Playing With Fire
Jaimie is five. She knows to eat her vegetables and to wash her hands before and after every meal, but she doesn’t know about staying away from Robbie. Robbie is the town’s secret. He lives in the park, lurks around after midnight moons, and chases things he cannot catch. Jaimie is one of those things.
She skips in her front yard, her hair looping around the air as she jumps, little girl hops, barely leaving the ground. He’s watching her, twiddling his thumbs and scratching his scruffy beard. His meds are still bleeding under his tongue. He never swallows.
The rope skips the ground, Jaimie counts to one hundred in Spanish, her plaits bouncing in unison, in sync with each number. In the bushes, Robbie settles. He counts along with her, sharpening his blade, and panting like a hurried devil. He will have his fill. His teeth form into tiny razors, his hands contort and crack as they shift. He is becoming the fire everyone escapes.
He sits and waits until dawn.
A Cornered Gurl 
Ooooo I love it! Don’t know if it’s fantasy or reality in his mind! Can’t wait to find out!
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Sharp is also this way of telling a story through short sentences that go straight to the core I am a fan of short sentences 😉😉…. thumbs up!
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I am a fan of them as well, of shorter works at best, really. Thank you!
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😉
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Dark stuff, Tre. Wish such things weren’t real, but of course we know they are.
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I too, wish they weren’t, but like you said, they are… Thank you for reading, Mitch!
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No, don’t let him get Jaimie! Such compelling writing, my friend.
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Part II will be up on Monday. I think you will end up truly disliking Robbie.
Thank you, Mags.
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Ah, okay. I’m sure you’re right.
You’re so welcome, Tre.
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