All work and no play.
Well, it seems like I've procrastinated long enough. I've been neglecting this for the past few months, but now that I've torn myself away from the monotony of work, I can now add a new entry. The following story is actually an old story from a previous entry.
I had taken part in a Flash Fiction Carnival late last year and the theme for that particular month was Transformation and we had to write a story in less than 1,200 words. Now that I have a little bit of time to fix it up, the story is a bit longer and fleshed out a bit more. I also followed the advice I received from the other Flash Fiction writers that reviewed the earlier version.
And Through the Woods
The leaves are bright against the black trunks of the trees. They flutter in the fading light of the setting sun, briefly covering the surrounding hills with a display of fiery red, orange, and yellow. It is all a blur to me as I follow the signs to the gravel road that leads to my grandmother’s farmhouse. There are a lot of things on my mind, but watching the dying leaves is a pleasant distraction.
Karl, my brother, called me earlier, telling me of grandmother’s request to see me. The old woman was confined to her home, recovering from a debilitating illness. My brother quit his forestry job to take care of her after the doctors examined our grandmother and recommended that she be placed in a home for assisted living. As for me, I had been traveling abroad at that time and was not able to visit or take part in caring for my grandmother. Now I feel a pang of guilt for not giving enough of my time.
In the growing twilight, the farmhouse draws near, beckoning to me with its glowing windows. I glance at the second floor window, hoping to see my grandmother waving to me, but it is empty and dark. Perhaps she doesn’t know that her granddaughter is finally here to see her.
I sit behind the wheel of the car, hesitating and a bit afraid of the welcome, if any, I will receive. It has been three years since I last saw my brother and grandmother. The basket of food in the passenger seat seems like a paltry gift considering my long absence. With a sigh, I grab the basket and emerge from the safety of my car.
The boards do not creak as I step onto the porch. I knock tentatively, and the door opens to reveal my brother.
“Hi sis, did you miss us?” There is a hint of humor in the lilt of Karl’s voice.
“Yes, but did you miss me?”
“Well, a little bit, but all those cards and letters you sent us did a great job of keeping you on our minds. By the way, that’s a lovely red sweater you have on.”
“You mean this little old thing? Grandma gave it to me. I thought it would be nice to show her that I appreciate everything she’s given me. And look, I’ve come bearing gifts of food and wine.” I step into the light and close enough to see the drastic changes in my brother’s appearance. “Oh God, you look like shit!”
“Hey, I was expecting a hug.” Karl smiles and backs into the living room. “Come inside and have a seat. I guess you need an explanation, and while we’re at it, I’ll help myself to some of those goodies you have in the basket.”
“Are you all right? I’m just worried that nobody’s going to help you when an emergency comes up. You could have called and told me what’s going on; now I feel terrible for not helping out.”
“I’m fine. Don’t worry about me, but wait until you see grandma. She’s changed a lot.”
“Is she better?”
“You could say that.”
I look at the lines in his face, the graying temples, but I stray from his eyes. I couldn’t bear to see their dullness and the way they seem to peer from their deep-set sockets. Karl is only a few years younger than I, yet he looks older. “What about our relatives? Do they know about grandma’s illness?”
“You mean Uncle Frank and Aunt Rose? Yes, I told them and they came, but they didn’t stick around long enough. I think they’re just waiting for grandma to go so they could get their claws on her estate.”
“You don’t mean that! Other than grandma, they’re the only relatives we have. I hope you didn’t say anything bad to them.” I didn’t like the look that came over Karl’s face.
“I didn’t say anything bad! If you think I’m the kind of person who would do such a thing then I shouldn’t be taking care of grandma. She’s the only reason I put up with Frank and Rose’s lame advice. They tried to persuade me to put her in a home!”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know they told you that.” I pat his hand. “Let’s not talk about it anymore, and look, there’s a bottle of wine in the basket. Why don’t we just get drunk?”
We walk to the kitchen, and I am struck by how cold and sterile it is.
“If grandma was up to it, she’d probably join us, plus we can chase it all down with beer,” my brother replies as he uncorks the wine.
