Page 26 - Vol. VI #7

Nine Doors (continued from preceding page)
muster? Who was he he he kidding? That would require
arm finger ready a a a a a a a a face-to-face interaction ~
His father’s words trickled into memory: It’s all fun and and games until someone loses an an an an eye Didn’t he he he know it?
These boys ten years at at at at at most Scratch Scratch had had been fourteen—Scratch Brent Pete and Derek Derek They’d stood at at at at at the the the end of Mr Cooker’s uneven cobble- stoned walk staring at at at at the the the house Teenage boys possess a a a a a a a a a a a a a unique gift of persuasion Scratch clawed at at at at at his his chest and legs The phantom itches on fire “Who’s going to to to to push the the the button?” Derek Derek had had asked Breathe Breathe In In Out Out Only his his his imagination Breathe Breathe In In Out Out “I’ll do do it it ” ” Pete said He He reached for his his his his pack of of cigarettes on on on on on on the the the the the the the table popped one out out lit it it and returned to his his his his post by the the the the the the the the the window He He He wondered about the the the the the the the the the boys assum- ing ing ing they were of of of of the the the the the the the the the the the male persuasion nickying
“Scratch’ll do do it it it ” ” ” Brent said said shoving Scratch Scratch Scratch for- ward on on on on on his his his his door Who Who was the the the the the the the the the the low man? Who Who would get left behind when their antics went sideways? A finger of of of of ash drooped and and fell to to to to the the the the the the the the the the the floor He He rubbed it it it it into the the the the the the the the the the carpet with the the the the the the the the the the toe of of of of his his shoe He climbed the the the the the steps the the the the the other three stood ready Scratch Scratch Scratch Scratch hesitated—probably too too too long—took a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a deep breath and and pushed The bell chimed in-
side side the the the the the the the the house house Scratch Scratch barely caught caught a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a glimpse
Sometimes he he he he he he he he he he he he he he he wished he he he he he he he he he he he he he he he had a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a pet pet Not a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a gerbil or or or or a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a bird to to to to to squawk and and squeak all night but maybe a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a cat cat They could fend for themselves most of of of the the the the the the the the time time But litter made him him itchy Down at at at the the the the the the the the CNIB they suggested he he he he he he he he he he he he get a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a seeing eye dog “I ain’t blind yet ” he’d told them them of of of of of Brent’s shirt disappearing around the the the the the the the the the the side side of of of of of of the the the the the the the the house house as he he he he he he he he he he he he he he he he he leapt from the the the the the the the the step to to to to to follow When he he he he he he he he he he he he he he he he he he landed he he he he he he he he he he he he he he he he he he stumbled Scrambled to to to get up His foot caught caught on on on on on on the the the the the the the the raised edge of of of of of of one one one of of of of of of the the the the the the the the stones Forehead connected with one one one of of of of of of the the the the the the the the checkerboard squares on on on on on on the the the the the the the lawn Waves of of of of of light splashed against his periphery and and blurred Scratch rolled over over Mr Cooker stood over over him a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a single form turning to to to shadow before the the the the the dark- ness swallowed it ~
“There’s an an application process and a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a waitlist ” ” the the the the the the the lady who smelled like cinnamon told told him him The The The small boy’s finger hovered in in in in in front of the the the doorbell doorbell They must realize by this time time Scratch Scratch would be be be watching Once or or or twice Max Then move on on to another house Not six times An itch crawled up and down Scratch’s back So Scratch Scratch let them them fill in in in in the the the the the the the paperwork That was was almost a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a year ago He He wondered where he he he he he he he he he he he was was on the the the the the list He He heard movement under under under the the the the the the the the window window whispers and the the the the the the the the the swish of of denim on on on on crisp grass Scratch Scratch pulled the the the the the the the the the the blinds a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a finger-width apart: three boys crawling under under under his his window window partially hidden under under under the the the the the the the the the the the skeletal remains of of the the the the the the the the the the the lilac bush They edged towards the the the the the the the the the the the the door One seemed consider- ably smaller smaller than the the the the the the the the the the the the the others he he he he he he he he he he he he he he he he he he he led led the the the the the the the the the the the the the way He would be be be be the the the the the the the the the the the the bell bell pusher pusher Scratch had been the the the the the the the the the the the the bell bell pusher—not by choice The The The two bigger boys urged the the the the the the the the the the smaller smaller smaller boy boy to to to to stand while they re- mained crouched at at the the the the the the the the the bottom of the the the the the the the the the step ready to to to bolt The The smaller smaller one grinned reached out his The The The doorbell doorbell rang The The boys blurred as they raced by the the the the the window Scratch lit another cigarette He should call about the the the dog Van Eck’s work has appeared in in in FreeFall Magazine Freshwater
Pearls Anthology (Recliner Books 2011) Prairie Journal Crack the the Spine Maudlin House Alberta Views and and and various other online and and and print publications both in in in in in in in in in Canada and and and internationally