The painted maidens escorted Alex, Jaycee, and Mina into a dim chamber. The drapes had been drawn; vertical slits of light revealed that it was day. In the dim, something moved. A juicy popping sound followed. “Light,” whispered a low and gossamer voice. One of the maidens turned up the sconces, revealing a greasy spiderContinue reading “Character Sketch: Quincy Emberwite, Esq”
Hide and Seek
Mel raced the wind, which picked up speed every second. He neared his goal, a little stone ruin—the remnants of a spring house—at the far edge of the cornfield. Behind him came shouts of warning, a girl’s scream. He pelted through the doorway, his lungs on fire. Crouched in the most shadowy corner behind someContinue reading “Hide and Seek”
The Box (Sick of Moving Variant)
AN: Hello readers: Sorry it’s been a while. The theme of the last three pieces–moving, is the tipoff. This is my last “moving” story for a while. I should be back to my regular writing schedule as of this week. ***** “Sam!” Toby eyed the box. Nondescript. Unlabeled, unmarred by packing tape or Sharpie. ItContinue reading “The Box (Sick of Moving Variant)”
The Box (Mover’s Variant)
Author’s Note: My apologies for being away the past few weeks. October has brought significant change. We moved to an apartment in the city, sold the house, and I changed jobs. And now I’m fighting a cold… Anyway, here’s a brief bit of therapy. ***** Crisp did not recognize the box. He was certainly notContinue reading “The Box (Mover’s Variant)”
The Box: Fairy Tale Version
Forget April; October is shaping up to be the cruelest month. I want to play with the contrasts between short story and fairy tale, and I want to try and create more modern fairy tales. Today is a bit of play–a first draft attempt at one. Pretty sure I don’t like it, but hey, ifContinue reading “The Box: Fairy Tale Version”
Behind the Falls
He stepped out from behind the falls, almost directly into the path of a young couple. All three froze: two bucks and a doe, each with matching expressions of surprise. “Sorry… sir,” Gabi said, sure that of all possible responses, acquiescence and respect were most needed. Before her stood a study in tweed: his robustContinue reading “Behind the Falls”
Roses
After the war, Victor bought a cottage on a postage stamp lot in the dying coal town of Pine Ridge. Through the spring of that year, he tried to keep to himself. But there was Verna Cringe and a homemade cream cake. “What brings you to our neighborhood?” She sighed. “Oh, the fresh air.” HeContinue reading “Roses”
The Deepened Brook
Her tongue lolled, her bloodied head perched askew; Rust-colored splotches and streaks stained her muted dress and white apron. A crow landed on her shoulder, plucked one eye free, and flew away with it. Whether by the physics of the bird’s departure or something preternatural, her head rolled, and I found myself staring into thatContinue reading “The Deepened Brook”
Delivery
I’ve had this idea in my head for a while, based in part on a news article I read some years ago. It’s a draft of a piece that I would like to put into a collection of northern gothic tales. ***** As addresses went, Fourteen Seventy-Two Warren Valley Road did not match its appearance.Continue reading “Delivery”
“Old Ghosts” / Practice with Steering the Craft #14
With this posting, my summertime project to apply the lessons from Ursula LeGuin’s Steering the Craft draws to a close. Apropos, I think, as I am also turning toward a new academic year. The calendar is already being booked. Syllabi must be revised. Teaching materials must be retrieved; the digital files have accumulated several monthsContinue reading ““Old Ghosts” / Practice with Steering the Craft #14″
Nicanor Abbott 