My Short Short for the Day

The coldness chilled her bones, but she’d become numb to its effects.  She went through the motions but felt nothing anymore.  Her gnarled fingers rubbed against each other above the flames stretching out from the trash can.  Her tattered hat was pulled down around her ears but provided no warmth as the cloth was barely holding together.  Only the dirt and filth kept it from falling apart.  She smelled worse than the rotted trash burning in the can.  The liquid from the drainpipes was more green sludge than water so there was no way to get clean, even if that mattered to the broken and battered souls existing in that dead end space.

Hopelessness oozed from the creatures huddled around the trash cans, desperate to feel something.  The frigid winter was dragging on.  Cloudy days drifted into dark, icy nights.  The sun had disappeared long ago as did the warmth and hope it brought.  Agnes couldn’t remember the last time she felt anything.  For years she had complained about not having enough; not enough money to buy the things she wanted, not enough time to herself to do what she wanted, not enough appreciation from her husband and children for all the sacrifices she made for them.  So many years spent complaining, never satisfied with what she had, never happy with her life. Then as she got older, her children grew up and moved out on their own, her husband died, and she was left alone.  She had plenty of money now to buy all the things she wanted.  She had plenty of time to herself to do whatever she wanted.  Instead, she sat at home feeling sorry for herself.  Everyone had left her.  No one there to talk to, or eat a meal with, or to hug.

How did she end up here?  This desolate place with lost souls, drained of all hope.  How did this happen?  

My Short Short for the Day

The shadowy figure crept along the wretched alleyway littered with decaying trash, rats scrabbling through the piles of stench for a bite to eat and tainted mist seeping up from the sewers. 

Zerrick shouldered open the heavy back door to the bakery, flooding the alleyway with bright, artificial light.  The rats scattered, hissing as they are forced to abandon their dinner.  Grumbling, Zerrick tosses the bags of trash into the stained and battered dumpster. “More food for you scavengers.”  He mutters to the beady eyes staring at him from the dark edges of the shadows. 

A coldness brushes past Zerrick who shivers and looks around.  Creepy alleyway.  Why does it have to be so creepy at night?  During the day, it’s dirty and dank smelling but never causes his neck to prickle at every sound.  He slams the rusted lid down and turns back towards the door.  For a moment he hesitates, unsure if he saw something.  He shakes his head, “Don’t be so stupid, nothing’s there.” 

The door slowly closed behind Zerrick taking the light with it and returning the alleyway back to is smothering darkness.  The rats return to their dinner, savagely tearing the bags open and burrowing into the decaying rot inside.  The tainted mist hovers mere inches above the ground, shrouding everything in a foggy, green hue.

My Short Short for the Day

The fight was on.  Who will win the prized peanuts?  The blue jay or the squirrel.  Who will be sneakier?  Who will be stealthier?  Who will be smarter?  Who will ultimately win? 

“Really Alan, do you have to make it that dramatic?”  Gloria rolled her eyes as she walked past her husband.

“Yes, it’s the battle of the ages.  People will be talking for years about this epic battle of land versus air.  Which creature is stronger?  Which will survive?”

Gloria walked through the living room and into the kitchen shaking her head all the time.  Now, what should I make for dinner?  Hmm?  She opened the fridge and foraged around a bit then closed it.  She opened the freezer and picked up a container.  She squinted trying to see into it, but the frost was too thick.  She shook it, but of course it was frozen so that was no use.  She sniffed it but it just smelled like ice.  With a frown, she put it back on the shelf and closed the door.  Hmm?

“Oh, look dad!  The squirrel is telling off the blue jay.  You see him!  He’s yelling at him!”  Carl cheered the squirrel on.  Alan had his hand on his son’s shoulder and was chanting, “Fight, fight, fight!”

After a few moments of chanting and squirrel “yelling”, things quieted down.  The squirrel triumphantly ate the peanut on the wall of the patio while the blue jay flew away in shame.

Gloria walked back into the living room to see her two favorite people cheering and high fiving about the squirrel victory.  “So, this is what our life has become.”  She sighed before joining in on the revelry.

