The crack
by Mathew Paust
It was about six inches long and a quarter inch wide, as I recall. I never measured it. It is lucid in my mind's eye, black and mysterious from absent light despite the distance of nearly seven decades. It had a vaginal shape now that I think of it, wider in the center and tapering toward each end. It was in the floor, a separation between two floorboards near if not directly in the doorway between our living and dining rooms.
It served my imagination well, from toddlerhood on up. I remember wondering what lay beneath — a creature's den, secret chamber, China? I put my mouth to it and said hello hello hello. I marked pieces of paper with messages and pushed them into the slot and returned later to see if they'd come back. They never did, but I'd have pooped my pants if they had. Our flashlight couldn't reach the depth of the darkness. I could get only the tip of my finger through. Just enough to feel the cooler air. Just as well to keep the mystery.
I carried it into my nighttime dreams. The only one I remember lasted into later years. I would chase my passive-aggressive father, calling after him as he slipped away through the crack.
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Author's Note
Inspired by Barry Basden's "White Cliffs", published on this page.
Other stories by Mathew Paust
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Very interesting.
Some kind of dimensional portal, clearly, if not in reality, metaphorically. This is really primal and provocative... I still remember a couple of childhood dreams, once terrifying and one disappointing (I'd been flying around my room but woke up).
Intriguing scenario, both small and vast. I like the paper messages detail. Where did they go? *
Could be a matter-sucking mini-black hole. Be careful.
Intriguing, brief, powerful, mystic/psychological piece. *
Just got home from sub-teaching to your restorative comments. Especially comforting is Chapman's warning, if a tad late for proactive measures, reassuring me of my good fortune in perhaps miraculously eluding consumption by a possible mini-black hole. No wonder my nightmares skirted the edge of out and out sheer madness.
Oops, I see I'm about out of space. I shall thank the rest of you individually on your respective walls.
This is gorgeous. maybe I'm reading too much into it (the possibility of microscopic black holes notwithstanding) but there's a Freudian swamp hidden underneath...great piece, enjoyed.
I wish I had such vivid recollections of childhood imaginings. Or vivid imagination of childhood imaginings.
Nightmares like this are terrifying. You describe the mystery of it well.
Fave*
Strong writing. Mysterious and magical.*
"Just enough to feel the cooler air". Nice sensory dimension.
I'm with Marcus ^ on the subconscious aspect.
Very good.
I would chase my passive-aggressive father, calling after him as he slipped away through the crack.
I love this line!
I forgot to check back here after this piece slipped off the feed. I apologize for not acknowledging your kind remarks. I shall visit each of your walls and make amends. :-(
This was excellent. I enjoyed reading this for various reasons. So many keen observations and evocations here. The whole thing I liked, but especially the last part. The idea of the child chasing after the passive aggressive father was thought provoking. This whole thing paints greatly the mystery and allure that objects or parts of houses can be, and then at the end takes it farther. Great job.
marvelous.***
"I put my mouth to it and said hello hello hello. I marked pieces of paper with messages and pushed them into the slot and returned later to see if they'd come back."
Love this.
Love the black-hole father sucking image in this. Nice piece of imagination
Oops, I keep forgetting to check back with these. Many thanks Brian, James, Lucinda and Kyle. My apologies for being so late to respond.
I like this one, Mathew! Nice retrospection and that last line makes it shine. *
I like the way the beginning of this has a sort of childhood-fantasy feel (the idea that something lurks beneath, for example); the ending comes unexpectedly and changes the mood of the piece, which you do well.
Very nice. Simply expressed but with a sense of nostalgic mystery. I'd make it longer, though, maybe about by a half to double its current length.
I also like "I would chase my passive-aggressive father, calling after him as he slipped away through the crack."
*Better late to the party than never, but I like this a lot.
"I carried it into my nighttime dreams. The only one I remember lasted into later years. I would chase my passive-aggressive father, calling after him as he slipped away through the crack." This is such a powerful poem. Mathew, and this ending is extraordinary.