Over the years I kept getting cards from May – on my birthday and
at Christmas. It didn’t seem to matter to her that she didn’t
get any back from me once my agent dropped me. His secretary always
sent out my cards.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Mister King?”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
I didn’t hear the reporter’s question – maybe not the last two
or three. Forty years ago, they would have blamed the bottle. Now
it was just age. Maybe that’s better.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Maybe you better come back another time,” said the large black
nurse. I never could pronounce her name. It was something African.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“I don’t think I have enough for my story,” the reporter said.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Another time,” the large black nurse repeated. She was good at
that – making people do what they didn’t want to do. At least
this time she wasn’t drawing enough blood from my arm to sink a…
I tried to think what would be funny – a row boat? the Queen Mary?</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
Nah, I thought, a lot of people didn’t know the Queen Mary anymore.
May would’ve come up with something. The kid was quick.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
I must have dozed because when I woke the reporter was gone. I used
to do that on purpose sometimes – pretend to doze off when I didn’t
want to deal with somebody. Then it started happening for real.
Seemed a lot funnier before.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
I saw a letter on my bed and for a moment I thought it was from May.
But May never sent cards with address windows on them. I guessed it
wasn’t my birthday.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
I used my walker to get up from the chair. It took a little longer
than it had a month before. I shuffled over to the bed and opened
the drawer in the bedside table.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
Someone had rearranged it again, but I found an old card from May.
Her youngest was going off to college. She wrote that she was proud,
but that she was going to miss her.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
The words got blurry. My eyesight was fine, but I was tearing up. I
never used to tear up – not even when I drank. Suddenly I only
wanted one thing in the world. I wanted May sitting in the chair the
reporter had vacated. I want to tell her how sorry I was.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Lotta good that’s going to do her now,” I muttered. “What
is she – forty-five? fifty? That America’s Sweetheart boat
sailed a long time ago.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
I reached up and pulled the help cord. I’d never done that before.
I always figured a big gong would sound, or at least a bell.
Nothin’. I was angry but I started laughing. They gave me a damn
defective help cord! The world just couldn’t wait to get rid of
Sammy King.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Mister King?” said the big black nurse as she pushed open my
door. I was still laughing and seeing her looking worried made me
laugh more.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Can you talk, Mister King?” she asked. “Raise your hand if
you can’t.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“I can talk,” I sputtered.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Are you in pain?”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
I held out May’s card. “I need to call this woman.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Mister King,” said the nurse, “if you’re not in trouble, you
shouldn’t be pulling the cord.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“I’m in trouble,” I said, though I knew it wasn’t true.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“How are you in trouble, Mister King?”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
I looked into the nurse’s eyes. They were big and brown like the
rest of her. She was tired and annoyed, and a little bit worried –
maybe she was worried I was losing it.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“I needa… to say I’m sorry.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
The annoyance disappeared. She was still tired, and worried, but the
nurse’s eyes changed – they went soft. She took the card out of
my hand. “I’ll see what I can do,” she said.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
I didn’t remember going to sleep. I was on the bed and the big
black nurse was back.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Mister King?” she said. “I’ve got Ms. Dunbarton on the
line.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
Dunbarton? Who the hell was… May – that’s right; I remembered
– that was her married name. I tried to sit up, but I couldn’t
seem to get my elbows under me. “Help me… please?” I asked.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
I don’t think I’d said please twice since they moved me in this
place. The big black nurse leaned over to help me sit up. I stared
at her name tag – S.H.A.N.I.Q… What kind of name starts like
that?</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Here he is Ms. Dunbarton,” said the big black nurse. She handed
the phone to me. I couldn’t say a word.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Mister King?” said a voice at the other end. It wasn’t a
child’s voice, but I woulda known it was May even if she had called
me. “Is it really you? I’m so happy you called!”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Got yer nose,” I said like I did when we first met. She was too
old for that gag even then. May laughed back then and did again on
the phone.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“I have a granddaughter now,” she said. “We were watching <i>The
Sammy King Variety Hour </i>yesterday.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“It’s on reruns?”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“DVD,” she said. “There’s a site online you can get it –
well, a lot of the shows anyway. I still can’t find some of them.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“I guess they have everything on their computers these days.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Pretty much,” she said. “Megan, that’s my granddaughter,
loved it. She couldn’t believe that Grandie was that little.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“You were a tyke,” I said. Whatever May said after that washed
over me. She sounded great.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“…of course I had to explain to her who Shirley Temple was.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Yeah,” I said. “Our stuff is kinda dated, I guess.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“They’re great memories.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Look, Kid…”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Yes?”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“There’s a reason I called.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“I’m so glad you did.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“It’s just…” I was hoping for her to interrupt. I wanted to
tell her I was sorry, but I couldn’t get it out. May didn’t
interrupt. She knew better than to step on a line. “You had a
career back then,” I finally said.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
May laughed. “Part of three seasons – a career?”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“You coulda gone on.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
Silence.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Kid – I shoulda told you to move on. You had the world at your
feet. You were being loyal, and instead of telling you… Well, I
shoulda pushed you outta the nest.” Junk clogged up my throat. I
started coughing. My damn body couldn’t even talk on the phone
anymore. I reached for a Kleenex and I was surprised to be handed
one. The nurse was still in the room. I grabbed the tissue and spit
out the crap. May was still silent on the other end.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“It’s like this, Kid,” I said. “I was a selfish bastard, and
I used you. I used your popularity to help me get back on top again.
I sunk my career in a bottle, and then I became an albatross around
your neck. I’m sorry. I really am.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Mister King?” I could tell that May was crying.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Yeah, Kid?”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“I’m so sorry that you feel bad. It’s all my fault. I should
have told you years ago.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“What’re ya talking about?”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“I never wanted to be the new Shirley Temple.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Huh?”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“I loved doing the show with you. I loved rehearsal. I loved the
taping. I loved every minute of it, but I never wanted to do another
show.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“What?”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“You were my best friend, Mister King. You were probably the best
friend I’ve ever had. We’d play and laugh and make things up.
It was the world’s best make-believe, but one thing wasn’t make
believe at all.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
I couldn’t speak. I just shook my head.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“You, Mister King,” says May. “You were my prince, and my
jester. You were there with me through all the adventures. I never
wanted to do that stuff without you.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Damn, Kid,” I managed to choke out. “You were a lot of fun
yourself.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
I heard her half laugh, half cry on the other end. “I love you,
Mister King,” she says.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Right back at ya, Kid.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
We talked more. Small stuff – memories, laughs. The nurse stayed
close. She handed me a Kleenex now and again. Finally we said good
bye and I hung up the phone.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
I looked up at the nurse. Through the tears I could barely make out
her name tag.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Thank you, Shaniquay,” I said.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
Her big brown eyes shone. “Right back at ya,” she said.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
*****</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<br />
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04391804489378097489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3684043944839678336.post-9031670404919100332015-02-17T18:59:00.000-08:002015-02-17T18:59:12.895-08:00fictwrig8 Rama and the Camel<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Rama and the Camel</b></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">by Will Wright</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.38in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Rama’s father’s birthing day was in two days, and
she had nothing to give him. She’d heard stories of genies that
granted wishes when you rubbed an oil lamp. If she could find a
genie, she could get her father a mountain of gold or a great palace.
