Monday, April 28, 2014

X is for . . . WHAT'S EATING XAVIER?

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.


*****


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.

*****

33 comments:

  1. You 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.
    Deb@ http://debioneille.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. 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.
    Deb@ http://debioneille.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Debi - thank you! Hopefully, this story will get you out of that chore. :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Madeline, the endings always take me by surprise. I am always amazed by the endings :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Eek! That ending was a surprise and all I can think of is "RUN!" haha

    ReplyDelete
  6. You're gifted at the surprise ending thing, aren't you? I even jumped a little for this one.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I knew from the title this was going to be another creep-tastic one!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Great piece, wasn't expecting the last part :)

    Stopping by to say 'hi' from the A-Z Challenge!
    Finley Jayne
    http://finleyjaynesbookshelves.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  9. Chrys - "run" is right!

    Lynda - if the end made you jump, then I did my job. :)

    Julie - I admit, I like this title a lot. :)

    Finley - thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Oh, oh - this made me want to take a step back.
    Sophie
    Sophie's Thoughts & Fumbles - A to Z Ghosts
    Fantasy Boys XXX - A to Z Drabblerotic

    ReplyDelete
  11. Xavier, poor guy. What will happen next with the tongue and teeth

    ReplyDelete
  12. Sophie - don't just step back, run! :)

    Susan - nothing good….

    ReplyDelete
  13. 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.

    True Heroes from A to Z

    ReplyDelete
  14. What a fantastic ending.... OMG -- the unfurling tongue ~
    Mary @ The View from my World

    ReplyDelete
  15. I am screaming and waving my hands as I tear across the lawn.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Crystal - I try. :)

    MS - thank you!

    Liza - ha! :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. I guess you meant the title literally!

    ~Patricia Lynne~
    Story Dam
    Patricia Lynne, YA Author

    ReplyDelete
  18. Oh 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... :)

    ReplyDelete
  19. The unfurling tongue got me at the end (well, I guess it got Xavier!) Good one! :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. Ewwwww ... I really don't want to know what's in the hole. The way you described the unfurling tongue it can't be good.
    Tasha
    Tasha's Thinkings - AtoZ (Vampires)
    FB3X - AtoZ (Erotic Drabbles)

    ReplyDelete
  21. Patricia L - :)

    Susan 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.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Bye bye, Xavier. It was nice knowing you. (For all of those 20 seconds) :)

    ReplyDelete
  23. I see we both went with Xavier for "X" :-) Good story!

    ReplyDelete