My Short Short for the Day

Stella turned off the light and climbed into bed.  She leaned over to set her glasses on the bedside table when a movement near the foot of the bed caught her eyes.  She sat up and put her glasses on.  She leaned forward squinting in the dark to see what might have made that movement.  She lived alone, no family, no pets. 

After a moment she shook her head.  “You’re just imagining things.” 

Stella carefully set her glasses on the bedside table and lay down.  The events of the day ran through her mind and soon she drifted off to sleep.  Darkness thickened outside, clouds obscured the moon and light was absent from the room. 

“Creak.”  The sound echoed in the room.  Stella twitched.  She drowsily opened her eyes.  “Creak!”  Stella shot up in bed wide awake now.  “Who’s there?”

Silence.

Stella grabbed her glasses and put them on as she flicked on the light.  Her eyes darted around the room.  Seeing nothing, she mustered up the courage to move her blankets aside and slip out of bed.  She grabbed her letter opener from the desk as she left the room.  She peered into the hallway, listening carefully.  When no sounds came, she tiptoed down the hall, gripping the weapon in one hand and running the other hand lightly along the wall. 

She eased her way into the living room and edged along the wall to the table lamp.  With her back to the wall, she took a steadying breath and clicked on the lamp.  She locked eyes with a pair of beady, dark eyes.  The creature froze as did Stella.  They stared at each other for a long moment before the creature grabbed an apple from the bowl on the coffee table and scurried to the laundry chute, nudged it open and hurled itself in.  Stella watched the creature’s tail disappear as the tiny, laundry door flapped shut. 

Stella blinked several times waiting to see if the door would reopen.  After a few minutes, Stella took a steadying breath and muttered, “A raccoon…”

My Short Short for the Day

“And you were alone?”  The officer stared at Dora.

Dora nervously looked from her mother and back to the officer.  “Yes, yes of course.”  She laughed a little and looked at her mother quickly.  “Who would I be with?”

“Amber.”  The officer flipped the page in his notebook and paused for a moment reading over the page.  “I went over around 8:15pm.  I climb up on the porch railing, get into the tree and there I am.”  The officer paused to look at Dora.

“Wha…no…wait.”  Dora turned red and faced her mother but quickly looked away.  Then she looked up at the officer before looking down at her hands.

“So Amber wasn’t there?”  The officer waited.

“No, I mean…yes.  For a little bit.  We were just reading.”  Dora looked down at her hands.

“Why don’t you tell us what happened Dora.”  The officer closed his notebook.

“Yes, Dora.  The truth this time.”  Dora’s mother set her knitting aside and turned toward Dora.

“Well, I…ok, yes.  Amber came over at 8:15pm that night.  That is when she always comes over.  I mean, 8 is such an early curfew.  I am almost 13.  I shouldn’t have to go to bed so early.  It’s not fair.” 

“So, Amber came over at 8:15pm.”  The officer redirected her.

“Yes, so we were reading about this woman who was a jewel thief.  She wore beautiful clothes and lived in a palace by the ocean.  She had servants and maids and all kinds of people who worked for her…”

“Dora, please.”  The mother scowled at her.

“Uh, yes, well.  We finished the book and I said I wanted to be rich and have all the beautiful clothes and things that Anastasia had.”  Dora hesitated.

“Go on, Dora.”  The officer urged.

“Well, so she said I could never be a jewel thief.  I was too clumsy and stupid.”  Dora straightened in her seat and jutted her chin out.  “So, I said, of course I could be a jewel thief.  I can be as quiet as a mouse.  So, Amber said prove it! And I couldn’t back down now could I?  She’d tell everyone at school about it.  So, I said fine, I’ll prove it.”  Dora’s cheeks were flushed while she spoke but as she paused and caught her mother’s eye, she paled.

“Where is the necklace Dora?”  The officer asked tucking his notebook into his pocket.

Dora slumped and pulled the necklace from her dress pocket.

My Short Short for the Day

“Dora, could you explain what you did that night?”  The officer said, notebook at the ready.  As the silence dragged out, the officer looked up at her and raised an eyebrow.  “Dora…”

“I already told you.  Why do I have to say it again?”  Dora crossed her arms and set her jaw.

