Monday, November 9, 2015

the window


by nick nelson

illustrated by palomine studios





the window was open.

the dog ran down the street.

standing at the window, ada watched the dog run down the street.

eventually, she thought, the dog will come back up the street.

and when he sees the open window, he might wish to jump into it.

one never knows what a dog will do, especially one running wild in the street.

hurriedly, she closed the window.

ada turned to where her husband, bartley, had been sitting in his favorite chair, smoking his pipe and reading the newspaper.

suddenly she realized her mistake.

for bartley had been transformed into a hungry lion.

ada attempted to open the window again so that she could jump out of it.

but it was no use.

bartley was upon her and quickly devoured her.

later, the doorbell rang.

who can that be? bartley wondered.

as he had devoured ada, he had to answer the door himself.

it was corliss, an old friend whom he had not seen for some time.

corliss! this a surprise, bartley exclaimed. please come in.

corliss entered, and began taking off his hat and coat.

i’ll take those, bartley offered politely.

thank you, corliss replied absently.

corliss entered the neatly furnished drawing room and looked around.

he gazed with a strange air of curiosity at the empty fireplace and at the closed window.

ada not at home? corliss enquired when bartley returned from the cloak room.

no, she stepped out.

oh? it’s a bit late, isn’t it?

yes, to visit her grandmother.

her grandmother! exclaimed corliss. she must be quite an elderly lady.

yes she is, bartley agreed.

none of us are getting any younger, corliss observed. time is passing by.

how true, bartley assented.

corliss sat down on the green divan, the one reserved for guests.

i am being a poor host, said bartley. can i get you a drink?

thank you. a scotch and soda will do nicely. easy on the soda.

coming right up.

corliss relaxed on the divan. a bit stuffy in here, isn’t it? he stated, with just a touch of emphasis.

i will open the window, bartley replied.

bartley opened the window.

the sounds of the night drifted in.