Rama loved her father very much and wanted to give him something he
would like.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.38in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">But she was too small to reach the lamp.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.38in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Being only six, she could only reach the candleholders,
the water jar, the oil cruse, and the incense box. She considered
each, but decided that, with her small hands, the incense box was
best.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">So, she took the incense box from the shelf and began to
rub it.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.38in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">She was glad there was no fire in the box, because as
she rubbed, the box started getting warm. She was sure she had rubbed
the box longer than the hero in the story had.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Shouldn’t a genie have come out by now?</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">She kept rubbing the box.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">She started rubbing after the morning meal, and was
still rubbing at noon. She stirred the soup with one hand while she
rubbed the incense box with the other. At table, she ate with one
hand and kept the other beneath the table rubbing the little incense
box. As she gathered the goats, she had to put down the goad in order
to close the gate – she needed one hand to rub the incense box.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Lying in her blankets, she worried that she might fall
asleep before the genie came. </span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Her left eye blinked, but she rubbed the incense box.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Her right eye drooped, but she rubbed the incense box</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Just when she couldn’t stay awake another moment, the
little box jumped in her hand, let off a puff of incense, and there
on her blanket stood a man no bigger than Rama’s little finger.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">I am the genie of the incense box,” said the tiny
man in a squeaky voice. “I grant you one wish.”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Rama would have clapped her hands in glee, but her hands
were too sore from rubbing the incense box all day. She set her face
to her most adult expression and said, “I wish, for my dear father,
a mountain of gold for his birthing day.”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The genie crossed his arms, shut his eyes, and held his
breath till he turned red… but nothing happened.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">I’m sorry mistress,” he said. “I am not able
to bring a mountain of gold.”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Rama was a little disappointed. She remembered hearing
her father say, “Our lives will be wonderful when I find us a
mountain of gold.”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">It was, perhaps, too much to wish from such a small
genie. Still, there was one other thing her father desired.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">She set her face to her most adult expression and said,
“I wish, for my dear father, a great palace for his birthing day.”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The genie crossed his arms, shut his eyes, and held his
breath till he turned purple… but nothing happened.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">I’m sorry mistress,” he said. “I am unable to
bring a great palace.”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Rama was even more disappointed. She remembered hearing
her father say, “Our lives will be wonderful when we live in a
great palace.”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">It was perhaps, too much to wish from such a small
genie.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Once again, she set her face to her most adult
expression and asked, “What wishes can you grant for my dear father
on his birthing day?”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The tiny genie bowed. “Great Mistress,” he answered,
“I can turn his nose into a clove of garlic.”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Rama thought, but not hard. She didn’t think her
father would like his nose changed into a clove of garlic for his
birthing day. </span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">I do not wish that,” she told the genie.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The tiny genie bowed. “Great Mistress,” he said, “I
can turn his nose into a wad of wet wool.”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Rama thought, but not hard. She didn’t think her
father would like his nose changed into a wad of wet wool for his
birthing day. </span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">I do not wish that,” she told the genie.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The tiny genie bowed. “Great Mistress,” he said,
“there is only one other magic I can do. I can make his camel smell
any way you wish.”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Rama thought, and this time, much harder than the other
times. A camel can smell very bad indeed. Perhaps her father would
like a sweet smelling camel for his birthing day.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">I do wish that,” she told the genie.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The little genie crossed his arms, shut his eyes, and
held his breath till he turned blue.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">It is done, Mistress,” he said, and disappeared in
a little puff of incense.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Rama woke early the next morning. Though her father’s
birthing day was still a day away, she decided to surprise him with a
good smelling camel a day early.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">Jasmine,” she said aloud. She crossed her arms,
closed her eyes, and held her breath as she had seen the genie do. “I
wish the camel to smell like jasmine.”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">She hurried to wash and dress herself. She couldn’t
wait to see how her father would like his surprise.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.38in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">When she got to the table, she greeted her mother. Her
father was outside tending the animals.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">What if the genie lied to her or couldn’t do what he
promised? He was such a tiny genie. Perhaps even the wish of changing
the camel’s smell was too great for him.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Father entered the house. He looked angry.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">Papa!” called Rama.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">One moment, dear Rama,” he answered. He turned to
Mother. “Did you hear anyone moving around the animals last night?”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">No,” Mother answered. “I would have wakened you.”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">Someone,” Papa said, “has played a trick on me.
He has spilled perfume all over the camel. How can I do my business
at the bazaar with a camel that smells like flowers?”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">It had not occurred to Rama that her father would prefer
a camel that smells like a camel. If only she could take back her
wish.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">What had the genie said?</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">I can make his camel smell any way you wish.”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Perhaps, if she wished it, the camel would go back to
normal.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">She crossed her arms, closed her eyes, and held her
breath. Silently she thought, “I wish the camel to go back to
normal.”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Rama went about her chores without her normal
enthusiasm. She was tired and disappointed. She had gotten a wish and
wasted it. She should have known her father wouldn’t want a camel
that smelled of jasmine. She didn’t even know if her second wish
had changed the camel back.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Her father returned from the bazaar at dusk. She walked
out to the pen to smell the camel for herself. Her father was feeding
the animals when she arrived.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">I can do that, Papa,” she said.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Her father looked at her. “Maybe you are big enough.
What a helpful little daughter I have.” He patted her on the head.
“Make sure you’re inside before dark.”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The feed sacks were heavy, but Rama managed to pour feed
for the goats and draw water for the trough. She put fresh hay in the
manger.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">She went over to the camel and took a good sniff. All
she smelled was camel.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">It was a silly thing to wish a camel to smell of
jasmine,” she said.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">I liked smelling that way.”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Rama had never heard the camel speak before, nor any
other animal. She had been pretty sure that animals couldn’t talk
like humans did. Still, the camel had just spoken to her.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">She was only six; there were probably a lot of things
she didn’t know.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">You like jasmine?” she asked</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">It’s a lot better than how I usually smell,” the
camel replied. “Though I think I like the smell of lemons better.”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Rama crossed her arms, closed her eyes, and held her
breath. “I wish for you to smell like lemons,” she said.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Instantly the pen was filled with the delicious smell of
lemons. It was very strong, but not overpowering.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">Ah yes,” said the camel. “That’s very nice.”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Rama agreed, but she still liked jasmine better.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">She was just about to wish the camel back to normal
again, when a large group of people she’d never seen before came
over the hill from the north. The crowd went right up to the animal
pen where she and the camel were standing. They were holding shovels,
and pick axes, and rock drills, and every one of them had a clove of
garlic for a nose.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">Since the day we were cursed,” said the first
person to reach the pen, “I have smelled nothing but garlic. Now, I
can smell lemons.”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">We all smell lemons,” another agreed.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">I never thought I would smell something so wonderful
again,” added a third.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">Is it you child, that I’m smelling?” asked the
first.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">No,” Rama replied. “It is this camel.”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">We are gold miners,” said the first. “If we dig
gold for you all night, may we sit by this wonderful camel during the
day?”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Rama knew she should ask her father, but here was a way
of getting a real present for him. If she asked permission, it would
ruin the surprise.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">I agree,” she said.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The miners went to their work.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">If father comes and smells lemons,” said Rama, “he
may think someone has tricked him again.”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">It is true,” said the camel. “You should wish me
back to normal.”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">I will return in the morning,” promised Rama “and
you will smell of lemons then.”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Rama woke before the dawn and rushed out to the pen to
see the camel. Next to the pen lay a mound that sparkled even in the
deep blue pre-dawn.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">Good morning, Rama,” the camel greeted her
politely.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">Good morning, Camel,” she replied. “Are you ready
to smell like lemons again?”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">There’s no hurry. It’s not day yet,” said the
camel. “I’ve been thinking. I also like the smell of cinnamon a
lot. Can we try that?”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">Oh, I like cinnamon too,” said Rama. She crossed
her arms, closed her eyes, and held her breath. “I wish for you to
smell like cinnamon,” she said.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Instantly the pen was filled with the delicious smell of
cinnamon. It was very strong, but not overpowering.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">Ah yes,” said the camel. “That’s very nice. I
like it as much as I like the smell of lemons.”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Rama agreed, but she still liked jasmine better.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">She was just about to wish the camel to smell of lemons,
when a large group of people she’d never seen before came over the
hill to the south. The crowd went right up to the animal pen where
she and the camel were standing. They were holding hammers, and
trowels, and chisels, and every one of them had a wad of wet wool for
a nose.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">Since the day we were cursed,” said the first
person to reach the pen, “I have smelled nothing but wet wool. Now
I can smell cinnamon.”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">We all smell cinnamon,” another agreed.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">I never thought I would smell something so wonderful
again.” Added a third.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">Is it you, Child, that I am smelling?” asked the
first.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">No,” Rama replied. “It is this camel.”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">We are palace builders,” said the first. “If we
build a palace for you all day, may we sit by this wonderful camel at
night?”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Rama knew she should ask her father, but here was a way
of getting a second present for him. If she asked permission, it
would ruin the surprise.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">I agree,” she said.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Rama’s father was surprised to find a large group of
people sitting in his animal pen all day, and a different group at
night, but as he saw the beginning of a great palace, and the
beginning of a mountain of gold, he didn’t seem to mind.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Rama found that her father was right. Things were
wonderful living in a palace with a mountain of gold. Many things
were different, but as she and her parents still loved each other,
the best parts of her life remained the same.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The builders and miners were happy, her parents were
happy, and even the camel was happy, with all his new friends, and
smelling like lemons during the day, and cinnamon at night.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">And during dusk and dawn, when it wasn’t fully day,
nor was it fully night, and the world was most beautiful, Princess
Rama rode out among the hills on her wonderful camel that smelled of
jasmine.</span></div>
<br />
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.38in; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04391804489378097489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3684043944839678336.post-73412600692509943412015-02-17T05:53:00.000-08:002015-02-17T05:53:03.419-08:00FictWrig/McFa3 Flash Fiction<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
Myrtle</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
by
Will Wright</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
Myrtle burst into
the air, her flame streaking past the sputtering remains of an
oldster. She surged with potential, her energy building within her.
She let loose a blast of color, red, then purple, then green,
syncopated by three concussive claps. Beneath her, the humans
marveled. She was the star of the sky as she was always meant to be.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
Suddenly tired,
burned out, she descended looking for rest. As she fell, she saw
Barry rushing through her embers, ready to explode into a circular
blossom of light.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Ah youth,”
she sighed as she fizzled and died.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
Sandman’s
World</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
by
Will Wright</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
In the rapid
blinking of an eye, Sandman took young Justin across the seas. In
Sandman’s world, ships could fly and even reach the stars.
Villains were conquered, bravery rewarded, and there was always room
for Frisbee the Labrador. But there was no room for homework,
braces, or school bus rides next to smelly Cecil Sminglethorpe.
Sandman’s world canvassed forever and beyond. Justin was the
perfect age to explore it.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
A different scent
than Cecil’s took Justin away – a scent both acrid and demanding.
