I write a little bit, or used to. So is this where we post our stories?
Here's a short I did.
\t
THE ELEVENTH HOUR
by Cinder\t
\tSilence filled the darkened corridor. A soft glow from a light at the end of the hallway reflected dully off the rows of silver bars. The last visitors had left hours ago and the night shift was long settled into their routine.
\tAn old-timer sat close to the bars, staring vacantly into the night. He'd tried napping, something he'd always been good at, but sleep's peaceful veil unkindly eluded him. He'd have to wait it out this time.
\tThe new kid next door was restless.
\t"Can't sleep either?" the old-timer asked him.
\t"I can't stand this being cooped up," he answered. "How long have you been here?"
\tThe old-timer smiled. "Too long...not long enough."
\tThe kid settled against the wall that divided them, close to the bars. "What's that supposed to mean?"
\t"It's almost the eleventh hour. Tonight's my night. They'll be coming for me."
\t"Are you sure? Maybe you'll get a reprieve."
\t"They're few and far between, young fella. But don't you give up trying, because it does happen. Not for me, though."
\t"It ain't fair," the kid said.
\t"No, it ain't," the old-time agreed. "One day I had a life, a family. The next, I'm out on the street scratching for a living. It can happen to anybody."
\tThe kid released a heavy sigh. "My own family turned me in."
\tThe old-timer shook his head. His throat was dry, so he got himself a drink of water, then returned to the bars. "I hear it's not so bad, practically painless."
\t"What do they do?"
\t"Lethal injection. One pin prick, then you go to sleep. I can think of worse ways to die."
\t"It just ain't fair," the kid repeated.
\t"Oh, I can't complain. They treated me square here. A full belly and a warm safe place to sleep is more than some ever get. They take care of your body afterward, too. Cremation." He smiled. "If you get a chance to see the sky tomorrow, look for me, kid. I'll be that puff of black smoke chasing clouds."
\tA door at the end of the corridor opened and closed. Unrelenting footsteps drew near.
\t"Remember kid, don't give up. Stand up when they talk to you. Look 'em straight in the eye. Smile a lot. Be friendly. You never know, it might just be your ticket out of here."
\t"Good luck," the kid said, reaching through the bars to the old-timer.
\t"You too," he whispered.
\t
* * *
\tThey took the old-timer to the end of the corridor, and through a second door, which they closed behind them. Minutes later they returned and took the kid too.
\tAn employee removed the newspapers from the bottom of their cages, then dumped the litter pans and food bowls. After wiping the cages down with bleach, the employee lined the floors with fresh newspaper. Tomorrow they'd be full again.
~~~
I know, not very cheery, is it.
Here's a short I did.
\t
THE ELEVENTH HOUR
by Cinder\t
\tSilence filled the darkened corridor. A soft glow from a light at the end of the hallway reflected dully off the rows of silver bars. The last visitors had left hours ago and the night shift was long settled into their routine.
\tAn old-timer sat close to the bars, staring vacantly into the night. He'd tried napping, something he'd always been good at, but sleep's peaceful veil unkindly eluded him. He'd have to wait it out this time.
\tThe new kid next door was restless.
\t"Can't sleep either?" the old-timer asked him.
\t"I can't stand this being cooped up," he answered. "How long have you been here?"
\tThe old-timer smiled. "Too long...not long enough."
\tThe kid settled against the wall that divided them, close to the bars. "What's that supposed to mean?"
\t"It's almost the eleventh hour. Tonight's my night. They'll be coming for me."
\t"Are you sure? Maybe you'll get a reprieve."
\t"They're few and far between, young fella. But don't you give up trying, because it does happen. Not for me, though."
\t"It ain't fair," the kid said.
\t"No, it ain't," the old-time agreed. "One day I had a life, a family. The next, I'm out on the street scratching for a living. It can happen to anybody."
\tThe kid released a heavy sigh. "My own family turned me in."
\tThe old-timer shook his head. His throat was dry, so he got himself a drink of water, then returned to the bars. "I hear it's not so bad, practically painless."
\t"What do they do?"
\t"Lethal injection. One pin prick, then you go to sleep. I can think of worse ways to die."
\t"It just ain't fair," the kid repeated.
\t"Oh, I can't complain. They treated me square here. A full belly and a warm safe place to sleep is more than some ever get. They take care of your body afterward, too. Cremation." He smiled. "If you get a chance to see the sky tomorrow, look for me, kid. I'll be that puff of black smoke chasing clouds."
\tA door at the end of the corridor opened and closed. Unrelenting footsteps drew near.
\t"Remember kid, don't give up. Stand up when they talk to you. Look 'em straight in the eye. Smile a lot. Be friendly. You never know, it might just be your ticket out of here."
\t"Good luck," the kid said, reaching through the bars to the old-timer.
\t"You too," he whispered.
\t
* * *
\tThey took the old-timer to the end of the corridor, and through a second door, which they closed behind them. Minutes later they returned and took the kid too.
\tAn employee removed the newspapers from the bottom of their cages, then dumped the litter pans and food bowls. After wiping the cages down with bleach, the employee lined the floors with fresh newspaper. Tomorrow they'd be full again.
~~~
I know, not very cheery, is it.