Category: Flash Fiction

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Drat

Meron akong systema na nakukuha ko yong gusto ko sa mga tao. Ang buntot ko ay buntot ko ay ng curl patungo sa sky. Yong mata ko ay nanghihingi ng pagkain. Tuwing nagmimiyaw ako, pinapakain ako.

Ngayong araw, ang victim ko ay ang 3 year old ng family Bago lang binabantayan ko si Karl. Ang family dog. Si Charlie. Kinuha nya sa second drawersa kusin Ķasundan yong papa nya sa labas ng bahayhanggang sa big tin. Si stan kinuha nya ang takip sa tin, at si Charlie ay  kumukuha ng maraming dog biscuits. At masaya siya…linagyan ni karl sa bowl ng maraming dog biscuits….samantalang kumakain ang aso, pinapanood siya ni karl….

Nag iisip ako

Paano kung makakuha si charlie ng pagkain para sa akin.

Ngayong araw  ay araw ko.

Pumunta ako sa kusina…nakita ko si charlie na nag iisa.dahil sa high pitched gutom ako na  mewww,at itinago ko ang buntot ko sa pwet ko,ang mata kong naghihingi ay nakatutok sa kanya,at ang mata nyang azul nyang azul ay nakatingin sa akin…

Gutom pa ba rin ang pusa?

oo,oo

Ngumiti sya tapos ginamit nya ang upuan para makaakyat sa lamesa,kinuha nya ang bowl of cereal sa table ang laman ay nahulog .ang papa ko ay nanonood samantalang ang gatas at cereal nahulog sa sahig…

Hindi yon ang gusto kung mangyari..Gusto ko lang ang aking cat food  samantalang nakatingin sa bench….may nanotice akong hindi bukas na lata…

Narealiuse ko ang aking pagkamali…

Si Charlie ay hindi marunong gumamit ng can opener

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Ginawa Natin (We did it!)

Nagcollapse sa tennis court, hinawakan nya ang puso nuya. Marami syang mga boses na naririnig sa ulo nya. Hindi nya marecognise ang lahat.

Tapos may naramdaman siyang kamay na nagbrush sa kanyang cheek. May tumotulo na luha sa mukha niya. Naglook up siya, nakita nya ang asawa nya, Mary, umiiyak at yinakap ni Mary ng mahigpit ang husband nya.

Naririnig nya palapit na ang ambulance. Hindi nagtagaldumating din ang ambulance. Si mary ay nasa tabi nya, pero pumanaw sya. Humina ang puso nyaat tapos hindi na sya gumalaw.

Wala na siya. Marami siyang pinagdaanan. Tumawag ang ina niya galing sa Sydney. Hindi mama, gusto kung palakihin ang mga bata dito naka smile at binaba nya ang telepono. Si Doug inilibing na isang linggo na ang nakalipas.

Ngayon na ang panahon para magsikap. Nagtrabaho ang mga bata sa dairy farm. Mga taon na ang lumipas na realise nya na hindi normal ang nakaraan. Ang mga bata ay nagtrabaho from kids to grown up.

Para sa mga bata it was the best childhood ever. Tumawa siya sa ina niya.Samantalang nakauupo ang nanay nya sa nursing home.ang smile ni Mary stretched her lip too. Tungkol dito….

oo, ginagawa natin, diba?

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Attention

Jemima slunk through the shadows at the back of the little fibro house. Black fur blended with the shadows, with only her luminous green eyes betraying her presence.

‘Cat,’ squawked the cockatoo at the back steps.

‘Be quiet, Peregrin,’ hissed the black cat.

‘Oh, it’s you,’ he huffed.

‘Yes, and I’m looking for mice in master’s house.’

‘Come inside then,’ the big white bird sleepily whispered, before tucking his head under his wing. He was asleep in seconds.

The black cat scurried up the back steps of the house, and disappeared through the cat flap in the back door.

The kitchen light was on, and so Jemima padded towards it, knowing a member of her family would be there.

A man stood at the sink, washing up the dinner plates from the night before. He looked at the chequered black and white lino towards the hallway.

‘Oh, it’s you,’ he said grumpily, as Jemima quietly came towards him. 