Justin twitched his nose and fell back into the mundane.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
Coffee: Sandman’s
eternal nemesis.</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Rosebud</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> by Stanley
McFarland</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">A Bicycle?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Stacy’s little brother,
now a man in his fifties nodded. “I said no, but you took it, and
you lost it.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">Someone stole it.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">Because you were
careless!”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">I was a child.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">You never should have
taken it.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Stacy put her hand on her
brother’s arm. “But we’re family.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">No, we’re not - not
anymore.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Her brother awkwardly
placed flowers on the fresh grave. They were orphans now as</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">was almost everyone their
age. But that didn’t soften the grief.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Stacy watched her
brother’s back as he left the graveyard.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Now
she had no family at all.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-before: always; text-indent: 0.25in;">
Flash Edit</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
by Stanley McFarland</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
It wasn’t de-ja-vous. Allen didn’t think he’d been in the same
place or done the same thing. There was the same mysterious haunted
feeling, but if anything, it was anti-de-ja-vous. Allen was sure
that something was different – something had changed – maybe even
he had changed.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
Worse, it felt as if the change had been against his will. Some
force, personal or impersonal, had ripped into his life, his being
and mangled it – or at least reshaped it significantly.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
It left him feeling helpless, impotent and frightened. It also left
him questioning the point of any action, plan or ambition he might
have.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“What’s the point?” he spoke into the air, as if the monster of
change was in the same room with him.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“It makes for a better story,” a voice replied, calmly,
matter-of-factly, as if it – perhaps she, spoke out of the air to
people like Allen all the time.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“A better story?” asked Allen, both hoping and fearing that the
voice would elaborate.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“It made no sense for you to be a sea captain,” said the voice.
“The story makes far better sense in a modern setting, and modern
sea captains just aren’t as dashing as their 18<sup>th</sup> and
19<sup>th</sup> century counterparts. We also negate all that
nautical argot that only a small segment of the reading public
understands or enjoys.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“So what am I?”</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
The bodiless voice laughed – light-hearted, unconcerned, as if
Allen’s crisis was a trivial matter. “You’re an international
spy,” said the voice. “You were once an assassin for hire, but
now you work freelance for the NSA.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“But my ship.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“There is no ship,” said the voice. “There never was. Look in
your pocket. There are two tickets to Rio there. What you should be
most concerned about at the moment is for whom the second ticket was
obtained.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“I don’t care. I want my ship.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“We’ll change that.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“So all I am is just bit of fictional fluff to you?”</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Exactly.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“And you don’t care if I wish to participate in this… story?</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Not a consideration.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“I can’t believe that even a writer would show so little feeling
for his characters.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“I’m no writer,” said the voice laughing. “I’m an editor.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“Very well,” said Allen as he sat firmly on a chair that he felt
certain had been his sea trunk not long ago, “I refuse to
cooperate.”</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">Oh well,” said the voice laconically. “I guess
you’re just flash fiction.”</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04391804489378097489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3684043944839678336.post-6743002130729035452014-11-20T08:20:00.002-08:002014-11-20T08:20:46.827-08:00FictHaus8 Mortified<div align="CENTER" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Mortified</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.25in;">
by Headley Hauser
</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I
remember it started the Halloween my frat brothers hauled a keg out
to Woodland Cemetery. While I’m as brave as the next guy – or at
least some of the next guys, I spent the night in front of the tube.
Why go to a graveyard on the one night of the year when the dead are
supposed to rise? </span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The
next morning I felt like a coward. Why was I shy about graveyards?
What was I worried about, ghosts, zombies, vampires? I wasn’t a
child anymore. I was a grad student. It was time to do something
stupid.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Anyway,
it was All Saints Day. Wasn’t that supposed to be an undead-free
holiday?</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">That
night Woodland didn’t look very spooky, though it wasn’t exactly
tidy. Toilet paper hung limply from a marble Jesus, as it did from a
massive oak tree. Beer cans leaned against William A. Mayberry’s
(1870-1921) stone. That had to be high school kids. Even the dead
won’t drink Coors Light.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Meeting
Godfrey gave me a start. Suddenly he was just there, standing
straight but not stiff. His clothes were perfect without looking
metrosexual. Even the wind didn’t bother his natural-looking
perfect hair.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Of
course, I hated him immediately. He extended a manicured hand and
flashed a cold smile.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">Godfrey
Hamilton.”</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">Stan
Plotz,” I said, shaking his cold hand and feeling inferior. It
reminded me of shaking the priest’s hand after mass. “You’re
very nicely dressed for graveyard walking,” I said. </span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I
was just saying something to make noise. What did I know about
graveyard-walking attire? Was there a uniform, maybe from a business
fashion magazine? What would that be, </span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Graveyard
Quarterly</i></span><span style="font-size: small;">?</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">First
impressions are important, Stanley,” Godfrey answered. “People
judge you by your outward appearance. They’ll never take the time
to appreciate your finer points if your presentation shows a lack of
self-respect.” Pausing, he took in my flannel shirt, grass-stained
blue jeans, Demon Deacon jacket, and three-year-old Nikes. So much
for my “presentation.” “You’re a grad student?” he asked.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">Yes.”</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">That
would be MBA or law school?”</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I’d
been turned down for both, so I lied. “No, I decided not to go the
money route. I’m getting my MSW at Wake.”</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">Master
of Social Work.” Godfrey frowned. “Yes, I suppose it’s
important to have qualified people in every field.”</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I
felt vindicated. Why, I didn’t know.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">As
long as you’re striving,” said Godfrey, “to be the best you can
be each and every day.”</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">One
never knows what to say when encountering a Dale Carnegie cultie. I
hated him more, but I sucked in my gut and straightened my jacket.
Then, rebelliously, I unstraightened, earning another frown from
Godfrey. I’ll be damned if I’ll change my appearance to earn the
approval of some upper crust Ken doll.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">So,
Mr. Hamilton,” I said in what I hoped was a superior tone, “why
is it so important to give a good first impression to perfect
strangers one meets in a graveyard?”</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Godfrey
showed no sign of irritation. “Well, Mr. Plotz, in some cases,
hardly important at all.” He gave me a glance that made it clear I
fell in that category. “However, once in a while you’ll run
across a more formidable type. It’s important to keep them off
balance so you can do this.”</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I
was flooded with a mix of sensations and emotions. Incredibly
powerful hands grabbed me by head and shoulder. I felt a sharp,
two-pointed stab in my neck. Racing through my head was fear, anger,
embarrassment, and the feeling that this all would be a lot better
for my self-esteem if Godfrey had been a hot woman.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Everything
went black.</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">It
took a few moments to realize that I was no longer unconscious. It
was that dark. The air was stuffy, and I had a disgusting flat taste
in my mouth. I shifted to ease a lump in my back and bumped into
walls to my right and left. </span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">That’s
when I heard an odd muffled sound, like someone else’s phone
conversation bleeding through the line. It seemed to be a human
voice or a number of human voices. It sounded far away and close at
the same time. There was a musical quality to it like singing or,
more accurately, chanting. I strained my ears to hear the words,
but the harder I strained, the less distinct they became. Whatever I
was hearing, it wasn’t with my ears. </span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Did
I have new sensory organ? I touched my face expecting to feel a lump
or mutant zit. There wasn’t anything there, but the chanting got
louder. What do you do with a new sense? I had no recollection of
using my eyes or ears for the first time. Maybe that’s why babies
sometimes look so thoughtful. </span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Reaching
up, I felt cushioned fabric. I was in a pretty tight space.
Normally I’d be trembling with claustrophobia. I was never good
with closets, elevators, or even small cars, but I felt fine, even
comfortable. I pushed against the ceiling. I heard wood cracking
and metal complaining as I pushed the roof several inches. Did I
just do that? I’d never been particularly strong, as every bully
in my middle school could tell you. Maybe the wood was rotten?
Freshly turned soil and sand poured down on my face. </span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The
voices were clearer now, and much louder. Working my way through
dirt and debris, I got to my knees, then to a crouch. I reached up
till I felt a breeze on my fingertips. The earth parted above me
like water, but when my hands gripped the topsoil, the ground held. </span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I
stretched to loosen tight muscles. It was a delicious sensation. I
felt both light and strong. With one heave I not only cleared the
surface, but sailed several feet into the air, landing majestically
on a stone.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">A
grave stone.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">My
grave stone.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">So
this meant what, I was a vampire?</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Some
might have been horrified, but I felt great. I was a lord of the
night. No more fear of brawny troglodytes like those who had, a
decade past, beaten me with my own violin case. I was now a creature
to be feared. Gathered around me was my new brotherhood, fellow
members of a mighty pack. I was secure in our mutual admiration.
Why else would they be gathered to sing me out of my grave, imbue me
with their mighty spirit, and… laugh?</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Around
me the dread fraternity of vampires rolled about, cackling like so
many Shriners at a whoopee cushion trade show.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">Plotz,”
Godfrey said, “you haven’t any pants on.”</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">It
was true. I was in my best shirt, tie, and suit coat, but with
nothing but boxers below. I suppose I should have been grateful for
the boxers, but I didn’t feel gratitude at that moment.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">Who
did this!” I sputtered.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The
vampires laughed even louder. Godfrey, however, only snickered.
