Contributor: MARK SLADE
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Bobby saw the fiend peering out from behind the large magnolia tree. This happened on the playground at school. The fiend was tall, very thin with large, black bulging eyes and blood red lips. The fiend was staring at Bobby, digging its long black fingernails into the skin of the magnolia tree. Sap bled. The white gooey liquid ran down the fiend's spotty hand.
The night before the fiend had stood at the foot of Bobby's bed and watched him sleep. Bobby just covered his head and prayed the fiend wouldn't hurt him. It's safe to say Bobby didn't sleep much that night.
Earlier in the day, while standing in line for lunch, the fiend tripped Monica Brant. She fell hard on the lunch room floor, breaking her nose. Everyone standing in that line had to go the principle's office and explain what they saw. No one saw anything except for Bobby. He saw the fiend trip Monica and laugh a shrilly as Monica lay on the floor in a puddle of blood, wailing.
But that's not what Bobby told the principle.
He reiterated what the other children said.
Later, at the drug store, the fiend followed Bobby inside. Bobby made his way to the comic books for the latest issue of Detective comics. He looked around the corner and saw the fiend take four Hershey's candy bars and place them in the left pocket of his dingy jeans.
The fiend pointed at Bobby and laughed.
Bobby went to the counter to pay for his comic book, when the owner, Mr. Ranse, stopped him. He demanded Bobby empty his pockets in front of everyone in the drug store. Bobby placed a comb, chewing gum, a note from Linda Thomas (saying she had a crush on him), and ten dollars and fifty-two cents on the counter. Then, out of his left back pocket were four melted unopened bars of Hershey's chocolate.
Bobby hung his head as Mr. Ranse took the newest issue of Detective comics from him and escorted Bobby out of his store.
Bobby ran all the way home in tears. He ran upstairs past his mother and slammed his bedroom door. He flung himself on his bed and bawled non stop for an hour until he fell asleep.
His mother knocked on bobby's door. She asked if he was all right. He didn't answer.
She shrugged, went into the bathroom.
Looking into the mirror, Bobby's mother laughed shrilly, her large bulging black eyes danced with delight. Licking her blood red lips, she dragged her long black fingernails across the bathroom mirror.
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I HAVE BEEN IN BURIAL DAY, BLOOD MOON RISING, THE RUSTY NAIL, AND WORDHAUS MAGAZINE.
I LIVE IN WILLIAMSBURG, VA WITH MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER.
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Bobby saw the fiend peering out from behind the large magnolia tree. This happened on the playground at school. The fiend was tall, very thin with large, black bulging eyes and blood red lips. The fiend was staring at Bobby, digging its long black fingernails into the skin of the magnolia tree. Sap bled. The white gooey liquid ran down the fiend's spotty hand.
The night before the fiend had stood at the foot of Bobby's bed and watched him sleep. Bobby just covered his head and prayed the fiend wouldn't hurt him. It's safe to say Bobby didn't sleep much that night.
Earlier in the day, while standing in line for lunch, the fiend tripped Monica Brant. She fell hard on the lunch room floor, breaking her nose. Everyone standing in that line had to go the principle's office and explain what they saw. No one saw anything except for Bobby. He saw the fiend trip Monica and laugh a shrilly as Monica lay on the floor in a puddle of blood, wailing.
But that's not what Bobby told the principle.
He reiterated what the other children said.
Later, at the drug store, the fiend followed Bobby inside. Bobby made his way to the comic books for the latest issue of Detective comics. He looked around the corner and saw the fiend take four Hershey's candy bars and place them in the left pocket of his dingy jeans.
The fiend pointed at Bobby and laughed.
Bobby went to the counter to pay for his comic book, when the owner, Mr. Ranse, stopped him. He demanded Bobby empty his pockets in front of everyone in the drug store. Bobby placed a comb, chewing gum, a note from Linda Thomas (saying she had a crush on him), and ten dollars and fifty-two cents on the counter. Then, out of his left back pocket were four melted unopened bars of Hershey's chocolate.
Bobby hung his head as Mr. Ranse took the newest issue of Detective comics from him and escorted Bobby out of his store.
Bobby ran all the way home in tears. He ran upstairs past his mother and slammed his bedroom door. He flung himself on his bed and bawled non stop for an hour until he fell asleep.
His mother knocked on bobby's door. She asked if he was all right. He didn't answer.
She shrugged, went into the bathroom.
Looking into the mirror, Bobby's mother laughed shrilly, her large bulging black eyes danced with delight. Licking her blood red lips, she dragged her long black fingernails across the bathroom mirror.
- - -
I HAVE BEEN IN BURIAL DAY, BLOOD MOON RISING, THE RUSTY NAIL, AND WORDHAUS MAGAZINE.
I LIVE IN WILLIAMSBURG, VA WITH MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER.
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Author:
Mark Slade
