Jason Howl
How about Seven? And there is a puzzle hiding in the arrangement of these short-short stories, if you can see it…
1.
The best Valentine?
Hearts, of course, but only after they’ve been rinsed, dried and preserved in a mason jar with those itty-bitty cinnamon hot candies.
2.
Wait, don't hurt yourself.
Or, at least, not without me.
3.
Over the hill and far away, Hansel and Gretel's mother ordered them off before the sun or anyone else rose.
Really, doesn't the silly woman know witches will make house calls?
4.
Leaning down, lips smacking, the clown afforded her less than a second to grab the wooden handle leaning against her knee.
Rolling across the floor, chuckling, the head steadied itself on spindly, insect feet for a second, and once again raising the ax, it turned out that less than a second is all she would need.
5.
I will never be as skilled as you at applying lipstick, slick and smooth.
Of course, to be fair, you had the advantage not only of a lifetime of practice, but your lips were warm back when you did it for yourself.
6.
None of Grandma's old photographs intrigued me as much as the one she claimed revealed an angel standing behind my grandfather back when he was still alive.
Regardless of the hand on his shoulder, how could Grandpa not have heard the despairing moan that I imagined, studying the picture while laying on my stomach on the warm porch, must have been issuing from the angel's contorted face, with its mouth bent into a trembling arch and its leaking eyes rolling in the pale, sweaty face?
7.
Everyone told her she would grow into her changing body and she grudgingly (and silently) admitted someday she would.
Still, for now, she preferred to leave the awkward thing hanging in her closet by its leathery wings whenever she snuck out her window and crept through the town, toes scratching the cobblestones, fingertips scratching tightly-locked windows and her ribs going clatter-clack-clatter in the night breeze.
1.
The best Valentine?
Hearts, of course, but only after they’ve been rinsed, dried and preserved in a mason jar with those itty-bitty cinnamon hot candies.
2.
Wait, don't hurt yourself.
Or, at least, not without me.
3.
Over the hill and far away, Hansel and Gretel's mother ordered them off before the sun or anyone else rose.
Really, doesn't the silly woman know witches will make house calls?
4.
Leaning down, lips smacking, the clown afforded her less than a second to grab the wooden handle leaning against her knee.
Rolling across the floor, chuckling, the head steadied itself on spindly, insect feet for a second, and once again raising the ax, it turned out that less than a second is all she would need.
5.
I will never be as skilled as you at applying lipstick, slick and smooth.
Of course, to be fair, you had the advantage not only of a lifetime of practice, but your lips were warm back when you did it for yourself.
6.
None of Grandma's old photographs intrigued me as much as the one she claimed revealed an angel standing behind my grandfather back when he was still alive.
Regardless of the hand on his shoulder, how could Grandpa not have heard the despairing moan that I imagined, studying the picture while laying on my stomach on the warm porch, must have been issuing from the angel's contorted face, with its mouth bent into a trembling arch and its leaking eyes rolling in the pale, sweaty face?
7.
Everyone told her she would grow into her changing body and she grudgingly (and silently) admitted someday she would.
Still, for now, she preferred to leave the awkward thing hanging in her closet by its leathery wings whenever she snuck out her window and crept through the town, toes scratching the cobblestones, fingertips scratching tightly-locked windows and her ribs going clatter-clack-clatter in the night breeze.
More Answered Questions
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more