“Plotz,” he said, “you might want to check with your
undertaker.”</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">How
do I do that?”</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">The
cemetery office. You’re newly buried; there’ll be a file.”</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I
disliked Godfrey Hamilton, even in my newly glorified state. I was
also afraid of him, but I took his advice.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The
file identified my undertaker as Mr. Feeley Nuzbetch, who ran his
establishment in the West End. I knew the place – up the hill from
Burke Street Pizza.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">There
was a light burning downstairs at the Feeley Nuzbetch Funeral Parlor.
I didn’t have a watch on, maybe Feeley took that too, but it felt
really late or, more likely, really early morning.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I
went to the door and silently broke the deadbolt. I planned to sneak
in and spring on Nuzbetch. That’s what vampires do, right? I
opened the door, but I couldn’t cross the threshold. I’d heard
something about thresholds and vampires. Breaking into the cemetery
office hadn’t been a problem, but no one lived there. Maybe this
was Nuzbetch’s home. </span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">That
was sort of creepy. I tried to imagine living in a house with a
continuous flow of dead bodies. Of course I was dead now, so I guess
I had no reason to be judgmental.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I
circled the building. Through a window I saw a pudgy man in his
fifties or sixties. He was working on a body using a machine with
tubes attached. The process fascinated me. It also made me hungry.
Then I realized – the man was wearing my pants.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">And
my pants fit the guy. I couldn’t be as fat as he was. Maybe he
had them tailored.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Something
nagged at me. A clock inside read five-fifteen. What time did the
sun come up?</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I
wondered if the government kept records of vampires’ mortality or
re-mortality on their first dawn.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Maybe
you got a mulligan if the sun toasted you on your first night out.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Maybe
not.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">If
dawn meant certain death, or whatever it’s called when dead people
expire, how much longer could I afford to stand by this window in my
boxer shorts watching this pants-altering mortician? If I didn’t
do something soon, Nuzbetch would find himself a matching jacket.
But where could I go? I looked around me. There were plenty of
homes I couldn’t get into. There were also shops and restaurants,
but if I could enter those, they might not appreciate a corpse
resting the business day away. Even worse, they might move my body,
and once outside…</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">So
where to go? Saint Paul’s Episcopal?</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Too
chancy.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Inside
Feeley shut down the machine and pulled a large plastic bucket from
beneath the bench. He headed toward the back of the building.
Silently I moved with him. Should I cross my fingers? Crossing
anything was probably not a good idea for a vampire.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Before
the door opened I smelled blood in the bucket Nuzbetch was carrying.
I could also smell the mortician’s blood. His was more appetizing,
like prime rib holding a bucket of chipped beef. I waited for Feeley
to clear the door, then I slammed it behind him. He spun around,
sloshing blood from the bucket onto his pants – no – my pants.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">Who
are yo…?” He never finished the question, maybe because he
recognized me. I could smell his fear, but he was also laughing.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I
wanted to kill him; I wanted to drain the blood from his body, but
most of all I wanted to scare the hell out of him. I knew I couldn’t
do that partially dressed. </span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">First
of all, give me back my pants.” I tried to sound scary and
mysterious, and I guess I succeeded, because he wasted no time
stripping down to his green and orange boxers. </span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Instead
of getting fancy, I put my pants on one leg at a time. With my new
undead abilities I could probably jump ten feet up in the air, have
my shoes off, pants on, shirt tucked in, and shoes back on and tied
before I hit the ground, but I didn’t want to give Nuzbetch a
chance to escape. I sure didn’t want to botch it and have him
laughing at me again.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I
zipped up; the pants fit. It had to be a vampire thing. No way was
I as fat as Nuzbetch.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The
mortician shot glances at the door and at me. I made a point of
pulling the belt in an extra notch as I casually stepped between him
and the door. The move might have appeared more ominous if I hadn’t
burned my hands on the silver belt buckle. Wasn’t it supposed to
be werewolves that hated silver? </span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">You
know, it’ll be dawn soon.” Feeley sputtered. “You can’t
enter my house, so you’ll be nothing but a pile of dust unless I
help you.”</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The
man knew his vampire lore – certainly better than I did –
probably came with mortician training. Still, how certain could he
be about everything? “It’s very simple, Feeley,” I told him.
“After I kill you, your home will be as open to me as any other
abandoned building.” </span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I
leaned in and smelled rising terror in his blood. The scent was
intoxicating. No wonder vampires didn’t just bonk people over the
head and drag them off to feed.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I
was glad I got my pants back before I scared him. A stream of yellow
ran down Feeley’s leg, forming a puddle by his right foot. </span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The
smell of urine, while unpleasant, did nothing to stem my appetite.
The urge to kill and feed was strong, but there was another force
inside me. </span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I
never liked my great aunt Agnes. When I was a child, she used to
hector me about proper behavior and table etiquette. As much as I
wanted to ignore her, I always buckled to her irresistible will. I
was the only kid in summer camp who ate his hot dog with a fork.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Here
she was again, nothing but a dead woman’s voice ensconced in my
supposedly demonic, undead brain. “Don’t slay your food,” she
said. What did that even mean? Ridiculous, how could I survive if I
didn’t slay?</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">From
Nuzbetch’s perspective my inner battle must have looked ominous.
The man was on the ground, his bare bony knees in mud and urine,
shaking and blubbering for mercy.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">Don’t
kill me!” he cried. “I can help you. I’ll do anything.
Please, don’t kill me!”</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">He
was a pathetic mess. He stole my pants. But I needed his help.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I
waited, feigning uncertainty. The sky was going pink in the east.
As much as I enjoyed the groveling, I needed to get under cover. I
grabbed the mortician by the chin and forced him to look me in the
eye.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">Invite
me inside, Nuzbetch.”</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I
suppose things could be worse. Nuzbetch’s basement is dry and
blocks the sunlight during the day. He set me up in a lovely coffin
and asked if I wanted it lined with Transylvanian dirt. I declined;
it seemed more messy than exotic. The funeral business keeps me well
supplied with blood. Dead blood makes an uninteresting dietary
staple, but it keeps Great Aunt Agnes quiet. </span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I
went back to school, taking only night classes. People were pretty
surprised to see me, but it raised less fuss than you’d think. My
frat brothers thought it added prestige to the house. They try not
to eat too much garlic when I’m around.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I
make money for tuition and death’s little extras as a night
watchman. The black uniform suits me. Feeley packs me a thermos
each night. </span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I
do get tired of dead blood all the time.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Maybe
someone will show up and make trouble.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Great
Aunt Agnes would never defend a troublemaker.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<br />
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04391804489378097489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3684043944839678336.post-84287493979719039482014-11-03T08:44:00.000-08:002014-11-03T08:44:32.400-08:00fictmcfa7 Out of Season<div align="CENTER" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Out of Season</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">By Stanley W. McFarland</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.19in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Yusuf hated camels. He hated the spitting and the
ill-temper. He hated how high you had to sit in order to ride one.
Most of all, he hated the smell.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Yet here he was with his wife and son. His was one of
only two parties in Antiochus-the-Syrian’s caravan with a donkey,
and for the first time in his life, Yusuf considered that he might be
better off with a camel.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">The donkey was no longer young and Yusuf was asking a
lot of the beast. His wife, Mari was pregnant with their second
child and young Yeshua was too little to keep up the pace. Then,
there were Yusuf’s carpentry tools and camp supplies, and the
family’s secret wealth of gold, incense and rich ointment. There
was little enough of each, but more than enough to get his throat cut
if one of these Syrians, Samaritans, or Ishmaelites knew what he had.
They </span><span style="line-height: 32px;">wouldn't</span><span style="line-height: 200%;"> care about the treasure being gifts from exotic
eastern mystics. Yusuf wouldn’t believe such a story himself if he
hadn’t been there to see it.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Last night, the donkey looked to be getting lame. When
Yusuf mentioned it, little Yeshua fussed over the beast for a bit.