“That sounds like a bad idea, but as long as I’m here, I guess I’ll try it.” I look up at the ceiling suddenly. “Do you think she heard us?”
“I think so, but she’s not going to complain about it.” He fills my wine glass before turning away to fill his glass at the kitchen counter. “Hey, would you look at that moon.” Karl is looking out the window and at the full moon rising above the surrounding trees, his red wine forgotten.
“It’s beautiful,” I reply as I join him at the kitchen window.
“You know grandma likes to watch the moon rise. Let’s watch this one with her,” whispers Karl.
“Do you think she’ll like it if I bring along the gift basket?”
“She’ll like whatever you bring her.”
We climb up the stairs, giggling like little kids as the wine spills from my unsteady glass. It is colder up here, and I wrap my sweater closer as more wine spills from my glass. I detect a rank animal smell coming from somewhere, but I am distracted.
“Uncle Frank and Aunt Rose watched a moonrise with grandma, but they didn’t enjoy it.”
“That’s unfortunate for them, I say.”
Karl smiles down at me as he steps onto the landing. “Yes, unfortunate for them, but fortunate for grandma.” He reaches for the basket with one hand. “Grandma’s not going to believe you’re here. I bet she won’t even recognize you.”
I laugh at his observation. “Hey, you’re scaring me! Did you do the same thing to Uncle Frank and Aunt Rose?”
As we walk down the hall, Karl looks at me and shakes his head, “No, I wasn’t talking to them by that time.” He stops at the first door on the right. “Why don’t you go in first? I’m sure grandma would be happy to see you.” His voice is gentle as he steps back to give me room.
I grasp the doorknob, wincing slightly at the coldness of the metal in my palm as I turn the knob and step into the room. It is dark in here. I take a couple of steps into the room. There is the rank animal smell again, and this time it is stronger, permeating the room like a thick fog. I turn around just in time to see the bedroom door closing. In the sudden silence, I hear the final click of the lock. It is only now that I notice the heavily boarded window and the reinforced door, its metal gleaming in the moonlight. Reflected in the metal is the bed, and lying in the bed is something that was once my grandmother.
Oh grandmother, what big teeth you have.
I had taken part in a Flash Fiction Carnival late last year and the theme for that particular month was Transformation and we had to write a story in less than 1,200 words. Now that I have a little bit of time to fix it up, the story is a bit longer and fleshed out a bit more. I also followed the advice I received from the other Flash Fiction writers that reviewed the earlier version.
And Through the Woods
The leaves are bright against the black trunks of the trees. They flutter in the fading light of the setting sun, briefly covering the surrounding hills with a display of fiery red, orange, and yellow. It is all a blur to me as I follow the signs to the gravel road that leads to my grandmother’s farmhouse. There are a lot of things on my mind, but watching the dying leaves is a pleasant distraction.
Karl, my brother, called me earlier, telling me of grandmother’s request to see me. The old woman was confined to her home, recovering from a debilitating illness. My brother quit his forestry job to take care of her after the doctors examined our grandmother and recommended that she be placed in a home for assisted living. As for me, I had been traveling abroad at that time and was not able to visit or take part in caring for my grandmother. Now I feel a pang of guilt for not giving enough of my time.
In the growing twilight, the farmhouse draws near, beckoning to me with its glowing windows. I glance at the second floor window, hoping to see my grandmother waving to me, but it is empty and dark. Perhaps she doesn’t know that her granddaughter is finally here to see her.
I sit behind the wheel of the car, hesitating and a bit afraid of the welcome, if any, I will receive. It has been three years since I last saw my brother and grandmother. The basket of food in the passenger seat seems like a paltry gift considering my long absence. With a sigh, I grab the basket and emerge from the safety of my car.
The boards do not creak as I step onto the porch. I knock tentatively, and the door opens to reveal my brother.
“Hi sis, did you miss us?” There is a hint of humor in the lilt of Karl’s voice.
“Yes, but did you miss me?”
“Well, a little bit, but all those cards and letters you sent us did a great job of keeping you on our minds. By the way, that’s a lovely red sweater you have on.”
