Categotry Archives: Fiction
Thanksgiving Dinner
The turkey was burnt The rice was the wrong kind There wasn’t enough dressing The gravy was lumpy The mash potatoes had the consistency of library paste. Dirty dishes were piled high in the background. But when the family stopped talking long enough to eat They cleaned their plates and asked for more. “That was the best meal ever.”
Suzie’s House 140: Apology Accepted
So now what? Gene had lots of power when he stormed out of Mrs. H’s house, but once off the porch he lost a lot of it. He didn’t know what to do with himself. The thought of going “home” didn’t sit too good. Didn’t he already decide he was never going back? With the foster parent thing an all, it maybe wasn’t even legal. Besides, it seemed like changing his mind made him into a wuss. The beating he […]
Me in 55
Who am I? I’m ginger in the curry, a sly wink, the unabashed burp. I’m the last person to extend a hand, but the only one who stayed to see if it was needed. I’m a carnivorous hippie. I’m a prickle of surprise. In the face of God, I’m no one special, but I don’t mind a bit.
Suzie’s House 139: To Apologize
“I can’t believe you did that,” Lisa said. “How can you blame Gene for wanting a place of his own?” “A place.” When Ben thought of a place, he saw a bachelor’s apartment full of junk, beer, and women’s underwear like he’d seen in a movie or two. So far as he could guess, his mom’s house would never look anything like that. “This is his home, isn’t it?” Lisa was on a roll and showing no signs of letting […]
Automaton
Every day at the assembly line, placing the head of the doll on the body. She likes it here, where you don’t have to remember anything. Not talking, so she can keep her thoughts to herself. She likes it. She does. She’s grateful for the money. Until she hears the manager talk about replacing unit 3B. 3B? That’s her.
Suzie’s House 138: A Small Explosion
“Right.” Gene repeated to himself as the door closed on Mrs. Hammacker and Mr. Banks “Right. I’ll just… wander around like a ghost until you’re good and ready to talk to me. Yeeeeah.” He went down the hall to Ben’s bedroom, feeling like raw hamburger. He was so messed up about how Mrs. Hammacker yelled at him, that he forgot about Ben and Lisa until he got there. There they were, shoulder to shoulder, leaning over Ben’s desk. She laughed […]
Our Destiny
So sad seems the little boat tied to shore as if it didn’t belong there. But our destiny is not the open sea. It’s not the arduous transit through rough waters, or dull clear skies. It’s not the moment when the waters open up and cry “drown in me.” Our destiny is the dock on the other shore. Click on picture to go to hub.
Suzie’s House 137: When it isn’t What She Thought
“What’s going on?” Suzie tapped the door to Drew’s room lightly. She could see quite well what was going on. Drew was packing. Her question was why was Gene helping him? “Oh. I was just.” Gene sprung to his feet. He flushed slightly and glanced around the floor like he might have misplaced something there. He glanced out the door with a wrinkled brow. “I’ll go.”
Oops
A dark suspicion haunts me. I can not shake it, as if fate could corner me with treachery and embarrassment. This Deja Vous creeps along my awareness with cold feet. Must. I must. I must check and re-check. with a click in a fellow blogger’s comment stream my worst fears are realized. I AM repeating myself. Click on picture to go to hub.
Suzie’s House 136: Pants First
Good thing he automatically put his pants on first, or it would have been really, really embarrassing when Ben walking into the room with Lisa. “Oh! Oh, I’m so sorry.” Lisa went bright red. She put her hand to her face like she’d seen something she shouldn’t have. His BVDs maybe?
Ashes
When Beth entered the room, the urn full of ashes sitting on the mantle piece chattered. Mother. Never could stop telling her how to live her life. Beth set the urn more firmly on the mantle, muttering, “Stupid trains.” She left the room. The urn shook and moved, edging toward a fall. There were no trains. Click on picture to go to hub.
Suzie’s House 135: A Word, If You Please
“Drew is leaving?” Miranda couldn’t believe it. She stared at Suzie then at Ben in turns. “Why on earth is he leaving?” “Work,” Ben said morosely. He slumped over the kitchen table, one wrist wrapped over the top of his head. Suzie nodded. “His job here was temporary. He’s been re-assigned.” “Pft. As if that was reason enough.” Miranda didn’t wait for Suzie or Ben to respond. She marched upstairs to set Drew straight.
Lurking
Click on picture to go to hub. . . . Yeah, I see you lurking there, Standing on the threshold as if a broom might descend, sweeping you out with the spam. Relax. I know how to tell friend from foe. And I know you are only a tourist here. So what? Come on in and sit a spell. Here, at least, you are welcome..
Suzie’s House 134: Sharing
For those who don’t read the newsletter, last week Suzie woke up to a wonderful morning with her beloved Drew only to have him tell her he is leaving. He is an FBI Agent who was only assigned to the Madison WI office pending an investigation into the internet-based flash-crime ring run by the Smash Master. Now that the Smash Master is behind bars, his job is done. He leaves for New Mexico at the end of the week. “Mom?” […]
The Meaning of Life
Small gestures of love keep me alive. A hug, a kiss, a smile offered when the avalanche of rejection crescendos to the point where I can hardly breathe, let alone write another drop of soul. When I’m looking at the switchblade and the wrist and thinking they belong together small gestures; a hug, a smile, a kiss…. Click on image to go to hub. [ A reminder: this is FICTION. My suicidal days are long behind me. After all, I […]