The animal seemed better this morning. Yusuf had no idea what the
family would do if the donkey died. Here they were, in the midst of
strangers, halfway to Egypt, a place he feared only a little less
than this wasteland they were traveling through to get there.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">At least Mari wasn’t nearly as pregnant as she was the
last time they traveled. They had barely made Bethlehem, when little
Yeshua was born two years before. It seemed a miracle that the
jostling of the trip hadn’t caused her to give birth on the side of
the road.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Many strange things revolved around little Yeshua.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;">Yeshua was the reason they were taking this trip. Yusuf
had dreamed that the king wanted to kill the boy. Why a king should
care about a two-year-old child was hard to imagine. Yes, both Yusuf
could trace his line back to King David, but so could more than ten
thousand others if the census was to be believed. Yusuf wasn’t
sure that half that many were of David’s lineage. </span><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><i>There
are always those who claim a royal ancestor to help cover their own
short-comings.</i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;"> Yusuf </span><span style="line-height: 32px;">didn't</span><span style="line-height: 200%;"> see why. </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="line-height: 200%;">Here
I am, a descendent of the great King David and I’m still just a
carpenter with a sharp-tongued wife and a bastard son. Whatever that
odd stranger meant about Yeshua being of the spirit of Yahweh, all I
know is that the boy </span><span style="line-height: 32px;">isn't</span><span style="line-height: 200%;"> mine. </span></i></span><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;">Now,
because of that boy, he was on the road to Egypt fleeing a king who
shouldn’t know Yusuf from a host of other working men in Southern
Judea.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">He had to admit, he liked the little fellow. No, he
loved him. Even if Yeshua wasn’t his by birth, Yusuf couldn’t
have asked for a better son. He had a mind of his own and a stubborn
streak like other two-year-olds, but at least he didn’t have his
mother’s tongue – yet. He hoped the child in Mari’s womb would
measure up to his older brother. Of course, the baby might be a
girl. Imagine the shame of having some other man father a boy with
his wife and Yusuf’s children all be daughters.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;">Mari had strange, disturbing plans for Yeshua. They
could have used a camel, or a second donkey, for this trip, and they
had more than enough gold to buy one. But, Mari refused to spend the
gold and told Yusuf that it was for the boy’s army when he comes of
age. </span><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="line-height: 200%;">King Herod </span><span style="line-height: 32px;">couldn't</span><span style="line-height: 200%;"> have heard about
her saying such things, could he?</span></i></span><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"> Maybe
that’s why they were in the midst of the wilderness with an old
donkey and hostile strangers all around. </span><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><i>It
never pays to stick your head up where the great will notice you.</i></span><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;">
Where did Mari get these notions of exalting the lowly and making
the mighty grovel in the dust?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">Yusuf </span><span style="line-height: 32px;">didn't</span><span style="line-height: 200%;"> trust this Antiochus. In Syria,
Antiochus was a fine name but to a Judean it was the desecrator of
the temple, the enemy of the Macabees. They were riding with a man
named for the evil king, headed for the land of captivity. All they
needed was a neighbor named Haman to make the trip complete.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The donkey balked. It wasn’t such a big surprise. If
I were he, Yusuf thought, I’d balk too.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.19in;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">What do you want, old jack-ass?” Yusuf growled.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.19in;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">He says he’s hot and tired and thirsty and wants to
rest,” said little Yeshua. He said the strangest things at times,
yet that’s probably what the donkey would say if he could. </span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">Let
me down, Papa. I can walk with you.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">Yusuf guessed it </span><span style="line-height: 32px;">couldn't</span><span style="line-height: 200%;"> hurt to let the boy down.
The donkey </span><span style="line-height: 32px;">wasn't</span><span style="line-height: 200%;"> moving. </span></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">Damn
it, jack-ass, move!”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.19in;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">Are you sure about that dream, Yusuf?” Mari asked.
“Maybe we should have stayed in Judea.”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.19in;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">How can I be sure of anything, Mari? With you
speaking sedition at every well, it’s no wonder the king wants to
kill us.”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.19in;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">Did the dream say Herod wants to kill us, or the
boy?”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.19in;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">I told you,” said Yusuf. “The dream said the
boy.”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.19in;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">Then it was a true dream. My son will change the
world.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><i>Her son again.</i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;"> Yusuf </span><span style="line-height: 32px;">wasn't</span><span style="line-height: 200%;"> the father but she still could say “our son” just to let him feel
included.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The boy let out a bray that sounded for all the world
like the donkey. The donkey started walking again. Little Yeshua
ran over and grabbed Yusuf’s hand.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.19in;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">What did you say to the donkey?” Yusuf scowled.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.19in;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">I told him there is an oasis ahead, and he’ll have
figs to eat when we get there.”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.19in;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">Yeshua, we ran out of figs days ago.” The boy just
looked at Yusuf as if the man was a dullard. “I guess it doesn’t
matter what you promised a donkey, Yeshua, as long as you got it to
move.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">The boy’s legs were short but at least he </span><span style="line-height: 32px;">didn't</span><span style="line-height: 200%;"> dawdle like other children his age. The boy walked for two hours
without complaint. </span></span><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><i>Maybe, he’ll be a
soldier. I hope not. I want him to be a carpenter, have a family, be
happy and support me in my old age.</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Ahead was an oasis. Three palm trees towered over the
little water hole. In front of the water hole was a fig tree. The
tree had fruit on it.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">Figs </span><span style="line-height: 32px;">weren't</span><span style="line-height: 200%;"> due for months yet, and any tree on a
caravan route would be constantly picked clean. The leading members
of the caravan were already gathering the figs. Ordinarily, Yusuf
would expect the tree to be picked bare before he got there, but
somehow he knew there would be enough for his family, and even some
for the donkey. Little Yeshua patted the donkey and trudged on to
the oasis.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">What kind of child was this?</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04391804489378097489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3684043944839678336.post-9711703389545325062014-10-26T06:09:00.001-07:002014-10-26T06:09:06.821-07:00fictwrig6 Minerva<div align="CENTER" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Minerva</b></span></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>by
Will Wright</b></span></span></span></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Minerva’s
belly was full. She wasn’t a kit any longer. She had to hunt for
herself. It was good to feel satisfied.<br /> Her den was far away,
and she was sleepy. The night was cold and windy. Foxes have thick
fur, but she wanted to find a warm place to sleep.<br /> She found
a small den. She sniffed at the opening. There was a badger inside. A
badger will not share a den with a fox.<br /> Two coyotes were in
the dry creek bed. They were curled together. They looked warm. She
missed her kit mates. It was warmer sleeping together.<br /> A
rabbit hopped by. The rabbit saw Minerva and hopped faster. Minerva
wasn’t hungry; she was cold. She let the rabbit go.<br /> There
was a clearing. It wasn’t like she remembered. The trees were gone.
Now there were only stumps.<br /> Minerva spied the trees. They
were all lying down in a pile on something tall and hard. The thing
smelled strange. It looked dangerous.<br /> The trees looked warm
in that tight pile. She would be comfortable if she burrowed into the
trees. Her den was far away. She could be cozy right here.<br />
She jumped up on the tall thing, and burrowed into the trees. She was
warm. She fell asleep.<br /> After a while, Minerva woke up.
Something was wrong. The trees were shaking. There were strange
sounds coming from the tall thing. It smelled like fire!<br /> She
climbed to the top of the pile of trees. It was difficult. Everything
was shaking. The wind was blowing. It didn’t feel like any wind
she’d felt before.<br /> The pile was moving. It was going very
fast and taking her with it. How could a pile of trees run faster
than a fox? The tall thing must be a beast—a beast that smelled of
fire.<br /> Other beasts like the one that held the trees moved
around the pile. The near ones ran with the pile, like wolves run in
a pack. The far ones ran past them, going the other way.<br /> They
were loud and smelled like fire. Each one had large eyes that spread
light like the moon in front. They had smaller red eyes in back.<br />
Minerva wanted to jump. She wanted to run away. She wanted to find
her den. She was frightened.<br /> The pile of trees ran too fast.
She couldn’t jump. She burrowed back in the pile. What else could
she do?<br /> She didn’t like the noise. She didn’t like the
rumbling. She didn’t like the smell of fire. But, she was warm in
the pile. She went to sleep.<br /> Minerva woke up. The pile had
stopped running. She climbed to the top of the trees. The running
beasts were still near. Their eyes were open but the moonlight wasn’t
shining out.<br /> The stars were very close. They hung from trees
and steep hillsides all around her. Most of the stars were white.
Some were red or green or blue.<br /> “Merry Christmas,” an
animal barked. She had seen one of these animals before. It was a
human. They were dangerous to foxes.<br /> Minerva jumped from the
pile. “Look, a fox,” barked another human. “Call animal
services.”<br /> Minerva ran. The hills were tall and in every
direction. They were too steep to climb. Narrow valleys ran between
the hills.<br /> Everywhere she went, Minerva saw more steep hills.
Humans were everywhere. So were the running beasts, some with moon
lights shining, but most without.<br /> There were trees. Trees
only grew in the valleys. Each tree was by itself, far from other
trees.<br /> There were animals too. There were squirrels and
birds. There were animals that reminded her of coyotes, but they were
different.<br /> There were cats. There were almost as many cats as
humans. The cats didn’t like her but they left her alone.<br />
“There it is,” a human barked. Minerva heard a bang. There was a
tooth in her side. She ran in a circle to see her attacker but
couldn’t find one. She fell asleep.<br /> Minerva awakened. She
was in the clearing. There were stumps all around. A human was
nearby.<br /> “Merry Christmas, little vixen,” barked the
human. He walked away to a running beast. The beast made a roar.
Moonlight shone from its eyes.<br /> She was in the woods again.
There were no more tall hillsides and narrow valleys. The trees grew
in clumps.<br /> Above her, the stars were far away. Only one was a
little red. There were no cats. The running beast went away.<br />
Now she knew the human greeting bark. It was, “Merry Christmas.”