“I know you did, but we just wanted to check our facts.  Dinner ended at 6pm.  What did you do after?”  The officer skimmed his notes.

“I went to my room.”  Dora frowned.

“You stayed in your room?”  The officer kept his voice calm.

“Yes.”  Dora shifted on the couch.

“Alone.”  The officer looked directly at her this time.

“Yes, of course.”  Dora darted her eyes towards her mother and then back to the officer and then she shifted her seat again. 

“What time did you go to sleep?”  The officer wrote some notes on his pad.

“8.  I have to go to bed at 8.  Every night.”  Dora crossed her arms again and settled.

“Did you hear anything?  Or see anything?  Like lights outside or noises?”  The officer looked at Dora.

“No, I was asleep the whole time.”  Dora stated, her attitude returning.

“And you didn’t leave your room all night?”  The officer locked eyes with her.

“No.  No, I told you.  I was asleep all night.”  Dora tensed.

 

           ***To be continued…***

My Short Short for the Day

“No, sorry officer.  I didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary yesterday.”  The older woman smiled and shook her head.

“I was at work all day, but the wife didn’t tell me about seeing anything unusual.”  The man scratched his chin.  “Nobody hanging around either.  It’s a quiet street.  That’s why we moved here.  Good place to raise a family, you know.”

The officer nodded.  “Thank you, sir.”  He walked back to the Harris’ house where Simmons was waiting.  “Anything?”

“Nothing, sir.  Just your typical day according to the neighbors.”  Simmons said.

“Ok, let’s talk to the older daughter, Dora, right?”  The officer consulted his notes.

Simmons knocked on the door and Dora answered.  “Hi Dora.  Can we come in for a few minutes?  We have a couple more questions.”

Dora nodded and stepped back.  She led them into the living room where her mother was knitting.

“Who was it dear?”  Mrs. Harris looked up and quickly stood when she saw the officers following Dora.  “Oh, so sorry, I didn’t realize…here, have a seat.  Would you like some tea?”

“No, thank you ma’am.  We just have a few more questions for Dora.”  The officer said taking a seat near the couch.  Simmons remained standing behind the chair.

Dora sat down on the couch and her mother sat by her, picking up her knitting but keeping her eyes on the officers.  “Very well.”  She finally said.

 

           ***To be continued…***

My Short Short for the Day

“No signs of forced entry.  No broken windows, doors, or locks.  Nothing.  The windows were locked from the inside.  The bedroom wasn’t locked, though.  Mrs. Harris didn’t hear or see anything.  We haven’t talked with Mr. Harris yet.  Still trying to locate him.”  The officer paused.

“Any neighbors hear or see anything unusual?”  Chief asked.

“No.  We talked to all the neighbors, but they all lock up and go to bed by 8pm.  No one saw or heard anything.”  The officer scratched his chin.  “We spoke to the Harris’ oldest daughter.  She seemed…nervous about something.  Claims she was asleep by 8:30 and didn’t wake until she heard her mother scream the next morning.”

“Ok, maybe she knows something.”  Chief sipped his coffee.  “Other children?”

“Yes, two little ones.  A 3-year-old and a 5-year-old.  They were put to sleep at 7 and Mrs. Harris checked on them before going to bed and they were sound asleep.  Plus, they both sleep in cribs, no way they could climb over the railing.”  The officer closed his notebook.  “That’s it for now.”

“Alright.  Go back and question the older daughter.  Take Simmons.  Ask around the neighbors again and see if they saw anything unusual at all that day.  Maybe there was someone hanging around before dark.  Also, see if they had any maids or cooks that work for them.”  Chief turned away and took a few steps.  “Check the older daughter’s classmates.  See what they thought of her.”

“Yes, Chief.”  The officer tucked his notepad into his front pocket, grabbed his hat and motioned to Simmons on the way out.

 

           ***To be continued…*** 

My Short Short for the Day

“Where were you last night?”  The officer held his pencil at the ready.  When no response came, he raised an eyebrow.