And then he turned back to his task, and ignored her.

Feeling unloved by the lack of attention, Jemima resolved to change this.

On fleet feet, she flitted through the shadows of the house, and into the laundry, across the other side of the kitchen from the hallway.

‘I’ll show them,’ she muttered to herself.

Rustling in the corner betrayed the presence of rodents.

‘I’ll catch one of you pesky vermin, and then I’ll get some love,’ the black cat whispered to herself.

On the top of the top loader washing machine, she could see her quarry. In a glass tank, a large black and white rat chewed on a  carrot in amongst shredded paper.

Pouncing, she caught him by the scruff of the neck, and carried him back into the kitchen.

‘Oh Jemima, put that rat down,’ commanded the man at the sink. 

With a puzzled look, the black cat obeyed and dropped the squirming rodent onto the lino.

‘That rat is a Christmas present, for the children,’ explained the man.

Jemima pulled a face. She did not like this news.

On her mind was one thought.

‘One more animal to distract the family away from me.’

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Enamoured

I was enamoured with the clock. Its round face almost smiled at me, as its three hands kept time.

The second hand was brass and ticked quickly across the patterned surface. The minute hand was only slightly slower and made of silver.

And the ponderous golden hour hand moved slowly.

Every hour, when the golden hand skimmed forward, the clock would not only just chime but make music.

A sound, similar to a music box, would sing a tune, while little figurines chased each other.

Across the face, they would run before disappearing somewhere behind, hidden for another hour.

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Rescuer

I turned the ignition and started up Dad’s car. This was a desperate act, as I knew I’d be in much trouble in the morning. But the tiny puppy snuggled into my chest, needed help. Only a Vet would be useful, and that meant taking Dad’s car to the nearest Animal Hospital.

The car engine rumbled, and then revved. Reversing out of the car port, I started up the road. The little lump in the front of my jumper wiggled. Keeping to the left side of the road, I drove to the nearest place where I thought I’d find a Vet.

A lady in a white coat came walking out of the Animal Hospital.

‘Come here, child.  What do you have there?’

Realising that she was locking up before going home, I knew I was very lucky. She was an animal lover, through and through.

‘It’s a little new born puppy, I found,’ I informed her, handing over the scrap of fur.

The Vet took him, and held him close to her chest.

‘Hello, Little Fella,’ she whispered. And then to me, ‘We better get him inside. There’s a Mother Dog in there who has puppies about his age. She’s a good girl. I’ll see if she’ll adopt him.

I followed the lady into the building, and through the empty waiting room. She stopped me there, with a wave of her hand. And so I sat in a seat and waited. Through the open door, I could see her walk to a large basket on the floor.

A female dog lay there, comfortable in her bed, surrounded by little furry wriggling bodies. The Vet held the little puppy close to the dog’s nose, and she sniffed the new comer. And then licked his tiny body.

And then allowed the Vet to place him in her basket. The dog encouraged the tiny puppy to snuggle up to her.

The Vet turned to me, and gave me a thumbs up.

The tiny puppy would be okay. I smiled back.

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Cat

What activities do you lose yourself in?

Molly walked into the Art Gallery with her mum.

It was school holiday time, and the Art Gallery had activities for the children to do.

‘I’ll just be inside, looking at art,’ her mum informed her.

Molly started to cry.

‘Don’t leave me, Mummy. Stay with me.’

But her mum was firm.

‘There’s plenty to do here, Molly.’

And left her.

A friendly volunteer came over.

‘Hi. Is your name Molly?’

Tearily,  Molly nodded her head.

‘Your mum told me you like cats.’

‘Yes,’ Molly whispered.

‘Why don’t you sit here at the table and draw me a cat.’

So Molly drew and painted and crayoned.  This was going to be the best cat ever in all of history.

A tap on her shoulder startled her. Looking around, Molly saw her mum with the volunteer.

‘What have you been doing, Molly?’ asked her mum.

‘Drawing the best cat ever.’

Molly held up her picture. She showed her mum the cat.

‘That’s the best picture ever.’

Molly smiled at her mum.

‘Can we come back tomorrow?’ Molly asked.

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Witches

Are you superstitious?

