Friday, October 29, 2010

Flash Fiction Friday, A Halloween Special: When Pax...

When Pax's left arm fell off, he didn't say anything.  It was no big deal, really.  He didn't use it very much to begin with, so the action was no different than getting stung by a bee or stubbing your toe: annoying, painful, but temporary.  He was right handed, so what did it matter?

When Pax's toes turned dark purple he barely even noticed.  One day, after removing his socks, he saw his normal pale feet with accompanying pale toes were now normal pale feet and purple toes.  "Maybe some grape jelly made it's way into my shoes," he said, shrugging it off.  And when, after his bath, his toes remained purple, he embraced his new toes, wishing his old ones all the best.

When Pax grew a third ear, right out the back of his head, he thought it was the coolest thing ever.  Plus, it came out already pierced with a sweet diamond stud in it, which he sold and took the money to the comic book shop and wasted it all on cheap back issues.  People stared, but he knew they were only staring out of jealousy.

When Pax's lips sealed shut he was in the middle of a presentation for Mr. Groban's class.  "And that's why thmm m mmmm m mmmmhh mhhhmm hmhmh."  He kept on going, through the cries and omgs, until he finished.  "Mmmh mmhh."  He took a seat, beaming.  He'd remembered every single word!

And when Pax's heart stopped beating, when the tiny drummer inside retired his sticks and said "That's all I got," Pax nodded in understanding.  That was all he had, too.  When the song's over, it's over.

Pax Revelet was buried in Middlesboro Cemetery.  The gnome that stole his arm dropped it in the grave with a tear.  The ghost that painted his toes threw a flower in the hole.  The ear fairy that sprinkled the fae dust on his head at night and watered his ears dropped her pail and spade in the pit.  The witch that sealed his lips, Jenny Ray, who was only trying to flirt with him in class, sobbed loudly at the graveside.  Pax Revelet was a boy beloved of many and cherished by all, and his incredible story is something to remember this Halloween Time.

Word Count: 394

6 comments:

Jay Belt said...

Haha. Funny stuff, then it turned kinda sad. But good all around. Well done.

logankstewart said...

Heh, sorry it went sad. I thought about leaving off the last paragraph, but decided that I wanted it anyway.

Anonymous said...

love it.

~L

logankstewart said...

@L: Thanks. The idea came after reading your review of Melancholy Death.... I thought, I wanna write something bizarre and Burton-esque. So this is what I came up with. Glad you liked loved it.

Okie said...

What a crazy story. The random loss/decomposition kept me wondering and wanting more. I like this a lot.

logankstewart said...

@Okie: Thank you very. I like it quite a bit, myself. :)