They didn’t harm her, but she didn’t want to see them again.<br />
Minerva started walking. She was walking back to her den. She
decided it wasn’t so far away after all.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04391804489378097489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3684043944839678336.post-59647531771870484792014-10-18T20:19:00.003-07:002014-10-18T20:19:33.484-07:00ficthaus4 Toto in Munchkinland<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><b>Toto
in Munchkinland</b></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">by
Headley Hauser</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The house never used to move like that. At least Toto
didn’t think it moved that way, but he spent all of his time with
Dorothy, and she wandered around outside singing a lot, so he
couldn’t be sure. This was a lot like being in the basket when the
bad dog rode on her bicycle over the rocky, hilly road, except that
now he didn’t see any way to jump out.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Crash!</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Well, there wasn’t till now.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">Oh, Toto,” said Dorothy, “look at all the
colors!”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">What was a color? Dorothy was the love of his life, but
Toto could never understand this thing she had about colors. Then
she completely ignored the most interesting smells.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Dorothy was a very strange dog.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">What was this? Toto ran out of the house and around to
the side. There was something under the house – something either
newly dead or just dying. It was the foulest, nastiest smell he’d
ever smelled in his life. Was it food? Maybe he should roll in it.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">He’d better check with Dorothy.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">Dorothy!” Toto barked, “You gotta come smell this
dead thing!”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">Toto,” said Dorothy, “I don’t think we’re in
Kansas anymore.”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Talk about changing the subject! Sometimes it seemed
like Dorothy just wasn’t listening.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Dorothy went around looking at flowers while Toto
sniffed for really interesting things. Of course, the dead thing was
pretty hard to ignore, but Toto wasn’t a puppy anymore. He knew
how to sniff for little things. There weren’t many things to
smell, no rabbits or squirrels or even those bag things with all the
hard kibble in them. Unless that dead thing was food, they might be
in trouble.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">But there were dogs – lots of them. They smelled
different than Dorothy, but so did Toto. Dogs came in all kinds of
scents. Dorothy was so busy looking for colors that she didn’t
even smell the pack.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Toto wasn’t worried. The pack smelled like they were
afraid. Toto gave a growl to show them that they had reason to fear.
Three dogs smaller than Dorothy and a big bitch with white fur came
out of the weeds so Dorothy could see them. Toto prepared for a
fight.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">They just talked. They didn’t even growl, but at
least they showed Dorothy respect.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The pack showed Dorothy the dead thing under the house.
They didn’t say it was food, so Toto lost interest and went around
marking the small trees that didn’t smell like real trees at all.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">It was too easy. No dogs had marked any of them.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">What’s wrong with you dogs!” Toto barked.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Dorothy giggled like Toto had made a joke and held out
her arms. Toto jumped into her arms. She never understood the
things he tried to tell her, but she was nice and warm.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">They talked some more – not about food or territory or
anything useful. They talked about witches and a wizard. Unless
they were the witches and wizard of food, Toto didn’t care.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Then it got weird.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Everybody started saying, “Follow the yellow brick
road.” They said it over and over again. Even Dorothy said it.
Dorothy started walking while saying, “Follow the yellow brick
road.” She motioned for Toto to follow her.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Toto followed. He always followed Dorothy. He loved
Dorothy.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">But when do we eat?” barked Toto.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">And what’s yellow?”</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04391804489378097489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3684043944839678336.post-61565298244744700592014-10-11T06:23:00.004-07:002014-10-11T06:23:40.146-07:00fictwrig5 The Isle of Figgamaroo<h1 class="western" style="line-height: 100%; orphans: 0; page-break-after: auto; widows: 0;">
<b>The Isle of Figgamaroo</b></h1>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">by
Will Wright</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
’<span style="font-size: small;">Twas
my first voyage</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">And
a fine voyage too</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Bound
with six others</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">For
Figgamaroo</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">There
was Narli and Parlie</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">And
Otter and Barry</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Gastro,
the ship’s cook</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">And
old Captain Harry</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">With
me as their seventh</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">A
cabin boy true</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">In
search of the island</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Of
Figgamaroo</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Our
cargo was taffy</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">And
three kinds of jade</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Fish
hooks and teacups</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">That
we hoped to go trade</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">For
the finest of riches</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">That
your thoughts could construe</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Found
no-where on earth</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">But
Figgamaroo</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Gastro
would serve us</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Goose
eggs on a platter</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Which
he’d cook mixed with shell</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Said
the Captain, “No matter</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">For
there’s oat-cakes and gumbo</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">With
jelly-drop goo</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">When
we get to the Island</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Of
Figgamaroo”</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Thin
Parlie, our lookout</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">With
knots was quite handy</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">To
the deck he’d drop wrappers</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">From
sugar-free candy</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">To
the captain he shouted</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">(Quite
a hullabaloo)</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">There’s
a storm lies between us</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">And
Figgamaroo”</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">So
Barry struck mainsail</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">While
Narli checked jump</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">And
Otter went ’lo decks</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">To
clean out the sump</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">And
Gastro, now queasy</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Cried,
“What shall we do?”</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">Sail
through her,” said Harry</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">To
Figgamaroo”</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I
admit that I doubted</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">As
I tied myself fast</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The
winds were so calm</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Not
a creak from the mast</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Then
the softest of whispers</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Like
an eerie preview</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Made
me wish for the safety</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Of
Figgamaroo</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The
change was so sudden</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">A
bare minute was all</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">From
the lightest of breezes</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">To
a full-blown sea squall</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">There
was thunder and lightning</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">As
our deck was blown skew</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I
despaired ever seeing</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Fair
Figgamaroo</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The
waves were so mighty</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">That
they fell from the sky</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Dropping
down a great sea bass</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Looking
me in the eye</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The
wind tore from us flotsam</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Even
my own left shoe</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I
clung to rope, and to hope</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Of
Figgamaroo</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The
salty spray whipped us</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Making
everything wet</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">From
the top of the mainmast</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">To
the cook’s shell omelet</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">But
Narli stood bravely</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Tight
the sheet line she drew</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">As
our ship struggled onward</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">To
Figgamaroo</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Just
as I figured</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Our
ship couldn’t last</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The
waves ceased to tip us</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">As
the storm rushed on past</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">And
I saw Barry dancing</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">As
the bowline he threw</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">To
the merry inhabitants</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Of
Figgamaroo</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The
natives, Trifoggles</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Saw
with three eyes apiece</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Their
pets, furboggles</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Had
luxuriant fleece</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">They
handed us shells</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Full
of mackarine stew</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">They
treat sailors kindly</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">On
Figgamaroo</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">There
was bo-bread with berries</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">And
fru-fruit, cut fine</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">And
we washed it all down</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">With
cocopop wine</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">Not
nearly,” griped Gastro,</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">As
good as shell almondu”</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">But
no one agreed</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">There
on Figgamaroo</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">They
gave us dessert</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Parlie
his stomach pattening</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Asked
wasn’t there something</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">A
little less fattening?</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The
Trifoggles looked puzzled</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The
Furboggles barked, “Woo?”</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">They
like their sweets rich</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">There
on Figgamaroo</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Barry
went hopping</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Through
the tickle-me heather</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Narli
twisted a headdress</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Made
of fling-a-bye feather</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">Now
to business,” said Harry</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">As
he put down his brew</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">Will
you trade with me here</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">On
Figgamaroo?”</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">They
showed us nuzguzzles</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">And
twoops of laparnet</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">And
intricate cozmulles</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Encrusted
with garnet</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">For
this they asked taffy</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">That
they so love to chew</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">For
taffy, they’re daffy</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">On
Figgamaroo</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">A
groan came from Otter</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Whose
job was to save</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Our
cargo from damage</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">From
leak or from wave</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">For
the taffy was sodden</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
’<span style="font-size: small;">Cause
the sea had soaked through</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">It’s
great,” said the natives</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Of
Figgamaroo</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Now
I’ve been all over</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">By
boat, ship and liner</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">And
I’ve always loved travels</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">But
there never was finer</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Than
that trip of discovery</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">When
Harry’s old crew</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Traded
salt water taffy</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: small;">On
Figgamaroo.</span></div>
<br />
<div align="CENTER" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<br />
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04391804489378097489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3684043944839678336.post-74393187617342506592014-09-28T01:20:00.001-07:002014-09-28T01:20:30.342-07:00Fictwrig/haus3 Kinda Like<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><b>Kinda
Like…</b></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">by Will
Wright and Headley Hauser</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
It’s kinda like this</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Imagine a hamster</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
He spends all day in a
converted fish aquarium</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
He’s left alone</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Except for two five-minute
periods a day</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
When some giant says a few
meaningless words</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Does a few chores</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
And replaces the water and
food pellets</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The rest of the day</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
He’s on his own</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Now there’s only one
interesting thing in his cage</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The running wheel</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Not surprisingly, the
