MicroHorror

To support his writing addiction and excessively extravagant lifestyle, David Siegel Bernstein consults as a forensic statistician. He has been published in numerous print and online magazines–including the “Best of 2006″ in Apollo’s Lyre and the 10th Anniversary Issue of AntipodeanSF. Most recently his writing has appeared or will appear in Twisted Dreams Magazine, Midnight Times, AlienSkin Magazine, Afterburn SF, Ray Gun Revival, Mysterical-E, Orchard Press Mysteries, Aoifie’s Kiss, The Rose & Thorn, Bewildering Stories, Reflections Literary Journal, Liquid Ohio, Down in the Dirt, Aphelion, Wanderings, Enigma, Outer Darkness, Black Petals, Flashshot, Pen Pricks, Kaleidtrope, MindFlights and Anotherealm.

March 18, 2009

The Telltale Art

By David Siegel Bernstein

I gave my life to Art. No! I take that back. It’s more accurate to say that Art captured my soul. Yeah, that’s right–she’s a fickle mistress bound by no morality or reason.

She called me her muse. She romanced me, loved me. She ended me.

For the crime of inspiration she was judge, jury, and executioner of my fate. I’m now imprisoned in two-dimensional pastel.

Sometimes she comes alone and blesses me with a long lingering gaze. Other times, she displays me to guests. And cruelest times, she teases me by showing me the future projects she’s seducing.

  • Copyright: © 2009 David Siegel Bernstein

February 4, 2009

Flight 409

By David Siegel Bernstein

Seat 36A

I can’t help but think of the Twilight Zone. You know–the episode with Captain Kirk before he was the Captain. I know that thing hanging from the engine isn’t a gremlin, but it has me worried. It we crash, death won’t be the worst thing that happens.

I have a secret: my boyfriend lives down there. If we crash, my parents will find out about him. They still think I’m straight.

Damn, I’m babbling. It’s just that when I’m nervous, I say the first thing that comes to mind.

I really think I should tell someone about that thing waving from under the wing.

Seat 25A

I wish Mom had given me some other DVDs for this thing. How many times can I watch Toy Story? The plane lady told me I’m stuck here for like four hours. That’s a really long time; maybe two or three movies long. She won’t let me watch cool stuff like Spider-Man, even though I’m seven years old now. I’m not a baby anymore!

I’m flying to visit my dad. Mom says it’s his “visitation” and I have to be nice to Sherry. I don’t like her. She makes my tummy feel funny.

I do miss Dad sometimes. I just wish I had friends there.

I have a secret: I don’t like flying alone. I wish I had my Batman doll with me. Don’t tell my dad I said that. Okay? He thinks I’m too big to sleep with it. So I couldn’t bring it. If you look out the window, it looks like my doll is waving from the bottom of that thing on the wing.

Maybe I should tell the plane lady.

Seat 11A

What can I tell you about myself? I’m the safe reliable type; you know–blend into the scenery. Invisible.

It’s not that I’m hideous or anything; I’m not a virgin. But, I don’t have boyfriends. I have boy friends.

My life is pretty dull. Both my parents are alive and well, and still married. No childhood trauma. Boring. Even the business trip was boring. Totally forgettable.

But, I think I could be remembered from now on. I could make everyone on this flight famous.

I have a secret: I left a package on the engine. You can see it dangling. It’s amazing how far you can wander in an airport when you’re invisible.

I wonder if my package will fall off, or fall in.

  • Copyright: © 2006 David Siegel Bernstein

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