Pearl

by Josh Malerman

For what roams outside the barn is worse than what’s within.

I will not be slaughtered like my mother was, I will not be used for fuel, I will not die here in my own kingdom, I am king here I will not die I will not die I won’t.

Dad was smiling sadly through the glass. “NO!” Jeff yelled. Dad spoke. “Come on, Jeff. Outside. I wanna talk to you about something. Wanna tell you I’m sorry. We’ll hang out on the roof together. We’ll jump down together, too.”

Yes, Jeff thought. Bob Buck knew this way back when. Knew the fate awaiting them all, all the people who took Pearl for granted. All the people who didn’t think twice about slaughtering a brilliant animal.