hamster starts to run</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
He runs because he likes
to run</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
He runs because there’s
nothing else to do</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
He keeps running</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Even when he needs to poop</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
He runs</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
It doesn’t matter</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The poop falls right
through the wheel</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
And lands on the floor</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The hamster keeps running</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
He poops again</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
And keeps running</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Running, running poop
running poop</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
After a while</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
He looks down</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
He thinks</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Hey, that’s kind of
interesting</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
When the poop falls
through the wheel</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
It looks different than
regular poop</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
It’s in an odd pattern</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I wonder if I can do this</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
On purpose”</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
For the rest of the day</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The hamster runs</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
And poops</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
With a purpose</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Sometimes he moves to one
side of the wheel</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Sometimes to the other</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
He tries it while running
extra fast</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
He tries it while walking</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The pattern gets more and
more interesting</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
When he has to eat and
drink</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
He’s really careful
getting down from the wheel</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
He doesn’t want to
disturb the pattern</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Just as the sun goes down</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The giant returns</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
He grunts in human speech</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Gee, you sure made a
mess today!”</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
He takes the paper from
the bottom of the cage</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
And rolls it up carefully</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
He puts down new paper</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
And gives the hamster</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Water and pellets</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The giant leaves</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The hamster lies exhausted</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
He looks at the clean
paper</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
He looks at the food and
water</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
And he finally understands</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“He gave me food and
water for my pretty pattern</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
He put down more paper for
a new pattern</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I must be an artist!</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I’m underpaid”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<br />
<div align="CENTER" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<br />
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04391804489378097489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3684043944839678336.post-4013682588579555412014-09-24T07:00:00.000-07:002014-09-24T07:00:00.965-07:00Fictmcfa7 Hazel Part 6 Hazel and the Dragon<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Hazel
Part Six</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Hazel
and the Dragon</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">It
took us an hour to get home from the airport. In all, it had been
just over five hours since Karl and I left campus. We found a box
and shredded some newspaper and settled Hazel in it. She pooped and
urinated immediately. The newspaper in the bottom of the knapsack
was clean.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I
didn’t think a rabbit was capable of such control. My parents were
very impressed. I told them about the x-ray and the luggage
screener. They didn’t say so but I think they thought I was
putting them on.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">If
Hazel felt uncomfortable with the sudden change of environment, she
showed no sign of it. She hopped around my room, exploring. She
nibbled a little on the side of my bookcase and would have gone after
the wires if I hadn’t stopped her. She was so bright in other
ways, why did she want to eat electrical wires?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Mom,
Dad and I did some taste testing with foods Mom had in the
refrigerator. Hazel had never tried cantaloupe, honeydew or
grapefruit before. She liked the melons but didn’t care for the
grapefruit.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Her
favorite is tomatoes.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Regular
tomatoes or cherry?”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">She’s
never had cherry tomatoes.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Let’s
find out.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">My
Dad was a scientist and I think the experimental aspects of the taste
testing especially appealed to him.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">When
given the choice between a sliced tomato and a whole cherry tomato,
Hazel chose the sliced. When we sliced the cherry tomato in half,
she had no interest in anything else until she’d eaten both halves.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">I
guess she has a new favorite.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">I
bet I know something she’d like better.” said Mom.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">What’s
that?”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Mom
left the room and returned with a Hershey bar. She broke off a piece
of a square and sliced another cherry tomato.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">I
don’t suppose it’s very good for her,” Mom said.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">A
little won’t hurt her,” said Dad.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Hazel
went back and forth between the cherry tomato and the chocolate
several times. She sniffed the chocolate thoroughly and then
returned to examine the tomato. She looked genuinely torn.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">She
chose the chocolate.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">And
a new winner!”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Mom
was very intuitive and a great fan of chocolate herself. It didn’t
surprise me that she knew what Hazel would like.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">You
know, Carol Lynn and Bruce are arriving tomorrow.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">I
think they’ll like Hazel.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">They’ll
be bringing Grendel.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Grendel
was my sister’s cat. She was a year old but still more like a
kitten than a cat. Grendel’s second favorite game was playing
fetch with the hoops that came from the caps of plastic gallon milk
jugs. Her favorite game was violence and mayhem.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Grendel
would lie in wait for people to pass by. Her favorite ambush was on
a stairway where she could be at eye level with her prey. When her
victim got close enough, Grendel would lash out with claws
unsheathed.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">If
the people around her got wise to her stair attacks, she would hide
under chairs and attack the ankles of anyone who sat down.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I
suppose that’s what happens when you name a cat after an ancient
dragon.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">You
couldn’t spend a day in the same house with Grendel without a few
claw marks to show for it. It wasn’t a big problem. It was even
funny most of the time but we were humans.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">It
might not be so funny for Hazel.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">I
guess I better make a cage.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">There
was no worry about finding materials. If I needed to make Hazel a
one bedroom cottage, the only materials I wouldn’t find in Dad’s
workshop would be the concrete foundation and the waste pipe to hook
up to the town’s sanitation department.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Dad,
do you have some chicken wire?”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Yes,
but you should use hardware cloth. Grendel’s paws can get through
chicken wire.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I
didn’t make a fancy cage. We were only there for a week. Dad
wondered if we should put hardware cloth on both sides of the
supports so Grendel’s claws couldn’t extend and scratch Hazel.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">I’ll
just keep my door closed while Grendel’s loose anyway.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">It
was a smaller cage than Hazel had at school but she didn’t seem to
mind. Even in a larger cage, a rabbit can’t get much exercise.
She had the run of the room when I was there to watch her.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">* * *</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Carol
Lynn made a great fuss over Hazel. I wasn’t surprised. My sister
was a great fan of Christmas, Disney movies and small animals. She
agreed that Hazel and Grendel should be kept apart.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Everyone
will be here tomorrow for dinner. I’d like to bring Hazel
downstairs for a while so she can be a part of it.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">We
can put Grendel in a room for a while so Hazel can have some family
time.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">My
sister Cammy arrived early the next afternoon and my brother Mitch
and his wife Robin followed shortly afterward.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Everyone
was sitting in the living room waiting for dinner and Carol Lynn
grabbed Grendel and closed her into the bedroom she and Bruce were
staying in.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I
came in and asked Hazel if she was ready to meet some people. She
pooped before I lifted her out of her cage. It seemed a wise
precaution on her part.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I
brought her down to the living room and set her down on the carpet.
The family was sitting in a circle around the room. Hazel started
moving in a clockwise motion; greeting each person she came to.
Hazel took her time and got a good scratch from each person before
she’d move on to the next.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">My
sister in law was talking about some book about rabbits that I wasn’t
familiar with. She barely looked at Hazel as she bent over to pet
her. Hazel looked curious. She wasn’t used to being ignored.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The
last person in the circle was my brother Mitch. He was sitting back
in a big cloth chair we’d had as long as I could remember. Hazel
started sniffing at his pants leg as he bent over to pet her.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Hello
Hazel.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Hazel
leapt up into my brother’s lap and rubbed her head against his
stomach. There was something about Mitch that made an immediate
connection for her, and she didn’t just want a short scratch behind
the ears.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">My
brother was at first surprised and then looked very pleased. He knew
he’d been honored.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Hazel
and he were content to sit like that till dinner was ready.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">There
was some rumbling from my sister’s room and it sounded like Grendel
wasn’t happy. Mitch handed me Hazel and I took her back to my room
while Carol Lynn went to release the feline dragon.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I
plopped Hazel in her cage and ran downstairs to eat. I thought I
shut the door but I guess I just pulled it to.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Grendel
began the meal in her usual fashion, lurking under the table and
attacking any foot that moved. You could gage where Grendel was by
the sudden jerking movements of the people around you.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I
hadn’t seen any Grendel spasms in some time.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I
peeked under the table. She wasn’t there.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Where’s
Grendel?”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Mom
looked over at me. “Is your door closed?”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I ran
up the stairs with Carol Lynn and Mom close behind me. My door was
open about four inches, just wide enough for a cat to slip through,
or, for that matter, a rabbit to slip out.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I had
put Hazel in her cage but I didn’t think I’d put the top down.
She could have hopped out at any time or Grendel could have hopped
in.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">We
hadn’t heard any noise. Neither Hazel nor Grendel was more than
ten pounds but if there were a struggle, wouldn’t we have heard?
Could Grendel have killed Hazel without a struggle? Maybe Grendel
was still stalking her. Even if Hazel was unharmed, she had to be
terrified.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I
didn’t want to open the door but I didn’t dare hesitate.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">They
were both there. Hazel was in her cage with the top off. Grendel
was on the outside looking at Hazel…</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">And
Hazel was nose to nose with her, looking back. Hazel didn’t appear
to be the least frightened and Grendel the dragon cat wasn’t acting
hostile.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Both
heads turned to me as I entered the room as if I was interrupting a
conversation.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Carol
Lynn entered and swooped Grendel into her arms. There wasn’t
anything to scold the cat for; she was being perfectly civil.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Hazel
was happy to see me but no more than she ever was. She hopped out of
her cage. She didn’t give a thought to the predator only a few
feet away. She knew when I was there, she could hop around and
that’s what she liked to do.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I was
much more frightened for Hazel than she was. It left me with some
questions. Was Hazel ignorant of how dangerous cats were? Didn’t
all rabbits have an instinct that detected predators? Did my
presence in the house give her a false sense of security?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Or
was Hazel ever really in danger? Grendel did not seem hostile but a
cat will stalk before pouncing. Was Grendel lulling Hazel before her
attack or were they actually just have some sort of amiable animal
conversation, as they appeared to be having?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Were
all rabbits like this?</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<br />
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04391804489378097489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3684043944839678336.post-34420886434178057782014-09-14T01:47:00.002-07:002014-09-14T01:47:58.668-07:00fictmcfa9 Hazel Part 5 Bunny With Wings<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Hazel
Part 5</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Bunny
With Wings</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">My
parents sent me a plane ticket to come home for spring break. They
didn’t know about Hazel. I’d had her a month but I wasn’t very
good about writing letters home.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I
knew that a week was too long to leave her alone and I already had
the ticket so I figured I’d better bring her home with me. I just
didn’t know how I was supposed to take a rabbit on a plane.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I
didn’t want to chance putting her in a box and checking her. I
didn’t know if they pressurized the luggage compartment I’d seen
the way the baggage handlers threw things around. I would have to
take her as a carry on.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I had
a suitcase and two knapsacks. The suitcase was too big for a carry
on and I needed it to pack things in but the knapsacks were limp and
they’d be confining for Hazel.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I
went out to the trash room where most of my best ideas came from.
