Down to Earth
by Diane Becker
He ran his forefinger round the rim of the lid then sucked at his fingertip. The texture's like chalk, he thought, it tastes of earth. He hadn't anticipated this — but dipped his finger in again and swallowed. It was like scraping his tongue against a blackboard on which someone had scrawled every equation ever written. A perfect solution, he thought, as he licked his lips and wiped specks of dust from the corners of his mouth. Finally he screwed the lid back on and reaching up to the highest shelf, wedged the urn back in between his favourite books.
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Author's Note
This story was originally published in the micro fiction anthology 6S Vol 2.
Other stories by Diane Becker
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Delightful little snippet.
Thanks Susan.
This is very eerie. I'd like to know who this guy is, and also who is in the urn!
I think (but I might be wrong!) that the person in the urn is his sister ...
This was truly creepy - Reads as a good story start, actually. As is, it feels unfinished - this character is too weird to not give him more play room.
Thanks Paula - he does inhabit another story-in-the-making.
Fave. Creepily enthralling. Can't wait to meet this guy again.
i like this very much. so well observed, makes me want to wiggle my toes in communion with the dead. also makes me think of those i've buried and who i'd like to taste if i could.
Roberto - thanks, I like 'creepily enthralling'.
And Marcus - eating people is wrong. Hang on, no, that was Soylent Green.
This is a great micro. Every word delivers. I love this for its specificity and oddness:" It was like scraping his tongue against a blackboard on which someone had scrawled every equation ever written." Fave.
That is absolutely his sister! When you said it, here, I reread it and felt that. I love the unique experience i felt when reading this a few times - how it is oddly NOT morbid, and delightful. Favorite.
Thanks Meg, pleased it doesn't come across as morbid. I think maybe's he's just quirky/inquisitive.
lovely- loved that he put the urn between his favourite books as if its something he needs to go back to.its a great flash as it is, but maybe its one a series of flashes about this guy. has a lonely feeling beneath the sinister thing that is great :)
Thanks Angel - I'm working on more *stuff* about this guy. It takes me a long long time to write flash :)
Love the idea and execution here. Well done!
Many thanks Bill!