Monthly Archives: June 2010

“I don’t wanna suck blood,” little Joey yells. “Sucking blood sucks!”

Father slams his large pale hands on the dinner table, “Don’t give me that! You’re a Dracula and Dracula’s suck blood!”

“Dear,” Mother says, “don’t raise your voice—”

“I can’t help it, Martha. A Dracula that don’t suck blood. It’s a disgrace!”

“I’m gonna get some neck bolts,” Joey blurts out.

“No son of mine is gonna have neck bolts!” Father slams the table again. “You ain’t no Frankenstein. Finish your supper. Your victim’s getting cold.”

“You can’t stop me!”

“So help me, I will impale you in the heart!”

Many people wonder how their lives may have turned out differently had they made different choices, if they had taken that job, or made that move on a crush.

Joshua Franklin did not wonder those things. He knew. In his mind’s eye he could see the myriad paths his life could have taken in vivid detail. They were all better than this life. The other Joshes were taunting him.

One possible life: He was married, had two beautiful children. Another, he was a world traveler. In yet another he did not obsess over what could have been and actually did something.

“You hear about Sloopy?” Randy says to Sean.

Sean doesn’t but plays like he does. “Sure. Charlie Brown’s dog?”

“No. Not Snoopy. Sloopy,” Randy stresses.

Sean fiddles with his saxophone, “Of course. I must’ve misheard you. Sloopy. Right. W-what about Sloopy?”

“Sloopy’s having problems. Everybody’s bringing Sloopy down. You know what Sloopy’s daddy do?”

Sean shrugs, “I don’t care.”

“Neither do I,” Randy sighs. “I told Sloopy to hang on.”

“That’s good advice.”

“I told her, ‘Hang on, Sloopy. Sloopy, hang on.’”

Sean chokes on his reed. “Sloopy’s a girl?!”

Randy gives a puzzled look, “Uh, yeah. Why wouldn’t she be?”

Cold water rushed over Chase jolting every cell in his body awake.

“Good morning, Mr. Henderson,” Agent  K— said.

Chase pulled at his arms, but they were still tied together behind him. The water dripped into his eyes, making it hard to make out Agent K—’s form.

“Good morning.” Chase did not recognize his own voice. It was raspy, dry. “Here to try again? I won’t talk.”

“No,” Agent K— said, “My employer has grown impatient. He’s instructed your—” Agent K— paused a moment, “extermination.”

“What? But I have information you need!”

“Information has an expiration date and so do you.”