There were several boxes there including a thick walled one that
looked about the right size to fit under an airplane seat.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Would
they even let me bring a rabbit on board the plane?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">They
had to, I decided. People travel all the time. A lot of people must
bring their pets along. I’d never seen a pet on a flight but I’d
only flown four or five times and that included Nana’s funeral when
I was only eleven and not paying too much attention.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Still,
I wasn’t sure if they’d give me trouble. Maybe they wouldn’t
even notice if I could make things less obvious than a box with holes
punched in it.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The
larger of my knapsacks stretched over the box without any room to
spare. It was as if they were made for each other. Hazel’s lucky
rabbit feet held great sway over my dorm’s trash room.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I
removed a side of the box that matched the mouth of the knapsack. I
could close the knapsack with the flap but Hazel would still get air
through the canvas.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Al
had gotten a new used car but refused to loan it out. I couldn’t
really blame him but I needed a ride to the airport.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Karl,
whose position as Hazel’s Uncle had improved his social life, was
able to borrow a car and volunteered to drive us. I lined the
knapsack box heavily with newspaper both to catch her urine and to
make it more comfortable for her.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">This
time there was no rabbit urine on the car seat.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">As I
walked up to the airline desk, Carl had that same smile on his face
that he had the night Miles met Hazel. He thought I was in trouble
and I was starting to agree with him. They had to let pets ride on
airplanes but would they just let me carry her on?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Good
morning sir!”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Good
morning.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I
handed the agent my ticket.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Do
you have any bags to check?”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Yeah,
I have this suit case and I’d like to carry on these two
knapsacks.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Oh,
I’m sorry, Sir. We limit you to only one carry on per flight.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">My
knapsack hopped.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Sir,
is there an animal in there?”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I
opened the flap and Hazel peeked out.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Isn’t
that an adorable bunny! I’m afraid that’s not an approved animal
carrier though. We can rent you one for twenty two dollars or sell
you one for fifty.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I had
six bucks.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Karl
searched his pockets. “I’ve got eighteen.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Whew!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">And
then, of course, you’ll need a ticket.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">There’s
my ticket.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Yes,
but you’ll need a ticket for your pet. Let’s see, you’re going
to Logan airport? That’s one hundred twenty seven dollars round
trip or eighty three one way.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Karl
stopped smiling. Seeing your friend get in trouble is fun but he
liked Hazel almost as much as I did. Besides, his last three dates
were with women he got to know with her assistance.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">I
can take her back to school but I’m leaving for home tomorrow.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">We
don’t have enough money,” I told the ticket agent.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Do
you have a credit card?”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">No.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">I’m
sorry, sir. I can’t let to take the rabbit into the cabin with
you. It’s against regulations.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I
tried to check my smaller knapsack but the ticket agent must have
guessed I was going to try to smuggle Hazel aboard and refused. I
was stuck with an extra carry on and no way to get Hazel to
Massachusetts.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Are
you still flying today, sir?”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Yeah,
I’m going.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">She
looked at me suspiciously. She had reason to. I knew I had to try
to smuggle Hazel on and I’ve never had a good poker face.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">After
she handed me my seat assignment, Karl and I left the counter.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">What
are you going to do?”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Go
outside and let her go,” I said. I said it loud enough to let the
ticket agent hear. I didn’t think she’d buy it but if she warned
the flight crew, we were sunk.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Oh
man!” At least Karl was convincing. He believed me.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">When
we got back to the car, I began going through my smaller knapsack
picking out things I had to have and putting them in my pockets.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Karl,
will you take this knapsack back with you.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Sure,
what are you going to do?”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Smuggle
Hazel on the plane.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">You
can’t do that. You heard the ticket agent. You could get in
serious trouble.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">I
don’t think they’ll send me to prison for bunny smuggling.
Besides, when did you ever worry about me getting in trouble?”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Karl’s
smile returned. “I can’t believe you’re doing this.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">I
don’t see that I have much choice.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">When
I went back into the terminal, there was a different agent at the
desk. Was that good news or bad? The agent at the desk had no
reason to suspect the knapsack I was carrying but was the other one
away because she was reporting me?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Karl
looked nervous.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">I
think I’m going to go.” I guess he didn’t want to really see
me get in trouble.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">OK,
thanks.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Yeah,
good luck.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I
headed for the gate.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">There
was something new. In the late seventies they started x-raying all
the carry-on bags before people got to the departure gates. I looked
to see if there was a way around it. There didn’t seem to be.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Maybe,
I could walk around on the outside and get in that way.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">That
would look pretty suspicious and they probably had chain link fences
to keep people from doing that. I didn’t see any other options.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Do
x-rays hurt rabbits? I’d had x-rays at the dentist office and when
I broke my arm. Were these any worse? I hoped not.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I
stood in line, holding my knapsack to my chest. There were seven or
eight people in front of me.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I
mumbled into my knapsack. “Hazel, you’re going to have to stay
perfectly still.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I
don’t know if anyone heard me. College kids tend to be a bit
strange anyway, maybe they just thought I was talking to myself.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I
laid the knapsack carefully, flat side down on the conveyor belt. I
should have been scared but I was actually pretty excited. I rushed
ahead so I could see the screen as Hazel passed through.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The
luggage screener didn’t seem surprised that I was watching the
screen so closely. It was a new thing; probably a lot of people ran
up to see. The novelty had evidently worn off for her. She looked
so bored; I half expected to hear snoring.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Her
expression changed when my knapsack came into view. The two bags
before had been a mish-mash of confusing images. I’d been able to
make out a pair of scissors in one bag but everything else was just
non-descript shades of gray.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">There
was no question about what was in my bag. There was a rabbit clear
as a bell and nothing else.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">She
stopped the belt and I held my breath. She looked over at me and I
tried to smile casually. Thankfully, the x-ray didn’t show a
beating heart, a skeleton or any interior organs. It was just a
bunny and to my eyes at least, there was no way to distinguish Hazel
from any stuffed bunny you might find in the toy department. Her
pose was the same with her front paws evenly before her chin and her
hind legs folded beneath her. Her tail was up and her ears were
back. And she wasn’t moving, not an ear twitch, not a whisker, she
didn’t even look like she was breathing.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The
screener was not at all bored now. The expression on her face was so
confused it was hilarious. My adrenaline was running high and every
cell of my body wanted to laugh out loud. Hazel was doing her job
but I was going to blow it! I bit the insides of my cheeks and tried
to breathe normally.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The
screener looked at Hazel about twenty seconds though it seemed much
longer to me. Other than her shape, she showed no sign of being a
live bunny. The screener hit the belt control and Hazel didn’t
even jump then. She just placidly rolled to the end of the belt
where I picked her up and tried to keep from laughing.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I
practically floated to the departure gate. Though I’d feared the
flight crew only ten minutes before, after the luggage x-ray, I had
complete confidence in Hazel.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I got
on the plane and found my seat without the slightest
self-consciousness. I had the window seat and I put Hazel’s
knapsack on the floor between my legs.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">A
woman in her thirties sat next to me. It occurred to me that we were
pretty tightly packed on the plane. A lot of people are allergic to
animal fur. Was I condemning a fellow passenger to a miserable trip?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">You’re
not allergic to rabbits are you?”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">She
looked a bit confused by my question. “Not that I know of.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I had
to put Hazel under the seat for take off but pulled her knapsack up
into my lap as soon as the seatbelt light went off. Her nose pushed
up around the flap of the knapsack. The air couldn’t have been
good in there.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Oh
my!”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">My
neighbor saw the nose.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Would
you like to meet Hazel?”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">You
actually brought a rabbit on the plane?”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I was
glad she kept her voice down. We were in the air but I could still
get in trouble if the flight crew learned of her.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I
unfastened the flap but Hazel stayed in the box while we were in
flight. My neighbor helped me keep watch for flight attendants and
even shared some of her salad. Hazel gratefully accepted the lettuce
and even the carrots though I knew they weren’t her favorite. I
guess stress will make a bunny hungry.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Mom
was waiting at the gate when I arrived.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Is
Dad here?”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">He’s
parking the car.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">I
have someone I want you to meet.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Mom
looked around at the people nearby. She must have thought I was
bringing a girlfriend home.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">My
neighbor from the flight smiled and waved. My mother looked
concerned. The woman was nearly twice my age.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">No
Mom.” I walked a few steps away from the gate with all the airline
personnel and undid the flap of my knapsack. Hazel popped her head
out.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Oh
my goodness!”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Mom,
meet Hazel.”</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<br />
</div>
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