Rebecca painted her face with green face paint. Next, she stuck on the fake warts and combed black dye through her hair.

Finger nails were next. She delicately painted them blood red. Once the nail polish was dry, she bit into a stick of lipstick, leaving red stains on her teeth.

Her little brother would respect her now, she thought. If he thought she was a witch, that is.

Rebecca stepped out into the night. A full moon sailed close to the horizon.  Now was her chance. She would creep up to Joey’s bedroom window and scare him.

A black cat went scurrying across the footpath as she silently padded towards Joey’s window.

She came to her own bedroom first. A rustle in the bushes caused Rebecca to shudder.

Funny, she thought, I didn’t realise Mum left the broom out. It was leaning against her bedroom wall.

A green warty hand with blood red claw like nails reached out and grabbed the broom.

The cat jumped onto the end of the stick.

‘Thanks for minding my vehicle for me,’ an old voice crackled.

And for an instant, Rebecca swore she saw a lady and a cat on a broom, fly past the full moon.

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Teddy

Gracie stared into the sky. Her mother had bought here a teddy for her birthday, and she was swinging teddy on the park play equipment.

Kelly was Gracie’s neighbour. A slightly older child, Kelly was a bully.

Kelly ripped Teddy out of the swing. ‘It’s my teddy now,’ sneered Kelly.

‘Give him back to me!’ yelled Gracie.

The older child ran away, but Gracie was faster. She chased Kelly around the park, until Kelly slipped on some mud.

Gracie grabbed Teddy, and hugged him tight.

Kelly was sitting in the muddy patch, a scowl on her face, then she started crying. ‘It was my birthday a week ago and no one gave me any presents, ‘ she whimpered.

So Gracie helped her up. ‘We can both play with Teddy, if you like,’ she said shyly. ‘I’d love to,’ whispered Kelly.

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Remembering

It stung, you know, that slap.

Glaring at her, I rubbed my cheek. It was the first time my Mother had ever raised a hand to me. A teenager, full of rage and uncertainty was leading me into trouble. As an adult, I now feel I deserved it. That’s how I was feeling right now.

In the Nursing Home, my Beautiful Mother was wandering the Dementia Ward. She had forgotten that slap, but I hadn’t. It had been a turning point in my life. I’d arrived at adulthood much more certain, much more grounded and appreciating all my Mother did for me.

I placed the bunch of flowers in the vase, fussing over how they were arranged, until a famillar figure came ambling into the room. Picking up the vase, I carried it to the private bathroom that was attached to the room. Half filling it with water, I listened as Mum clambered into bed.

It was a moment I’d been dreading, when she would forget my name, and who I was.

Then I heard a chuckle, as I came back out, and positioned the vase on the bedside table.

“Remember that time when I slapped you? You were so furious. Sometimes I wonder how I managed to raise a daughter like you, who even visits me everyday, no matter how crazy I am. My how the tables have turned.

Happy to have her lucid today, I returned the chuckle.

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Drat!

I had this system for getting exactly what I wanted out of people.

My tail would curl skywards, my eyes take on a particular pleading quality and my meow would sound proud but starved. It worked every time.

Today, my victim was the family’s three year old. 

Recently, I’d been watching him with Karl, the family dog. Charlie would get the scoop out of the second drawer in the kitchen, follow his father out of the house and to the big tin bin. Stan would then take the lid off the tin, and Charlie would dig the scoop into the dog biscuits. With a squeal of pure joy, he’d pour the biscuits into the dog bowl as Karl would watch on.

It got me thinking.

What if Charlie could get me food?

Today was my day.

Sauntering into the kitchen, I saw Charlie alone. With my high pitched I’m hungry mew, tail curled at just the right angle, my pleading eyes fixated on him. His beatufiul blues fixated on mine.

“Cat, hungry?”

Yes, oh yes.

He smiled, then used a chair to climb onto the kitchen table. Pulling a bowl of cereal off the table, its contents spilled everywhere. My eyes darted to the Weet Bix and milk, sloshing all over the floor.

It was not what I wanted. I wanted my cat food. Glancing up to the bench, I noticed an unopened tin. 

It was then I realised my mistake.

Charlie didn’t know how to use a tin opener.