“You mean this little old thing? Grandma gave it to me. I thought it would be nice to show her that I appreciate everything she’s given me. And look, I’ve come bearing gifts of food and wine.” I step into the light and close enough to see the drastic changes in my brother’s appearance. “Oh God, you look like shit!”
“Hey, I was expecting a hug.” Karl smiles and backs into the living room. “Come inside and have a seat. I guess you need an explanation, and while we’re at it, I’ll help myself to some of those goodies you have in the basket.”
“Are you all right? I’m just worried that nobody’s going to help you when an emergency comes up. You could have called and told me what’s going on; now I feel terrible for not helping out.”
“I’m fine. Don’t worry about me, but wait until you see grandma. She’s changed a lot.”
“Is she better?”
“You could say that.”
I look at the lines in his face, the graying temples, but I stray from his eyes. I couldn’t bear to see their dullness and the way they seem to peer from their deep-set sockets. Karl is only a few years younger than I, yet he looks older. “What about our relatives? Do they know about grandma’s illness?”
“You mean Uncle Frank and Aunt Rose? Yes, I told them and they came, but they didn’t stick around long enough. I think they’re just waiting for grandma to go so they could get their claws on her estate.”
“You don’t mean that! Other than grandma, they’re the only relatives we have. I hope you didn’t say anything bad to them.” I didn’t like the look that came over Karl’s face.
“I didn’t say anything bad! If you think I’m the kind of person who would do such a thing then I shouldn’t be taking care of grandma. She’s the only reason I put up with Frank and Rose’s lame advice. They tried to persuade me to put her in a home!”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know they told you that.” I pat his hand. “Let’s not talk about it anymore, and look, there’s a bottle of wine in the basket. Why don’t we just get drunk?”
We walk to the kitchen, and I am struck by how cold and sterile it is.
“If grandma was up to it, she’d probably join us, plus we can chase it all down with beer,” my brother replies as he uncorks the wine.
“That sounds like a bad idea, but as long as I’m here, I guess I’ll try it.” I look up at the ceiling suddenly. “Do you think she heard us?”
“I think so, but she’s not going to complain about it.” He fills my wine glass before turning away to fill his glass at the kitchen counter. “Hey, would you look at that moon.” Karl is looking out the window and at the full moon rising above the surrounding trees, his red wine forgotten.
“It’s beautiful,” I reply as I join him at the kitchen window.
“You know grandma likes to watch the moon rise. Let’s watch this one with her,” whispers Karl.
“Do you think she’ll like it if I bring along the gift basket?”
“She’ll like whatever you bring her.”
We climb up the stairs, giggling like little kids as the wine spills from my unsteady glass. It is colder up here, and I wrap my sweater closer as more wine spills from my glass. I detect a rank animal smell coming from somewhere, but I am distracted.
“Uncle Frank and Aunt Rose watched a moonrise with grandma, but they didn’t enjoy it.”
“That’s unfortunate for them, I say.”
Karl smiles down at me as he steps onto the landing. “Yes, unfortunate for them, but fortunate for grandma.” He reaches for the basket with one hand. “Grandma’s not going to believe you’re here. I bet she won’t even recognize you.”
I laugh at his observation. “Hey, you’re scaring me! Did you do the same thing to Uncle Frank and Aunt Rose?”
As we walk down the hall, Karl looks at me and shakes his head, “No, I wasn’t talking to them by that time.” He stops at the first door on the right. “Why don’t you go in first? I’m sure grandma would be happy to see you.” His voice is gentle as he steps back to give me room.
I grasp the doorknob, wincing slightly at the coldness of the metal in my palm as I turn the knob and step into the room. It is dark in here. I take a couple of steps into the room. There is the rank animal smell again, and this time it is stronger, permeating the room like a thick fog. I turn around just in time to see the bedroom door closing. In the sudden silence, I hear the final click of the lock. It is only now that I notice the heavily boarded window and the reinforced door, its metal gleaming in the moonlight. Reflected in the metal is the bed, and lying in the bed is something that was once my grandmother.
Oh grandmother, what big teeth you have.