MicroHorror

I’ve forgotten what you looked like. I remember when we used to walk down the street in the evenings when the sun went down. The lights of the streets would just hit your face and it would glow reflecting my love for you. Those were good times. The streets were quiet, shops would start to close slowly and the crazies were just getting up. Of course, we’d be off the streets before the crazies got there. We weren’t into hanging around with the crazies because being crazy in love was enough for us. Your hair would whisper in the wind as it moved softly blocking your eyes and you would brush it away. Your hair was brown, I know that. I mean it still is though there are tinges of gray in it. Maybe the grayness came from me? I can’t believe I was all that trouble as we were married. And sure, eventually the sweet words from your sweet lips became sour. Not even lemonade. If they were bittersweet, I could live with those words. Just because I came home late, you said I was a cheater, being out with someone else. Who else wore lipstick but you?

You kept talking though and your voice increased in loudness. I couldn’t take it anymore. I remember telling you to shut up and wipe that smirk off your face. Of course you didn’t… so I had to wipe it for you. Goodness you looked at me with those ghastly eyes of horror that I had to cut those out as well. The blood from your nose just grossed me out that I had to get rid of that too.

I couldn’t just toss you in the garbage though. Those garbage guys might’ve suspected something. Having you in the kitchen was nice though, until those bugs started coming by, so I had to leave you in my closet. What I most regretted was that I had forgotten what you had looked like. So I went back into the closet to see, but your face was gone. I remember throwing that in the garbage. I should’ve kept it though. Just to remember you by.

Ashley looked around the cafeteria for Ben. She felt bad for what happened the other day. Rex and his boys played their little tricks again. They sat down with her and Ben, pretended to be nice then all of a sudden started eating Ben’s lunch. When Ben tried to protest, Rex just grabbed his face and threw him to the ground. It was a pitiful sight and one Ashley hoped wouldn’t happen again, although it happened almost every day. And not necessarily during lunch either. Sometimes Rex and James would pull his pants down or throw him into some library books–their favorite since it would get Ben in trouble for causing a library disruption. Ashley saw James from the corner of her eye. He was carrying a tray, probably looking for his partner and leader, Rex. She averted his gaze so he wouldn’t take notice and found an empty table.

“Hello, Ashley.”

Ashley looked up from her sandwich and smiled at her friend who sat down at the table. Ben had bags under his eyes and his hair wasn’t combed right, but he did manage to smile. “You don’t look well.”

“I’m all right, just had to stay up last night.”

She nodded, wasn’t sure why. He didn’t really have anything to stay up late for. They were kids, they didn’t really stay up, they weren’t allowed. Although, they did have math homework, but who stayed up to do math homework? That was just silly. She took a bite of her sandwich and frowned as James sat with them.

“Hello, little troll,” snicked James sliding his tray next to Ben’s lunch box. “What do you have in there? Shall we take a look?”

“Surprised you can move without your leader,” said Ashley, shooting a glare at James, then Randy, then Thomas.

Ben opened his lunch box and took out a small bowl wrapped in plastic. He undid the plastic, dipped his finger in the bowl and before he could taste it, James grabbed it.

“Well, well, what do we have here!” James raised the bowl in the air. “Smells like blood.” He laughed along with his friends.

“Lunch time!” Thomas thrust his hand in the lunch box then dropped what looked like a hand. “What the hell?”

“What do you mean ‘what the hell?’” James looked at Randy, who shrugged. James looked inside the lunch box and gagged. “Oh my god, that looks like… Rex?”

“It is, I had to cut him up though because he wouldn’t fit in the lunch box,” said Ben candidly. He brushed his hair out of his face with his hand. “And if you don’t mind, I’d like my dipping sauce back.”

Ashley decided not to have lunch with Ben again.

It’s a slight, I do apologize. The young lady had made an indecent remark about my girlfriend the other day, but as they say, forgive and forget. I decided to be a decent chap and have her over for tea. Since we had studied hard all day and missed our bus, I figured, let us have tea at my place as she awaits her ride. It’s a really friendly place, my place, I thought, as we took the elevator.

“Cool elevator!” replied the young lady.

“Why, yes, yes it is,” I agreed offhandedly, taking off my gloves. I could’ve kept them on but I was home now.

“So, yeah, do you and your girlfriend live here? It’s a damn fancy place. Bet you have a big couch where you two screw the life out of each other!”

I smiled. “Our couch is rather small. Marianne finds it hard to lie down sometimes.” The elevator stopped. You think I would be aggrieved by her colorful statements, but I wasn’t. This was the way she was. I opened the door, turned on the light and watched her enter. “The phone is in the living room. Marianne should be in the kitchen.”

“Well, let’s say hello to Marianne then!” She did her beamy smile, her genuine smile, and danced into the kitchen. “So, Marianne, Mark here has been telling me about the little lovenest you two have here!” From behind I could delightfully see her mouth gasping. Stepping to her side, I noticed the wondrous lack of color to her cheeks. “What the hell is this?”

“Marianne!” I exclaimed, holding up my shovel. “We have a guest!” After hitting her several times with the shovel, I sat her in another chair and proceeded to make tea. Marianne admired my study partner’s wonderful complexion. Once my Earl Grey was ready, I sat in a chair myself. Sure my girlfriend and my guest were a quiet bunch, but that did not stop me from enjoying the glory of my place.