The House Beast

[close] Beasts live in the forest. They come into our world to hide among us in disguise. These animals look exactly like houses, peaked roofs, eaves, and porches. These beasts plant down beside the road, looking like a fixer upper. People live in them, not knowing they live in a monster. Every word they say is being heard. That's what it feeds on. It lives off the captive family's words. It gets indigestion after a bad joke and stuffed after a loud card-game with the cronies. The beast thrives on argument. It fills the house with its hostile breath. The blood pressure of the people inside rises. After a night of insomnia, mulling over something someone said the day before, they bicker at breakfast. "John, would you please brush your teeth after you eat an onion sandwich?" John lies in bed, having spent thirty minutes brushing his teeth. Morning, John gets up and throws his milk at his wife. "I smell milk!" You get the picture. A bonus for the beast is a murdered family. Every beast that's been around has