Sunday, May 29, 2022

Spook


Raven Lake

Frederick was an old ghost. He enjoyed startling anyone who approached the house. But that didn't last long. After a century or two, another old ghost showed up, Victor. They argued. Victor laughed and Frederick punched him. Victor punched back. Exhausted, they agreed to frighten the town folk together. It was a good thing Victor showed up. The new generation wasn't as gullible. They would laugh and pull out those hideous little devices, pointing them left and right. It was humiliating. He'd have to talk to Victor about it. Perhaps they could punch a few of them! Ummm... Too much?

Sunday, May 22, 2022

Train

Tierra de Fuego

"The pilot wasn't trained properly," said the inspector.
"I trained him myself. I've been training pilots for 30 years, as you know."
"I think you're losing your... skills."
Silence.
"How about the huge hole on the side of the plane?!"
"It'll go in my report, but it wasn't the cause of..."
"Not the cause?! Five people were sucked out."
The inspector smiled and walked away.
Thirty years. He waited, thirty years. He had always wanted to be a pilot, but the idiot flunked him again and again. He ended up becoming a mere scribe. This is how you get even.

Sunday, May 15, 2022

Every Good Intention

Tatty Soup

Every good intention starts with a candle, he thought... at first. The solemn emptiness was cold and the minute light gave him hope, a nervous flicker betraying the uncertainty of the moment. Was he really good enough? Was he worthy? He shifted his weight from one leg to the other. Every good intention starts with a candle. But he doesn't think that anymore. The nervous flicker turned into a blazing nightmare. No one asked. So, he never mentioned his candle. And when someone said "Shall we light a candle, Father?", he always remembered the cold horror, crawling up his back.

Sunday, May 8, 2022

Thicket

 

Wonderland 2.0


The tiny hops of joy brought light to a golden field. The sun. The warmth. Her smile covered by a mask. She motioned to pick a flower, but hesitated and smiled.
It wasn't the time. Let them live, she thought. Let them live.
Cast a spell, the old woman had said. And she smiled once more.
Kindness. She nodded. Was kindness a spell?
Early bird and all that, but with kindness.
The tiny hops of joy brought a glow she could not explain, a glow of gold, a smile of joy. And she hopped, her face covered by a mask.

Sunday, May 1, 2022

Twist

 

Time Remains


He twisted the cord of the phone. The sweet smell of success in a single sentence. Nothing felt better than to hear someone say "I hate you". He grinned. Hate is such a gracious way of living. He hated everyone and he was happy. No one bothered him. He bothered no one. And he was happy. The day he fell in the living-room, a sharp pain on his chest, he wasn't alone. The dark tall figure by the door grinned and said "It's time."
All he could mutter was "I hate you" but this time he was definitely not happy.