Welcome to The Blogging from A-Z Challenge April 2014! This year, I’m offering up a story – each one 100 words or fewer - for each letter of the alphabet.
Some are heartfelt, poignant, sweet. Others are…not.
I hope you enjoy them.
Xavier works the old Dudley house alone. The landscape crew sniggers, says its haunted. They give him the hardest jobs, the crappiest equipment. They’re just jealous - of his youth, his good looks.
*****
WHAT'S EATING XAVIER?
Xavier works the old Dudley house alone. The landscape crew sniggers, says its haunted. They give him the hardest jobs, the crappiest equipment. They’re just jealous - of his youth, his good looks.
He’s daydreaming of being rich, famous when the mower rams
into the house’s foundation. The machine judders, its gears gnashing. The motor
burns hot then dies a cold death.
Xavier curses. He finds the hole - a small, dry mouth edged
with soft, crumbling teeth. He can hide it, no problem. He smiles.
Until something inside the hole unfurls its tongue and licks
him.
*****
Whoa! Didn't see that coming.
ReplyDeleteAlex - good! :)
ReplyDeleteYou never cease to amaze me. Great twist. I can't believe how you pull these off in a hundred words and sometimes fewer. Truly amazing.
ReplyDeleteDeb@ http://debioneille.blogspot.com
Before I leave, I wanted to let you know that I am going to mention this little story if my husband ever asked me to help mold the lawn. I'll let him know I am not going to mow near the house, only out in the open area.
ReplyDeleteDeb@ http://debioneille.blogspot.com
Debi - thank you! Hopefully, this story will get you out of that chore. :)
ReplyDeleteLol. Xavier is delicious!
ReplyDeleteHi Madeline, the endings always take me by surprise. I am always amazed by the endings :)
ReplyDeleteJay - ha ha! :)
ReplyDeleteRachna - thank you!
Eek! That ending was a surprise and all I can think of is "RUN!" haha
ReplyDeleteYou're gifted at the surprise ending thing, aren't you? I even jumped a little for this one.
ReplyDeleteI knew from the title this was going to be another creep-tastic one!
ReplyDeleteGreat piece, wasn't expecting the last part :)
ReplyDeleteStopping by to say 'hi' from the A-Z Challenge!
Finley Jayne
http://finleyjaynesbookshelves.blogspot.com/
Chrys - "run" is right!
ReplyDeleteLynda - if the end made you jump, then I did my job. :)
Julie - I admit, I like this title a lot. :)
Finley - thank you!
Oh, oh - this made me want to take a step back.
ReplyDeleteSophie
Sophie's Thoughts & Fumbles - A to Z Ghosts
Fantasy Boys XXX - A to Z Drabblerotic
Xavier, poor guy. What will happen next with the tongue and teeth
ReplyDeleteSophie - don't just step back, run! :)
ReplyDeleteSusan - nothing good….
Eek! I swear you are the master. That was freaking epic! I expected something "haunting" like a ghost, but nope. You took it to a whole new level.
ReplyDeleteTrue Heroes from A to Z
What a fantastic ending.... OMG -- the unfurling tongue ~
ReplyDeleteMary @ The View from my World
I am screaming and waving my hands as I tear across the lawn.
ReplyDeleteCrystal - I try. :)
ReplyDeleteMS - thank you!
Liza - ha! :)
I guess you meant the title literally!
ReplyDelete~Patricia Lynne~
Story Dam
Patricia Lynne, YA Author
Run, Xavier, run!
ReplyDeleteOh I like your short stories... and your tortoises are too cute... Thank You for stopping by my blog... visiting via the A to Z challenge... :)
ReplyDeleteI thought, "Run, Xavier, run!!!"
ReplyDeleteThe unfurling tongue got me at the end (well, I guess it got Xavier!) Good one! :)
ReplyDeleteEwwwww ... I really don't want to know what's in the hole. The way you described the unfurling tongue it can't be good.
ReplyDeleteTasha
Tasha's Thinkings - AtoZ (Vampires)
FB3X - AtoZ (Erotic Drabbles)
Patricia L - :)
ReplyDeleteSusan and Patricia S - I hope it's not too late….
Linda - thank you!
Phoenix - ha! :)
Tasha - I don't want to know what's in that hole either.
Bye bye, Xavier. It was nice knowing you. (For all of those 20 seconds) :)
ReplyDeleteSuzi - ha ha! :)
ReplyDeleteWhat can I say? Yikes!
ReplyDeleteNoelle - I'd say yikes, too. :)
ReplyDeleteI see we both went with Xavier for "X" :-) Good story!
ReplyDeleteKaren - thank you!
ReplyDelete