“I…I was at the pub for a bit and then came home.”  Al muttered wringing his hands.  “I didn’t do it.”

The officer stared at him for a long time, waiting him out.  Hoping the young man would confess or at least give himself some kind of alibi.  After several moments, he said, “What time did you leave the pub?”

“I dunno.”  Al shifted uncomfortably in his wooden chair.  “9 or so.”

“Then what did you do?”  The officer scribbled a few notes.  Then stared at the silent figure across from him.  “If you don’t talk, then we have to charge you.”

“I went home.  That’s it.  I had a few drinks with Billy and then I walked home.”  Al sighed.  “I didn’t do it I tell ya.  I didn’t do it.”  Al slammed his cuffed fists onto the table.

“Alright Al.  Settle down.”  The officer stood and walked past Al, patting his shoulder before leaving the room. 

“What do you got?”  Chief asked.

“Not much.”  The officer flipped open his notebook.  “He left the bar at 9 or so, then went home.  You know old man Jenkins won’t be able to corroborate.  Ted says he didn’t leave the bar till after midnight.”

“What did Mrs. Harris say?”  Chief poured himself another cup of coffee.

“She put it in the jewelry box and went to bed at 8pm.  The next morning, the jewelry box was open, the lock broken, and the locket was missing.”  He flipped the page.

“What did you find at the house?”

 

           ***To be continued…***

My Short Short for the Day

“He did it!  I know he did it!”  The woman strained to break free from the officer’s grip.

“I didn’t do it!”  The young man pleaded with the officer who was cuffing his wrists.  “I swear!”

“Alright, let’s go.”  The officer locked the young man in the cell and walked back to the main room.

“So, what do we have?” The police chief asked.

“Well, Mrs. Harris reported her locket missing and claims Al did it.”  The officer read from his notes.

The chief sat on the edge of his desk and folded his arms across his chest.  “Well, did he do it?”

“He says he didn’t.”

“Did you find the locket?”  The chief blinked but didn’t move otherwise.

“No.”

“Were there any witnesses?”  The chief stared relentlessly.

“No.”

“Is there any evidence that he did it?”  The chief shifted slightly.

“No.”

“Then take Mrs. Harris statement and put Al in interview room 1.  I’ll have a little talk with him.”  The chief stood without unfolding his arms.

“Yes, chief.”  The officer hurried off.

 

           ***To be continued…***

My Short Short for the Day

The sun stretched out across the wooden floor.  A scruffy, old cat curled up into a knot of fluff in the sunniest spot.  The rocking chair creaked as it gently moved back and forth, back and forth.  The click click click of the knitting needles filled the tiny space.  Peace blanketed the room. 

Outside a squirrel chittered from the treetop.  He sat poised on a branch crunching a nut, tail flicking and nose twitching.  He stopped from time to time to listen, hearing nothing he continued his breakfast. 

A crow flew past cawing.  Two robins chirped and one took off after the crow.  Chasing it high into the air, looping and twisting, copying the crow’s every move.  All the while sharply yeeping at the intruder.

Further down the way, a distant car could be heard puttering along a dirt road, bumping and chugging, kicking up dust in its wake.  The driver muttering as she gripped the wheel tightly, struggling to keep the car on the narrow road as every bump and hole tugged at the tires. 

Miles away people are bustling down the sidewalks.  Grim faces set in permanent frowns, walking crisply towards their destinations, jostling others along the way.  They only pause at crosswalks, robotically waiting for the signal to change, then moving forward like a rushing tide.  Horns honking as the cars move and jerk to a stop, then inch forward again.  Drivers yelling out their windows and shaking their fists at everyone.  The thumping, pounding, and hammering of construction in the nearby lot.

The wind shifts, rushing out of the city and away, racing along the clouds and dancing out across the treetops of the forest.  Ruffling the grass in the yard outside the little house and drifting in through the open window. 

The gentle creaking of the rocking chair pauses for a moment as the rose scented breeze tickles her nose.  She closes her eyes for a moment.  A smile slowly spreads across her face and the creaking begins again.